McCain: gay couples should not be able to adopt

[JackBeck]

by: Pam Spaulding
Mon Jul 14, 2008 at 12:00:00 PM EDT

Adulterer, misogynist, and unashamed, unembarrassed and proud friend of the Log Cabin Republicans, John McCain, says he supports family values, even the ones he doesn't subscribe to personally. Check out http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/13/us/politics/13mccain.html?_r=2&hp&oref=slogin&oref=slogin#">this NYT piece.

Mr. McCain, who with his wife, Cindy, has an adopted daughter, said flatly that he opposed allowing gay couples to adopt. "I think that we've proven that both parents are important in the success of a family so, no, I don't believe in gay adoption," he said.

http://www.pamshouseblend.com/

Why stop there, dickhead?

Where's the call for rounding up all the children born to single parents? Better yet, let's go get the children being raised by their fathers because the mother died during childbirth.

[bigwillq]

1. Now here's a real reason

to be offended.

:mad:

[JackBeck]

6. Seriously.

It appears that some perspective has been lost while people argue over the magazine cover.

He's the real enemy, and this is further proof that we should be working the make sure this man doesn't win the Presidency.

[bigwillq]

25. People could be offended

all they want about the magazine cover but, sadly, McCain's remarks won't generate nearly as many threads as the cover did. Now, that's offensive.

[JackBeck]

37. Oh, I agree.

Which is why I feel we lose perspective around here from time to time.

:pals:

[Divine Discontent]

7. no, here's a reason not to vote for John McCain

there are things in life which offend us, and they cannot be negated just because there's something more disgusting - oh like say, a SOB homophobe saying GLBT citizens cannot adopt.

Let's make sure this piece of shit McStain doesn't win a damn thing in Nov!

[terrya]

20. Thank you!

Hell, I wish I could recommend your comment. :thumbsup:

What that asshole said IS offensive.

[jobycom]

2. Bastard. In the bad sense of the word. nt

[DarienComp]

3. Says the man who left his wife and children for a woman 20 years younger.

[AndyA]

5. Exactly. He's set such high standards.

What an ASSHOLE.

Don't judge him by his standards, because he'd fail. Hypocrite.

[JackBeck]

76. 'Family Values' my ass.

These people are hypocrites of the highest order.

[Divine Discontent]

4. And now you know... The rest of the story...

On a much needed reference point -----

I point to this week's Top 10 Conservative Idiots, with this fact ---



And finally, let's catch up with the rest of last week's idiots.

(Weekly Standard Executive Editor) Fred Barnes had some advice for the McCain campaign: "He needs to touch on some of the social issues which energize the right." Can you guess what Fred has in mind? "In particular, gays in the military for one," said he. "Gay marriage is another one." Or in other words, you can't run for president as a Republican without bashing those homos.
Video at http://thinkprogress.org/2008/07/06/barnes-gay-mccain/


AHHHH! Smell the homophobia!

More items at www.cafepress.com/warisprofitable

[islandmkl]

8. both parents??

does this revolve around what the meaning of 'two' is?

m.c.johnny's ass to his brain: 'Out of the way, shit for brains, I'm coming through."

[JackBeck]

68. lol

:thumbsup:

[iris27]

84. "Both parents" is a wolf whistle speaking to gender bias.

In the brains of the American Taliban, children can only be appropriately parented by one woman and one man. Otherwise how will the kiddies be properly ingrained with the requisite gender socialization? It's a throwback to the largely-imaginary Stepford 50's.

[JackBeck]

86. Hi, iris27, welcome to DU!

And great first post, by the way.

:thumbsup:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

9. He is a fucking asshole!

No way can he be allowed to be president!

:nuke:

[JackBeck]

62. Couldn't have said it better.

I normally don't curse around here, but couldn't resist in this case.

:yourock:

[SacredCow]

10. Or put another way....

"I think that we've proven that children are better off in inadequate (hell, often even disgraceful) foster care systems than they would be with someone who would give them individual love and attention. So, no- I'm going to keep kissing fundie ass in hopes that it will get me elected."

[yardwork]

11. By the way, Pamshouseblend is an awesome blog!

[JackBeck]

56. Love Pam's blog.

One of the best LGBTQ blogs out there!

[racaulk]

12. What an asshat.

I was raised by a single parent. My father raised me by himself when my mother abandoned both us shortly after my birth. My father is by no stretch of the imagination perfect, but I think he did well raising me with the resources he had available.

Today, I am a reasonably well-adjusted gay man in a committed relationship, and my partner and I are in the early stages of considering adopting a child at some point in the future.

With this comment, McCain just proved to me, without a shadow of a doubt, that he doesn't support either of my families. Not only that, but he directly insulted not only my ability to raise a child, but also the ability of my father.

My hatred for this man grows every day. :mad:

[JackBeck]

67. Disgusting, isn't it?

And I say that not just as a gay man, but as one that was adopted.

[NatBurner]

13. he's pandering to his own party at this point

the cons will eat this up

[liberalmuse]

14. Bush was raised by a mother and father.

And you can't get a more fucked up human being. I don't know why McCain isn't counting two men or women as 'both'. I guess gays are only 1/2 of a person. Ijit.

[Fleshdancer]

15. You know what homeless kids LOVE??

Not having the chance to be in a loving family because both parents have the same type of reproductive organs! :grr:

On edit: People who say crap like this are always the first people to scream "what about the children??!?!" when they find something offensive, but when it truly comes down to the children, they prove time and time again that they really don't give a sh*t. Make it harder to get adopted. Don't bother with health care. Don't fund the ridiculous education mandate. The list goes on and on.

[SacredCow]

19. I don't have first-hand knowledge...

but I don't think there are many kids in foster care systems that wouldn't choose to be adopted by a gay couple and have a shot at a stable childhood. It's just mind-boggling....

[Fleshdancer]

26. It really is. You don't deprive children of good homes for the sake of bigotry

To add insult to injury, I honestly think McCain doesn't give a shit about this issue. He's just trying to cater to the evangelicals again.

[Kber]

77. I find it typical of a large % of the "Pro life" crowd

That concern for the welfare of children begins at conception and ends at birth.

KB

[ingac70]

16. Translation:

Unwanted children should languish in foster care, no matter if loving homes are available.

[JackBeck]

66. Exactly. Just look at Florida.

One of the few states, if not the only one, that forbids gay people from adopting children, while thousands languish in the foster care system.

Republicans love the fetus, yet hate the child.

[TechBear_Seattle]

17. This is why Obama can safely ignore basic civil rights such as marriage

He doesn't have to be any good on the issues, just less bad than McCain. Then McCain says something really bigoted to appeal to his base, and Obama is free to move even further to the right.

How long, do you think, before Obama comes out and says that only straight married couples should be allowed to adopt but, as president, he would not oppose a state's right to extend adoption rights to gay couples?

[Alter Ego]

22. I don't, uh, think he'll do that at all.

I would think allowing McCain to hang himself with this comment would be far more effective.

[TechBear_Seattle]

24. But he has already made the exact same statements with regards to marriage

He has stated, repeatedly, that marriage should be one man and one woman but, as president, he would not oppose any state's right to legalize same sex marriage.

Now that McCain has made adoption by same-sex couples a campaign issue, why should we not expect Obama to issue his own pander-to-the-right statement on the matter?

[Fleshdancer]

27. To be fair though, he supports Civil Unions

I personally think it's ridiculous to say yes on CU and no on marriage, but this seems to be what most Democratic politicians are in favor of. I don't think Kerry was pandering to the right when he said this in 2004. :shrug:

[TechBear_Seattle]

29. He supports Jim Crow, you mean

Separate is inherently unequal.

[Fleshdancer]

30. like I said, I think it's ridiculous too but how is this any different from Kerry in 2004? n/t

[TechBear_Seattle]

33. Irrelevant

At issue is Obama's almost certain pander-to-the-right statement regarding adoption by same-sex couples.

[Fleshdancer]

38. even after he has already stated he supports equal adoption rights?

I'll be pissed if he changes his mind on this but I don't think it'll happen.

http://blogs.reuters.com/trail08/2008/06/26/michelle-obama-speaks-to-gay-democrats/

He supports full family and adoption rights for gay and lesbian couples and believes the federal government should not stand in the way of states that opt for domestic partnerships, civil unions or civil marriage, she said. The Illinois senator opposes same-sex marriage.

[ErinBerin84]

39. "almost certain pander-to-the-right "

Well, let's wait until that actual pander to the right HAPPENS, and just concentrate for now on attacking McCain for this since Obama has previously cited his support for equal adoption rights.

[Alter Ego]

88. His website gives the impression that he's for full federal civil unions

with all the rights of marriage, as well as adoption rights--something Gramps was so kind to tell us he was against the other day.

[dbackjon]

18. FLIP-FLOP

So now you are against it??

[Alter Ego]

21. That's it, Johnny boy--slide further and further into that morass

that is the extreme right. Those independent voters will abandon you so quickly your head will spin.

[AntiFascist]

41. Shows how much he values his gay support...

why would any self-respecting gay person support him in the first place?

[sui generis]

23. too late ya bastid!

So, McCain thinks that gay children shouldn't be adopted either?

Just curious.

"I think we've proven" ??????

So by extension of McCain's logic, single parenting SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED either.

What a fucking idiot. Hey McCain you old out of touch cancerjaw motherfucker: it's not enough that you think gays shouldn't have equal rights but that you would dismantle our families too? Or worse, invalidate our families too?

You aren't worth the piss poor protoplasm you're made out of. Go straight to hell, do not pass go, stay there.

[Alter Ego]

89. Don't hold back, buddy--tell us how you really feel.

[Ian David]

28. McCain, whose divorce made his first wife a single-mother, is against gay adoption BECAUSE...

McCain, whose divorce made his first wife a single-mother, is against gay adoption BECAUSE...
Posted by IanDB1 in General Discussion: Presidential
Sun Jul 13th 2008, 03:03 PM
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/IanDB1/5637





"I think that we’ve proven that both parents are important in the success of a family so, no, I don’t believe in gay adoption."-- Serial Adulterer John McCain

More:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6494561

[jesus_of_suburbia]

31. McCain adopted his 1st wife's kids then dumped them for an heiress.

McCain DISGUSTS me. A horrible man.

[jesus_of_suburbia]

34. Actually, someone else told me this, so I'm not sure it's true. Can I get confirmation?

I know others on this board know.

Did he adopt kids from his first marriage before he dumped them for Cyndi?

[grantcart]

71. Yes he adopted the two sons whose father was a friend of McCain's

I believe that they maintained a friendly relationship with McCain and one of the sons works for Cindy's beer distributorship in AZ

[Robeson]

32. Excuse me John, but a gay couple, i.e., as in two (2) people....

...does represent "both" parents.

That guy is scary.

[BklynChick]

35. what does "both parents" have to do with being gay? all the gay parents I know who adopted are in

couples, so there are 2. Not that I believe there needs to be, but where's the logic in his argument?

[bunnies]

36. Wonder how his gay staffers will take this.

How the fuck can they work for this asshole?!

[mtnester]

43. I think you will hear NOTHING from them

as they are figments of his imagination...phantoms..he has ZERO gay staffers (if he said he did, it was a LIE, just like Joe Wilson says, they lie about EVERYTHING for practice)

[bunnies]

48. Wouldnt surprise me.

Wouldnt surprise me at all.

[mtnester]

50. I hear you

if it was out there that he had gay staffers, it was utter BS

[bunnies]

55. I read it on DU a few weeks back.

Shoulda bookmarked it. I'll see if I can hunt it down.

[JackBeck]

57. Here ya' go:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=6465739&mesg_id=6465739

[bunnies]

58. Damn you're good!

Thanks! :hi:

[mtnester]

60. Yes he is!

that was speedy

[mtnester]

59. Do you believe he hired a gay staffer?

I ask in order to start discussion, nothing more...

For some reason, I find it nearly impossible to believe he hired an openly gay man as a top staff person.

[JackBeck]

61. Yes, I do.

And if there would be anyone who would know, it would be Aravosis. He worked in the Senate in the 90's.

Mike Rogers, over at blogactive.com, has also outed gay staffers of 'family values' Repugs.

As far as I've read over the years, it's an open secret that Republicans are known to hire gay staffers.

[mtnester]

63. Thank you

I simply do not trust people who say one thing, and DO another...make sense?

I guess I will never get the Repuke mentality

[Fleshdancer]

45. good question bunnies. I want to know the answer to that as well.

I also want to know what the log cabin republicans think about this too...not that their party takes them seriously.

[bunnies]

49. Yep, them too.

As mtnester pointed out above, those gay staffers may or may not exist. But I'd really love to hear from the log cabiners. Surely they cant be happy. Maybe theyre just used to getting shit on by their party. But they stay loyal anyway? crazy.

[newmajority]

40. Jon Stewart on gay weddings and gay parents

Gramps McLoon seems to get along with Jon. Maybe he should listen to him?

http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=173867&title=headlines-the-gay-after

[NashVegas]

42. What An Asshole

[Lucky 13]

44. Better the children have NO parents than two queers!

Better to have children wallow in our foster care system than to be raised by homos!

How does that make any sense?

Everyone knows this has nothing to do with 2 parents vs. 1 parent. To make that argument horrifically insults all the single parents in this country. So why don't they just come out and say it? We all know what they're thinking anyway...

"Gays are pedophiles! If gays adopt kids they will turn those kids gay!"


Actually laying out the REAL argument would make it too easy to refute...

The majority of pedophiles and sexual offenders in this country are WHITE HETEROSEXUAL MALES

A study was actually done that proved that lesbian couples are just as likely or more likely to raise well-adjusted children than heterosexual couples.


Fuck off McCain, you worthless, ancient, bigoted, hypocritical, pandering motherfucker.

[PresidentObama]

46. John McCain should not be able to adopt.

You're telling me that the man who treats his first wife like he did thinks he can adopt, but not me or my boyfriend?

Fuck that.

[blondeatlast]

47. People of questionable moral character shouldn't be allowed to adopt--

like men who leaves their physically ill wives for their pretty, filthy rich mistresses, then call that mistress turned wife a c***, then turn around and sleep with politically convenient lobbyists.

Ah, but they went overseas... got it.

But I don't get why gay couples shouldn't adopt, I don't understand that at all...

[windoe]

51. What about single parents, should they give up their child too?

Sorry, McLame, not a valid argument. Assuming there is any validity in being against gay adoption.

I would not know where to begin a sane discussion with people brainwashed into telling other people how to live. I am at a loss here.

[Fleshdancer]

52. Is McCain spewing this crap because Fred Barnes told him to?

Interesting...

http://www.ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=1964&mediaType=1&category=25

Conservative political commentator Fred Barnes is advising Republican presidential hopeful Senator John McCain to exploit gay issues as a strategy to win the White House in the fall election against Democratic rival Senator Barack Obama.

On Fox News Sunday, the Weekly Standard executive editor and The Beltway Boys co-host, said he believed McCain needed to use the issues of gay marriage and “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” - the military's policy baning gays from serving openly in the Armed Forces - to rally conservative voters.

“Here's what he needs to do, he needs to touch on some of the social issues which energize the right... In particular, gays in the military for one. We know Barack Obama is for allowing gays in the military, and Bill Clinton tried to do, but backed off. This is not a popular issue. Gay marriage is another one. These are both issues that I think McCain's going to have to use. You can't ignore the right. If he does, he'll loose,” Barnes said.

:eyes:

[Egnever]

53. What a dick

that is all

[Norrin Radd]

54. Ancient people shouldn't be allowed to govern.

[zulchzulu]

64. So my neighbors who are gay and have kids need to give them up?

I live in an area where I would venture to guess that there are a dozen single sex parents with kids. What would asshats like Grandpa McSame like to have done?

Speaking of being a parent of an adopted kid, why doesn't John McCain EVER show his daughter? Is he ashamed?

[otohara]

65. Which Family of His Is He Referring to?

the first one, where he adopted her children from first marriage and dumped after leaving mom for hottie Cindy, or the new one with hot rich heiress.

[Kber]

69. Gay couples ARE comprised of "both" parents.

Sheesh.

What an idiot.

[Toucano]

70. Put Dick Cheney's grandson in an orphanage?

The fact is that we've proven that children of gay parents do very well.

Not necessarily better and not necessarily worse that children of heterosexual parents.

We've also proven that children of gay parents do substantially better than children of no parents.

[JackBeck]

83. There are over 100,000 children in foster care.

The fact that this man would deny any of them a stable home, just because one or both of the parents is gay, is disgusting, at best.

[JackBeck]

72. UPDATE #1: Statement from The Family Equality Council.

The Family Equality Council's Kara Suffredini, Director of
Public Policy had this to say about McCain's statement:

These are the facts about American families. According to the 2000 census, the vast majority - more than 75%‹of American households differ in structure from two married, heterosexual parents and their biological children. We are a nation of blended and multi-generational families, adoptive and foster families, and families headed by single parents, divorced parents, unmarried parents, same-sex couples and more. As an adoptive parent himself, McCain should be well aware of this. As a presidential candidate, he should seek to honor and support the many kinds of families that exist, rather than dismiss the vast majority of households in this country as second-tier.

This is what is true about lesbians and gays raising children: 30 years of scientifically valid research universally demonstrates that LGBT families are just as nurturing for children's growth and development as heterosexual families.

Our society's primary child welfare organizations, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Psychiatric Association and the National Association of Social Workers, have all issued statements supporting same-sex parents. The American Psychological Association has stated: "Gay and lesbian parents are as likely as heterosexual parents to provide healthy and supportive environments for their children."

All of which makes one wonder: What is the basis for Senator McCain¹s position?

American families may be diverse, but have at least one thing in common: we want our children to be safe, healthy, happy and supported. When our families are politicized, our ability to protect ourselves, each other and our children comes under attack. After eight years of similarly baseless attacks on our families, we hope that the next President of the United States will honor and support the vast array of families that daily work to raise happy, healthy and productive children. The Family Equality Council has a proud history of educating political leaders about our families and we welcome Senator McCain and others whose perspectives affect the most personal aspects of our lives to contact us and get to know the loving families he paints as "unsuccessful".

[JackBeck]

73. UPDATE #2: PFLAG responds.

"In a country where more than 125,000 children are waiting for foster parents, Senator McCain would deny loving homes to children who desperately need them simply because of an outdated prejudice about what a family may look like," said Jody M. Huckaby, executive director of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG). "We are disappointed and saddened that a public leader who is himself an adoptive father would deny the children in America's foster care system the opportunity to thrive as part of a welcoming family. Love makes a family, but short-sighted positions like Senator McCain's can certainly tear families apart, too."

..."Senator McCain's position is out of synch with the research and science and out of step with what is in the best interests of children waiting for a home and a family," Huckaby said. "PFLAG knows the pain inflicted upon families due to misinformation about LGBT issues. We implore Senator McCain to take a serious look at the overwhelming evidence and listen to the stories of the countless children raised by loving lesbian and gay couples. The evidence is clear: children should not be denied access to the loving homes of gay couples."

[Robeson]

81. The response from PFLAG was spot on...

...and btw, thank you for this thread. It highlights why this man should NEVER sit in the Oval Office.

[JackBeck]

96. Anytime.

In fact, I'll jump at any opportunity I can get to expose this man and his party's bigotry and that, yes, this man should never occupy the White House.

:pals:

[xxqqqzme]

74. I've noticed he certainly tosses that royal 'WE'

around often. When did WE prove that? BTW mcdullknife, Obama is the product of a single parent 'family'.

[colinmom71]

75. Fine, then neither should adulterous, bigamous (if tenuously so) couples...

As they too present a morally wrong example for children to learn from...

Oops! There goes the Bangladeshi child McCain and his current wife adopted...

[Faygo Kid]

78. Agree with every sentiment here. How can disaffected Dems enable this guy to gain office?

I don't think he will, but I'm always astounded by those who would support him over Obama and profess to be Dems.

[Coexist]

79. Question re: Lynn Cheney - was she the one pregnant or was her partner?

and if Heather carried their child, does McCain feel that Lynn should have no parental rights?

[JackBeck]

82. Mary Cheney was the one who carried the baby.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/05/AR2006120501712.html

That's what's so sick about these Republicans and their family values hypocrisy.

[PA Democrat]

80. McCain dumped his first wife to marry his rich trophy wife. So he left his

children from his first marriage (2 of which he adopted, BTW) so I don't think he has any right to say gay couples should not be allowed to adopt. I'll bet that children of gay couples in stable relationships are much better adjusted than children of a broken marriage.

[Hepburn]

85. Am I missing something here?

Asshole McSame says a child needs both parents....so...if the child has a gay couple as parents, the child has both parents, right?

:shrug:

[JackBeck]

87. Odd, isn't it?

My only conclusion is he's somehow trying to secure the Florida bigot vote, since it's the only state that explicitly forbids all gay adoptions.

[newmajority]

93. I thought he was trying to secure the Florida bigot vote

by putting their gay governor on his ticket?

[La Lioness Priyanka]

90. what is wrong with these people?

[JackBeck]

91. The knuckle-draggers he's addressing these comments to

Dwindle in numbers every year. They had their moment to shine with Bush and they didn't get any of their promised anti-gay federal legislation.

This country will be moving foward...without them.

[JackBeck]

92. UPDATE #3: McCain's communications director, Jill Hazelbaker, clarifies remarks:

McCain could have been clearer in the interview in stating that his position on gay adoption is that it is a state issue, just as he made it clear in the interview that marriage is a state issue. He was not endorsing any federal legislation.

McCain’s expressed his personal preference for children to be raised by a mother and a father wherever possible. However, as an adoptive father himself, McCain believes children deserve loving and caring home environments, and he recognizes that there are many abandoned children who have yet to find homes. McCain believes that in those situations that caring parental figures are better for the child than the alternative.

[redcatcherb412]

94. Well

This kind of thinking is why my grandkids in elementary school has 'Heather has 2 Mommies' rammed down their throats so they will see it as the norm instead of what it really is. Gad !!!

[JackBeck]

95. Funny...

I had 'Cinderella' and the like shoved down my throat and look how I turned out.

Gad !!!

Thank God they don't allow the Bible to be taught in public schools. Think of the children!

Gad !!!

[marshall]

97. What would Laura Ingraham say about this?

She's taken some heat from conservatives for adopting as a single parent. I wonder what her musings would be on McCain's statement?

[obtheatre]

98. Unfortunate but not Surprising

"Both parents"? Well if a gay couple were to adopt, there would be two parents. I suppose McCain does not support single parents then...whether it be because of divorce or the death of a spouse? Does this mean if your husband/wife passes away leaving you to raise the children, the government would be able to sweep in and take your kids away because "it's been proven that children need both parents"?

[DailyGrind51]

99. But they SHOULD be able to adopt McCain...

when Cindy divorces his sorry ass after he loses in November!:D