Elizabeth Edwards Supports Same Sex Marriage

[dsc]

Source: San Francisco Cronicle

(06-24) 11:26 PDT SAN FRANCISCO -- Elizabeth Edwards, starring at the kickoff event of San Francisco's signature Gay Pride Parade, came out in support of legalized gay marriage today -- taking a position which she acknowledged is at odds with her husband, presidential candidate John Edwards.

"I don't know why somebody else's marriage has anything to do with me,'' she said. "I'm completely comfortable with gay marriage.''

Edwards comments came after her keynote address before a standing room only breakfast of 300 at the Alice B. Toklas Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Democratic Club, an organization which is central to the powerful gay political base in San Francisco.

The breakfast appearance by the candidate's wife -- witnessed by a score of politicians, including Mayor Gavin Newsom, District Attorney Kamala Harris, and City Attorney Dennis Herrera -- was hailed as a milestone in the 30 year history of the Gay Pride event, which had never been visited by a major presidential candidate or spouse.



Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/06/24/BAGPTQL1NF5.DTL

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It would be great if one of our candidates did this but this alone is a step forward.

[fightthegoodfightnow]

1. Bravo

I heard her speak in 2004 at the HRC dinner on the night her husband was engaged in the VP debates. Not only was she articulate, well spoken and engaging, I sincerely felt she 'got it'. I think she is better on this issue than even her husband.

[ruggerson]

2. There's nothing more that one can say about this woman, she's just absolutely incredible

k and r

[Nikki Stone1]

3. What a class act. And courageous to boot.

Can we PLEEEEASE have her as first lady, please?

[Divine Discontent]

17. how about instead, John picks her as Vice President?

How'd that make ya feel?

Husband and Wife team in the White House! She's MORE than qualified, she's a heck of a lot better as a person than Gargamel Cheney...

www.cafepress.com/warisprofitable <<<--- top 08 items and antibush/cheney goods!

[3waygeek]

46. A bit of a sticky wicket...

the Constitution specifies that the Pres & VP can't be from the same state. Cheney could get away with claiming Wyoming residency, but Elizabeth would find such a claim a bit more difficult to make.

[Warren Stupidity]

4. "I don't know why somebody else's marriage has anything to do with me"

Ah well I learned today in my Boston Globe from some massively homophobic letter writer that the problem is that now, with his gold band on his finger, PEOPLE MIGHT THINK HE IS GAY. I actually never considered that angle. The poor LTE-writer now has to quickly re-assure everyone when they see his GAY FINGER that really, truly, he is married to a woman. I'm glad this has been cleared up now, as I, like Elizabeth, did not understand.

[Tesha]

5. Dennis Kucinich, an actual candidate, also supports it

Per HRC, only Kucinich and Gravel support full marriage rights
for gays.

http://a4.g.akamai.net/f/4/19675/0/newmill.download.akamai.com/19677/anon.newmediamill/pdfs/Questionnaire_ReportCard.pdf (pdf)

Tesha

[Divine Discontent]

22. awesome! n/t

[jilln]

27. Thanks for reminding people of that

Only 2 of all the Dem candidates believe in equal rights for their constituents. DUers slam anyone who supports third party candidates and yet will happily vote for someone who envisions two tiers of citizens.

[DemBones DemBones]

54. And won't vote for the candidate who supports everything

they say they believe in. It boggles my mind.

[JerseygirlCT]

6. Could we have Elizabeth instead? I like her. nt

[avrdream]

51. I agree. She's fantastic, for more ways than this one.

[19jet54]

7. Who cars?

She is not running for anything!

[I Have A Dream]

11. I do; thankyouverymuch! n/t

[ronnykmarshall]

14. I do too!

Thank you Elizabeth!

:loveya:

[Name removed]

15. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Warren DeMontague]

31. I car. Just like I car about everyone's personal & civil rights.

I think it's very important to car about this.

She has funny cars.

[19jet54]

43. Oops!

:rofl:

I too care about this issue, but Elizabeth Edwards is not running for any office and John has already stated his "civil union" position of a more religious background to the Democratic groups in the Carolina's? If I recall correctly, he said he "was just not there yet"? Now that his poll numbers are lagging, perhaps he is?

Bush and Rove are working their magic by trying to split the Democrats on many issues such as this, not to mention America in general. I think most all Democrats are unified on "equal treatment" regarding the law on this issue no matter what it is called, and that Bush & Rove are just plain wrong, and are just stirring up political trouble?

[Warren DeMontague]

50. I think it needs to be articulated clearly and unapologetically.

And explained to people that this is NOT a threat to "their" marriages, not a threat to "religious" marriage (different denominations can still marry or not marry whomever they choose in religious ceremonies- for instance, it's legal for divorced people to remarry, but that hasn't meant that the Catholic Church is forced to marry them) ... But the bottom line is, there is no wrong time to do what's right. I think Rove and Co. are in for a surprise, because I think the American people are far more tolerant and socially libertarian than they get credit for.

[ChiciB1]

61. I CAR A Lot Too!!! n/t

[MasonJar]

8. I wish Elizabeth Edwards were the one running; she is a knockout person.

I hope she gets well soon.

[Haole Girl]

9. Me too.

And, even more, I wish she didn't have cancer. :cry:

[LordJFT]

10. props to her

for having the ovaries to take a differing view from her husband. And for supporting it period.

[Joe Bacon]

12. A very brave act from a very brave woman!

I'm very proud of her!

This is the kind of First Lady we can be proud of!

[Hawaii Hiker]

13. It took alot of courage for her to do this...

"I don't know why somebody else's marriage has anything to do with me,'' she said. "I'm completely comfortable with gay marriage.''

Bravo, Mrs. Edwards...Unfortunately, the religious right-wing fucks will no doubt come out & attack her for this, :mad:

[Divine Discontent]

19. oh don't you KNOW it!

there will be sermons and discussions at bible study by the wackos (I know, I've infiltrated them, because I'm a Christian and I like to hear their insane obsession with all things GAY) stating how gay marriage will destroy America, our kids, our way of living ,blah blah blah.asdflkjfklj

such a wacky obsession with gay people's lives.

www.cafepress.com/warisprofitable <<--- top 08 stickers!

[Harry Monroe]

20. How is it that gays getting married destroys America, endangers the insitution of marriage etc.

I just don't get it. If they wacko Christian right were really serious about threats to the institution of marriage and families, why not work to pass laws outlawing divorce, adultery and spousal abuse?? 2 gay people wanting to get married threatens my hetero marriage in no way whatsoever, nor do I care.

[Divine Discontent]

26. WOW! right on...

you're JUST the type of person that needs to speak that EVERY chance you get... giving the GLBT crowd full rights is not only morally proper, but it also strengthens the rights of everyone else. like they say, 'first they came for the jews, then the..." and so on... if no one is treated "less than", well that's utopian and all but that's how God wants us to try and live our lives.

bless you for a great rant about them looking within their own marriages and outlawing divorce adultery & abuse!

OH, and some wacko televangelist was on the TV yesterday as I was flippin channels, and I sometimes watch positive shows on that channel (like some Christian music, old billy graham sermons, and Andy Griffith show) and he was at the pulpit with a thousand elderly in the audience with a few younger people, SCREAMING LOUDLY "let me REPEAT myself - NEITHER adulters, fornicators, NOR HOMO-SEX-SHU-ALS will be in the Kingdom of Gawwwwd!" --- vomit nearly came up onto his face on the screen - these nutjobs and their revisionist reworking of biblical text. I believe the 'church' has fudged with some verses of ancient Aramaic biblical text many times over the years while lightening up the verses that show extreme love, if not sexual, between two men & women (James & Jonathan, Ruth & Naomi), and Jesus, though he never sinned imo, had his "favorite" disciples, Peter & others.

[Warren DeMontague]

33. First they have to ban all contraception and pass laws putting women in jail for taking the pill

You know, so they can stop all those unintended pregnancies that end in abortion. :crazy:

[RaleighNCDUer]

62. That's because divorce, adultery and spousal abuse are things

they themselves anticipate doing.

[treestar]

57. Especially since it reveals a "rift" in her own marriage

I can just hear the M$M now. The Edwards' disagree on an issue! Oh, horrors! Could divorce be in the offing? The man has failed to control his own wife! How can he control the country! :sarcasm:

[pinto]

16. Kudos.

:thumbsup:

[geek tragedy]

18. Good for her, but her husband gets no credit for this. eom

[Ian David]

21. Elizabeth Edwards for President!

How about an Edwards / Edwards ticket in '08?

[jsamuel]

23. Already thought of that. It would be illegal. Constitution says no immediate family.

[karlrschneider]

24. It does? Where?

??

[dsc]

29. actually it doesn't ban it

but they can't get the votes of North Carolina (that is the rule for any two people from the same state). In the case of the Edwards that might not be a huge penalty given that NC hasn't gone Democratic since 1976.

[karlrschneider]

41. Yeah but that didn't stop DICK from "relocating" to Wyoming from Texas

after he conveniently selected himself for the VP nom.
:grr:

[dsc]

42. true

but she probably doesn't have the fig leaf of property in another state.

[karlrschneider]

44. Even if she did, I doubt she would do an end run around the Constitution like Sneer did.

...

[jsamuel]

60. oh, yeah, sorry, from the same state, not from the same family

thanks for the correction

The Pres. and VP cannot be from the same state.

[Ilsa]

45. I sent that speech of hers from the other day to a friend, and he suggested

the same: she's great, she needs more public appearances, she should run. ITA.

[smtpgirl]

25. "wedge" issues, the Pubs will lose, the smoke & mirrors are

gone, except for Dark Dick, when will he go in front of a court of law?

What difference does it make who you sleep with? We are just getting our due.

Haven't met many gay couples who "divorce", some, but not 50%!! Maybe 20%.

too bad I'm preaching to the choir.

[dsc]

30. In fairness we haven't been married for to long so we can't use our current figures

as a fair comparision. There have been some high profile divorces already.

[calteacherguy]

28. I would vote for Elizabeth, but I won't vote for her husband. nt

[Warren DeMontague]

32. Fuckin' A. Good for her! Although It's a little disinguenuous to suggest that NONE of our candidates

have taken a strong stance in support of the right of our gay and lesbian citizens to full marriage equality:

Hmmmm, did you perhaps forget one of our candidates?

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/1217-07.htm

Just another reason why, if Gore doesn't get in, I'm voting for Kooch.

[ultraist]

34. Go Elizabeth Edwards!

More on Elizabeth's appearance at the Gay Pride event:

http://www.knoxnews.com/kns/politics/article/0,1406,KNS_356_5598266,00.html

Elizabeth Edwards' Gay Pride appearance seen as groundbreaking

By CARLA MARINUCCI
June 21, 2007

Elizabeth Edwards' scheduled appearance Sunday at a major San Francisco Gay Pride event represents a first for a major presidential candidate or spouse -- one that activists said reflects the growing clout of gays and lesbians as voters and their continued move into the political mainstream.
Edwards, the wife of Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards, is scheduled to speak Sunday morning at the Alice B. Toklas Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Democratic Club breakfast at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel. Organizers say it marks the highest level of presidential campaigning at the annual Gay Pride Parade.

"It certainly is another barrier falling," said author and gay activist David Mixner, a Clinton administration adviser who backs Edwards in the 2008 race.

"There's been a taboo on any (candidate)-related Gay Pride events," he said, with major presidential hopefuls steering away because the event has been viewed largely in the mainstream media as a no-holds-barred celebration of the gay lifestyle.

But Mixner -- whom Newsweek once called "the most powerful gay man in America" -- said Democratic politicians particularly are realizing that "just like straights at Mardi Gras, there's a wide range of different events, from picnics and political clubs to the parade," many of them family-oriented and many stocked with potential voters.

"The myth of what Pride is will be exploded ... and that taboo will now be removed," he said. "And I can't think of a better person to do it than Elizabeth Edwards. She won't let people tell her where she can go and who she can talk to."

[dsc]

35. we are missing about 20 posts

anyone have any idea why? I see no sign of deletions.

[ruggerson]

36. My fault

I told someone who was San Francisco bashing to fuck off.

I've had it with this reverse moral elitism demonizing San Fran, DC, NYC, LA and the Northeast.

The South has no better or worse morals than we do. And those who think they do can drink a very big cup of fuck off.

[dsc]

38. I just noticed

I didn't realize that the posts were renumbered.

[waiting for hope]

48. Hey - I was in there too.

My response is totally missing.....:blush: Oh well, can't say you haven't been around DU a while and not get deleted....

[Warren Stupidity]

55. I found your response entirely appropriate, nt.

[cboy4]

37. She is something else!

:loveya:

[mzmolly]

39. She's one amazing lady.

I love her "realness."

[cynthia]

40. I love that she speaks her mind

We need candidates who are real, who aren't so closely managed that they only speak in platitudes - what a way to disillusion the masses! I'm looking forward to Elizabeth as first lady!

[mnhtnbb]

47. Elizabeth for First Lady!

[FourScore]

49. I LOVE Elizabeth Edwards.

:loveya:

If Gore doesn't enter the race, then the Edwards get my vote.

It would be a hard decision except that climate change is so important -- I must vote for the man who has spent his entire adult life fighting it. Besides, it'd be nice to see him finally in the Oval Office seeing as how he won the election 7 years ago...there would be sweet justice in that.

But if Gore really doesn't enter, Edwards is the man!

[Norrin Radd]

52. Cool.

[eridani]

53. Well, it's always the "minor" candidates who pave the way

--as Kucinich did four years ago. Put it on the table, and eventually the more cautious candidates will come around.

It's really great when they too--good for Elizabeth Edwards.

[treestar]

56. I guess that's relevant, since maybe she can talk John into it?

You never know.

[The Count]

64. ya mean, like babs talked Poppy into the right to choice?

Maybe relevant, or maybe convenient....

[muffin1]

58. I've always admired Elizabeth Edwards

Now I ADORE her.:loveya:
It is really a shame that we can't get that kind of honesty from the Democratic candidates. I cannot believe they really think that marriage between two people in love should be banned. I am so sick of hearing them talk about how they approve of frigging civil unions. They don't have the guts to come out and say how they really feel. Cowards!

Thank YOU, Elizabeth! You truly have my support and respect!

[goodhue]

59. excellent

[Maven]

63. I adore that woman.

I'd vote for John just to have her in the White House, too.