Trying to follow him along --- getting more and more confused

[tobius]

But with the issue now at center stage, Mr. Kerry found himself in the position of defending his vote in 1996 against the Defense of Marriage Act, a law that bars federal recognition of same-sex marriages and allows each state to ignore such marriages performed in other states. He sought to reconcile his vote then with his statement this week that states should not be forced to recognize gay marriages conducted in other states.
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/27/politics/campaign/27DEBA.html?ex=1393218000&en=9716a585c0336005&ei=5007&partner=USERLAND

Mr. Kerry said he had considered the Senate debate on the legislation an instance of gay-bashing. But he said he was mistaken in 1996 when he asserted that the Defense of Marriage Act was unconstitutional. He suggested, vaguely, that he would vote against it were it to appear before Congress again. Mr. Edwards pounced on that.

"I would not support the Defense of Marriage Act today, if there were a vote today, which is the question you just asked Senator Kerry," he said. "I'm not sure what he said about that. But I would not vote for it."
---------------------------------------------
http://www.bankofknowledge.net/2004transcripts/archives/000023.html
Asked to explain why he supported civil unions but "opposed" gay mariage, he said this:
...What I said was we need to achieve what we can, and then we will see where we are. It may well be that if we achieve civil union, if we have leadership that advances the causes that I have described to you, that we may all of us progress as we have progressed in the last 15 years to a place where there is a different understanding of it. But at this particular moment in time, I don't believe that exists, '.... ---?

He is a damn good juggler but I am getting dizzy

[Dookus]

1. That's a mighty colorful post

and that's the best thing I can say about it.

[fearnobush]

2. What you never changed your mind before?

[tobius]

3. yes, but i had something to change from! Ha.

how long can he keep all the balls in the air on just one issue?
It truly is quite an amazing display of his mental prowess.(I think) WoW!

[izzie]

4. He will be hard for the black/white people to vote for, Kerry is gray.

The GOP is already saying he voted against defense. Well I am sure he did as some of the stuff they want is bad but if you want that clear answer you are not going to get it from Kerry. I may vote tank A out and vote tank B in but the GOP is just going to say I voted out tanks.I fear he had better say anything is better than Bush as Kerry is just more than one sided. Bush is not very deep, he is for money, ruling as he likes and playing to the right wing nuts.

[JasonDeter]

5. Interesting how you post partial transcripts.

If you take out the lines that agree with you and only post the ones that you disagree with its no wonder its confusing to you. I'm hoping an agenda is not more important to you than getting bush* sent back to that hell he calls home in Texas.

[tobius]

6. you're kidding right?

you really wanted me to post the whole transcripts of both debates?


I posted coverage from the NYT about how they saw his responses were vague and that Edwards again seized the opportunity to point it out.

Then a quote from an earlier debate that has much more relevance today in light of his current positions on gay marriage.

My hope is that he can stop dancing around and take a position. Why is he against gay marriage?

[JasonDeter]

7. He stated his position plainly.

"Marriage is viewed as a union between men and women, and that is a cultural historical view that I believe? that's my position."

[littlejoe]

10. I will be totally honest with you. I am unhappy with his stance on

gay marriage, and I posted a thread the other day that said so.

I am not with any candidate 100 percent on the issues, but Kerry mostly reflects where I want to put my faith.

We Know that Bush is a divider.

I can't read John Kerry's mind, but it could be that he feels on this issue, that all things in the proper time.

A majority of people in this country are opposed to gay marriage.

This may take a few years to resolve, like civil rights in the 60's, and interracial marriage.

At least with Sen. Kerry as president, I believe that we will move forward on this issue.

It's not a perfect world.

[JasonDeter]

12. I'm glad you feel that way. I sincerely want bush* out and Kerry in and

irregardless how it turns out as long as were on the planet we're in this together.

[emulatorloo]

8. Tobius - Here's your answer

KERRY: Ask me any question.

WOODRUFF: Well, on gay marriage. They said you've taken...

KERRY: Gay marriage -- no, I've not -- I've taken one position. I believe that marriage is between a man and woman. I'm for civil unions and partnership rights. There's your answer. What's the next question?


http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0402/19/ip.01.html

[molly]

9. This is a non-issue - it has been brought forth

by the pugs as a wedge for ANY DEM candidate.

[rucky]

11. Tell that to the thousands of couples tying the knot in SF

I know it's a GOP tactic, but that doesn't make it any less real for those couples right now. Kerry's handling this issue well enough - short, direct answers. This movement will go on without his explicit support.