Obama Should Feel 'Uncomfortable' That Conservatives Are Co-opting Gay Rights Issues: Top Dem

[Bluebear]

The notion that the gay rights community would abandon the Obama White House over its unwillingness to fully embrace their legislative priorities may seem absurd to the casual political observer. But the recent embrace of same-sex marriage by prominent conservatives, most notably former RNC Chair Ken Mehlman, has some Democratic operatives concerned.

On Monday, former McCain campaign manager Steve Schmidt argued that there was a "strong conservative case to be made in favor of gay marriage" and that more and more Republicans are dropping their opposition to the cause. Shortly thereafter, a prominent Democratic consultant got in touch with the Huffington Post to make the case that the Obama administration risks losing the gay rights community (or at least depressing their votes) with its tepid embrace of their priorities.

"I think they have been put in a tough place by these conservatives and they should be," the consultant said. "There are a whole group of people who are to the left of them on gay rights. And they are Republicans. It should make them feel uncomfortable."

LBGT voters are not, of course, monolithic. And on a host of other fronts, they are repulsed by the GOP's policies. Talk about abandoning Obama and the Democrats, in some respects, has been driven more by a desire to scare the party into action than sincere intent to vote Republican. But that doesn't mean it's impossible for an electoral shift to take place or that there aren't those in the GOP who welcome siphoning off the LBGT vote. Though hardly a barometer for the Republican Party's collective psyche, John McCain's daughter, Meghan, made overtures along these lines on Tuesday night.

"We get the bad rap as Republicans being against gay marriage," she told Fox News. " isn't doing anything for the gay community." Indeed, even in the Democratic tent there is some marvel, concern and even a twinge of envy at the changes taking place within the GOP.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/01/obama-should-feel-uncomfo_n_701940.html

[bushisanidiot]

1. Anti gay wording is firmly enshrined in the republican party platform.

It is there for all gays to see. The Democratic Party Platform includes the ideal that rights for gays and ALL people are worth fighting for.

It's an open and shut case. The repukes can't touch and NEVER will reach the strides that the Democratic Party has made to fight for our rights.

The republicans only fight for christian white males who are rich, and they will fight for females only if they know their place, like Laura Bush, and keep their opinions to themselves.

[Bluebear]

3. That's nice.

But people are looking for more than platforms and words anymore. As the article points out, operatives are worried about it, despite platforms etc. When the de facto leader of our party says marriage is between a man and a woman, it is cause for at least reflection.

[bushisanidiot]

8. What crap! President Obama has done more for gay rights than

any other president. I'm so sick of "liberals" trying to push him to the left.. right off the cliff to one-term land in a sick effort to give the conservatives the presidency! What the hell did AWOL Bush ever do for gays?? Nothing. Zero. Nada. You want more of the same? You want President Obama to stop talking about ending DADT, un-sign the Matthew Sheppard hate crimes law, etc.??

I think he's doing just fine. We are slowly but surely winning the fight for marriage rights, state by state, county by county, voter by voter. To demand that President Obama publicly stand on our side says to me that you want the conservatives to take over in 2012. That is EXACTLY what you're saying. I don't know about you, but I don't want one more damned conservative president putting another conservative on SCOTUS. DO YOU?? is the fight for equal marriage RIGHT NOW, DAMN THE CONSEQUENCES really more important to you than seeing the SCOTUS slide even further to the right???

It's a fucking chess game, people!! Grow up!! If we govern this country from the left then we only have 4 years to do it in (2 years now) and all of our work will be undone almost immediately when the repukes take over.. and they will get a guaranteed 2 terms.

The country must be governed from the MIDDLE! The united states electorate is center-left, but barely left. With liberals talking about running against President Obama in 2012, the country is going to be taken over by the right because they will have us divided. Why can't you people see this????? It's not rocket science????!!!!!

[Cha]

12. Thank you, bushisanidiot..for pointing

that out.

[Name removed]

16. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[HughMoran]

17. I'm with you all the way

Good post :thumbsup:

[ruggerson]

30. It's actually a piece of garbage

and offensive to boot.

[Name removed]

18. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Tesha]

21. What exactly has Obama done (in a positive direction)?

Which issues has he been "a fierce advocate" for?

(He certainly has done quite a bit in a negative
direction.)

Tesha

[Bluebear]

24. :crickets:

[mitchtv]

46. well, he gave Carrly Fiorina a talking point

to use against Barbara Boxer, that's something. oh wait

[bushisanidiot]

64. He's done more for us than any president in history. But I guess that isn't good enough.

Here's your CRICKETS:

"On April 15, President Obama took the first step toward achieving health care fairness by signing a memo directing the Secretary of Health and Human Services to begin to address hospital visitation and other health care issues affecting LGBT people and their families. This is huge step but there is still more to be done to end the discrimination in health care experienced by LGBT people and people living with HIV. Sign up now to be a Partner for Health Care Fairness and help us build a broad base of support."

"President Obama has just signed into law the very first protections for transgender people in US history: The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. The bill passed both houses of Congress earlier this month as an amendment to the Defense Authorization Act."

"President Obama signed the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act today after it was approved by the Senate last week, according to TheAdvocate.com.
The bill will provide $2.5 billion annually until 2013 for funding of critical HIV/AIDS treatment and some prevention programs. The program is expecting to help about 500,000 mostly low-income and uninsured people living with AIDS/HIV every year."

"WASHINGTON — President Obama signed his first bill into law on Thursday, approving equal-pay legislation that he said would “send a clear message that making our economy work means making sure it works for everybody.”

"THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary

___________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release June 1, 2009

LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER PRIDE MONTH, 2009
- - - - - - -
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION"


That's just a start... He's only been in office a year and a half. Two wars, an economy that was railroaded off a cliff, oil disaster in the gulf, a health care bill to pass.. Not busy enough for you, huh?

[Tesha]

71. Okay, let's take this point-by-point...

Your first point (re: Health care visitation) trumpets
an intention to maybe do something. Wow!

Your second point (re: Matthew Shepard): Okay, I'll
grant you that one; Obama didn't stand in its way.

Your third point: It;'s an *EXTENSION*, not something
he actually did for the first time.

Your fourth point: If we're talking about the Lilly
Ledbetter act, that really wasn't a gay rights issue
although the woman who wrote the NYTimes article was
named "Gay":
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/30/us/politics/30ledbetter-web.html

Your fifth point: a proclamation. Wow!

I really don't see that you've proved your point amidst
all the negative things that Obama has done.

Tesha

[ruggerson]

85. Thank you. He hasn't proved his point

because it does not reflect reality.

[firedupdem]

22. Thank You! n/t

[Bluebear]

25. You're gay, are you?

[Bluebear]

23. "What crap! It's a fucking chess game, people!! Grow up!!" - Inspiring. nt

[bushisanidiot]

70. Yeah. I didn't think you'd do more than skim it for something you

could take offense to.

well done.

[ruggerson]

29. You seem to have bought into rightwing spin that marriage equality is a losing position politically

Not only is that wrong, it perpetuates homophobia.

The country is split down the middle on marriage equality. It's not the wedge issue it was four, eight or fifteen years ago.

It would be very easy for Obama to craft a pro civil marriage equality position wherein he explains that churches are still free to refuse to marry couples if it is against their faith to do so.

Hell, I could craft it for him.

But, it won't happen because he's not willing to stand up for what is right if there is even the slightest chance of political risk.

Ronald Reagan was firmly anti choice when the country was overwhelmingly pro choice. HOw did he get away with it? Because the bastard (whom I loathed with every fiber of my being) understood that independent American voters respect you if you take a firm stand and explain it, even if they don't agree with you.

Marriage equality is far less dangerous politically today than being anti choice was in the 80's.

Obama needs to catch up with the rest of the country.

[ChimpersMcSmirkers]

35. I like the cut of your jib.

:toast:

[Bluebear]

37. You like that gay equality is a "game"? Disgraceful. nt

[bushisanidiot]

65. It's not a game, but we must move strategically.

Holding our breath til we turn blue and demanding that he drop everything and give us everything we demand RIGHT NOW, else we refuse to vote for him is a sure way to ensure a 6-3 conservative Roberts court.

I am 100% in agreement with Barney Frank's stategy to take incremental steps for change. We will eventually win. Right now, we are slowly making improvements in marriage rights. County by county, state by state, we are making progress. I'm sorry that you are too blind or impatient to see it.

[Bluebear]

67. "I'm sorry you're too blind" "hold breath till blue"- - - you are a disrespectful BOOR. /ignore

[mitchtv]

45. How nice for Carly Fiorina to use his positon against Sen Boxer

in the debate tonight , a real treat

[Orsino]

13. The "conservative" thinkers that dare to praise equality...

...aren't running for fucking president, and may have a little more freedom to speak their minds.

[Bluebear]

48. So those running for fucking president have to say marriage is between a man & a woman?

[Orsino]

59. Those who hope to win in today's America-with-a-k, yes. n/t

[Bluebear]

62. Profiles in courage. nt

[bushisanidiot]

76. You'd rather repukes be in charge for the next 20 years, huh?

I get it now..

[ruggerson]

27. I must have missed the part of the platform that endorses marriage equality

n/t

[tourivers83]

51. J'embrasse mon chien sur la bouche.

A lot of republicans like my family and Amanda’s family suddenly have gay family members, such as me and Amanda. They are still trying to come to terms with the fact that the two of us are really in love but they are quick to see that our votes count as much as anyone’s. And our situation is a microcosm of the entire nation. I may be wrong but I feel that the republican party will grit its teeth and start offering us things for our support and the democrats cannot just take us for granted.
:loveya:

[xchrom]

2. Recommend

[fascisthunter]

4. Either it's his own ideology or he's getting extremely bad advice

just look at who he surrounded himself with...

[AldebTX]

5. I Don't Care If They Ignore Their Platform

As long as the anti-gay parts are there, they will never get a vote from me.

[terrya]

6. 5th recommendation

I never thought I'd live to see the day when Dick Cheney, of all people, would be more progressive on marriage equality than a certain "Fierce Advocate".

[bigwillq]

15. Good post.

:thumbsup:

Good to see you, buddy. :hi: :hug:

[terrya]

19. Thank you!

One of the things I've missed about DU is talking to you, bigwillq. Good seeing you, my friend.

:hi:

:hug:

[Hekate]

58. Darth accepts his daughter and her family, but when did he ever lift a finger to help OTHERS...

... while in office or out? I seriously must have missed that.

Mary Cheney is the daughter of privilege and power, and during the 8 years of the Bush-Cheney nightmare she was very, very quiet herself. Is she speaking out now that there is no political price for her father to pay?

I admit I don't follow the Cheneys very closely, as I find the nausea debilitating, but as a longtime DUer I don't think I could possibly have missed the dancing and glee if any of them had spoken louder than a murmur of "Yes we love our daughter hrmf hrmf" sometime between 2000 and 2008.

Help me out on this one.

Hekate

[ruggerson]

87. Here you go Hekate

He took a public stand in the middle of the 2004 against a US constitutional amendment banning same sex marriage, which Bush ardently supported. HE also reiterated his stance in favor of freedom and equality for gay couples on Larry King Live and in town halls, if I remember correctly, all while he was in office.

Does this make Dick Cheney a good man? Nope. But in this one instance he did something positive for gay Americans.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5817720/

[alc]

7. hope I'm misreading

The title sounds like it would be a bad thing if conservatives become pro gay rights. I would hope that any liberal would celebrate that and not even give it the slightest thought that a political issue has gone away.

Liberals should feel uncomfortable if they personally are not pro gay rights. That seems to be more what the article is talking about. But I think it's bad to mention the loss of a political issues rather than keeping it a human rights issue which anyone is welcome to support.

I thought some attacks of Mehlman for being a hypocrite went over the line. If a republican comes out they should be welcomed as an ally for gay rights (assuming they are willing) and if they can help eliminate gay rights as a political issue it would be great.

[Radical Activist]

9. Everyone has to decide if they're for justice and equal rights for all people

or if they're only about fighting for a particular group with which they identify. People who fight for justice and equal rights will remain liberal long after gay marriage ceases to be controversial.

[LynneSin]

10. Yes but with the growing Tea Party movement - could that affect regular GOP votes?

I would hope that EVERYONE would get onboard with equal rights but there will still be that hardcore 30% of the nation that is so entrenched into religon that I cannot ever see them buying into equal rights. And although GOP supporting gay rights would impact the vote in the general election, those GOP members that support this cause might have to get past a difficult primary first.

[VMI Dem]

11. Obama is part of the 30%.

[AlinPA]

32. "GOP supporting gay rights" is absurd. Their party is based in intolerance and bigotry.

[Bluebear]

38. And our President says marriage is between one man & one woman. Square that?

[QC]

39. It was one of the few issues he addressed in a focused, concise way.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=criiu2h3ZAk

Candidate Obama answered most questions like a nervous graduate student doing orals, making sure he mentioned every prominent theorist and text and covered all bases, so as not to offend a member of the committee, but when Rick Warren asked him about the homos getting married, the answer was quick and direct, wasn't it?

[Bluebear]

41. It's a fucking chess game, QC!

Grow up! ---->

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=9058263&mesg_id=9058454

:cry:

[QC]

42. I like the cut of your jib. n/t

[Bluebear]

43. !!!!!!????!!!!

[Name removed]

68. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[QC]

69. You never really loved him!

:cry:

[bushisanidiot]

77. So did President Clinton. You really think he is an enemy of gays?

repukes had him over a barrel when he signed DOMA. When that happened, I switched parties from republican to democrat because I KNEW exactly what the republicans were doing. They were bringing out the haters to the polls and they pushed anti-gay rhetoric to a point where they had President Clinton in a headlock. He did what he had to do otherwise, we'd have had President Dole take over in 2006 and our country would have gone down the toilet.

President Obama is doing one hell of a job. He doesn't have to back every single issue I believe in, but he has supported the great majority of them. And for "democrats" on this site to bash him and bash the democratic party makes me sick to my stomache. We will never win when we tear apart our own.. or when we let OUTSIDERS COME IN AND TEAR US APART FROM THE INSIDE.

[LostInAnomie]

14. Yeah right.

The anti-gay rhetoric is so ingrained into the Republican party they can't give it up. If they stop opposing gay rights they will lose the pillars of the whole party: old, white, scared "Christians". Without them Republicans can do nothing.

Obama and Democrats have nothing to fear on that front.

[Bluebear]

26. "Marriage is between one man & one woman" - sounds pretty anti-equality to me.

It's Obama's quote.

[LostInAnomie]

33. Yeah, but it's not one of the defining political pillars of the Democratic Party.

It is for Republicans, and will be for the foreseeable future. A handful of pols that are ambivalent about it on their side isn't going to change that.

The Repukes are tarred as the anti-gay party for the next generation. Nothing is going to change that.

[Whisp]

86. that is his personal opinion.

If Congress passed equal gay marriage Obama would uphold that law. It's his fricken job. Can't you understand that simple fact?

[FreeState]

88. No - that is his political opinion (link)

http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2008/06/20/Obama_and_One-Man,_One-Woman_Marriage/

More precisely, Sen. Obama said, “I believe marriage is between a man and a woman,” shortly after being asked if he opposed same-sex marriage, to which he responded, “Yes.” This positioning is not new for Sen. Obama. He has uttered those words plenty – during a debate with Alan Keyes in 2004, on the Senate floor in 2006, even in his 2007 Human Rights Campaign candidate questionnaire.

[Whisp]

89. It would be his political opinion if he Worked Against an Equal Marriage law that Congress

would be attempting to pass or just passed.

Politicians get lots of questions that are of a personal opinion nature. Is everything a politician says his professional and political opinion if he holds any public office at all?

Jimmy Carter didn't believe in abortions. That was his personal opinion, that is what he said. but he also said that he will uphold the LAW, because it isn't his job to shove his personal beliefs down anyone throats. Good presidents see it that way and I for one have no problem at all understanding the difference.

[FreeState]

90. Please provide a link were the President says it is his personal opinion n/t

[Whisp]

91. Here: now provide one where he says its his professional and political opinion.

I missed that one.

http://obamaspeeches.com/075-Federal-Marriage-Amendment-Obama-Speech.htm

""Now, I realize that for some Americans, this is an important issue. And I should say that personally, I do believe that marriage is between a man and a woman.""

[ruggerson]

93. Please provide us with a quote where he says he supports marriage equality

You can't, because he doesn't. He supports civil unions, not marriage equality.

Separate but equal.

You can try to spin it any way you wish, but, to paraphrase a famous lesbian, the truth is the truth is the truth.

[SeattleGirl]

94. Whisp did not claim that Obama said he supported marriage

equality. I think you are putting words in her mouth.

[ruggerson]

102. He should be under enormous, unrelenting pressure to change his position

I'm not quite sure why a minority group pressuring the President to do the right thing causes so much consternation around here.

[Whisp]

96. it is his Opinion and like everyone else, he is entitled to it.

I 'personally' don't agree with him, but if I had to right off every person on earth that I don't 100% agree with, I'd be pretty damned lonely.

[ruggerson]

99. He's the President, so his opposition to marriage equality carries great weight

and it is why he is under so much pressure to change his position.

[FreeState]

95. Here

Although Barack Obama has said that he supports civil unions, he is against gay marriage. In an interview with the Chicago Daily Tribune, Obama said, "I'm a Christian. And so, although I try not to have my religious beliefs dominate or determine my political views on this issue, I do believe that tradition, and my religious beliefs say that marriage is something sanctified between a man and a woman."

http://lesbianlife.about.com/od/lesbianactivism/p/BarackObama.htm


Also your quoat does no make it clear weather he's talking about a personal political belief or a personal belief outside of politics (like Jimmy Carter did). Taken with all his other statements on it I do nor read that quoat the way you are reading it.

[Whisp]

97. you asked me where he said he personally believed...

you seemed to not have been aware of that. I provided proof, now you're onto religious beliefs.

everyone has their right to their own personal views and opinions on marriage and religion, that is the crux of the matter. And you are free to suppose he will somehow use his Political power and his Christianity to stand in the way of Law.

[FreeState]

101. Did you read the quoat?

He says he tries not to use his personal religious beliefs for politics but he does in regards to marriage - he is politically and personally against marriage equality.

Regardless of his rights to his beliefs he is wrong.

[Safetykitten]

20. I mentioned this before. It's a win-win for republicans. It makes them look more sane, and

a bonus, makes Obama look very bad, along with the "get to it later" contingent of Democrats.

[David Zephyr]

28. All the credit for our GLBT rights belongs to our GLBT community.

With the rarest of exceptions, politicians in both parties have shunned our community and only when the culture allowed it, when it was safe, did the political structure and establishment move forward with "granting" us our constitutional civil rights.

One of the rare examples in my lifetime was when newly elected Governor Jerry Brown decriminalized homosexuality as his first act as Governor here in California in the 1970's. Jerry was a single man then, and no fool, who clearly knew that the whispers and "jokes" would be out there for decades by his bold act. I will always admire him for what he did. Always.

When I worked in his campaigns and volunteered all these years, it was a joy in my heart doing so.

Lest any forget, none other than Democratic Icon, Bob Kerrey, still make a crude joke about Jerry Brown and lesbians in the 1990's...decades after Jerry Brown had the decency to do the right thing. Bob Kerrey, for all his "liberal" boasting proved himself to be a bigot in the 1990's for crying out loud.

Bluebear, your posting shines the light on national cowardice. The fact that the GOP is now beginning to wink at our community only shows how far we've made them move our way.

K&R.

[AlinPA]

31. GOP acting favorably toward gay people? Absurd.

[Bluebear]

40. A Democratic President saying marriage is 1 man + 1 woman? More than absurd.

Disgraceful. nt

[Name removed]

74. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[mitchtv]

47. Ask Mary Bono-Mack R Palm Springs

how she keeps getting elected? Splitting up the Gay vote, that's how PSP is the 5th largest Gay population in the nation.

[David Zephyr]

54. Thank you for saying this.

She was screwing a married man and is against GLBT rights and idiots in our community vote for her. It drives me nuts.

[mitchtv]

57. do you know about Mary Salas and Juan Vargas?

very close state senate race

[FreeState]

49. My GOP mayor is pro-marriage equality and vocal about it

he even testified in court in support of overturning Prop 8 - the only elected official of any party to do so. He also came out for marriage equality before he ran for his second term where he won easily. No all GOP are anti-gay.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

34. Well good for them

Any Republicans able and willing to tell John McCain (among others) to STFU and support efforts to repeal of DADT? Any Republicans want to co-sponsor (or hell, SPONSOR) a repeal of DOMA? Any Republicans out there loudly supporting and calling for passage of ENDA? It would be great if things are changing and more of them are now more interested in supporting pro-equality legislation and it will make it easier to move all of this through Congress. Aside from a few individuals whom have made "friendly" noises, I'm not seeing it yet, however. I honestly don't see how the Republican Party is going to be able to draw more LGBT votes without being willing to tell its "base" to STFU- and I honestly can't see them doing THAT either. Frankly, I'm still mystified that there ever was a group of LGBTs that call themselves "Log Cabin Republicans". :eyes:

[Bluebear]

92. I'm mystified that we have a Democratic President against same-gender marriage.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

98. There haven't been any Democratic Presidents in recent history

nor any serious candidates whom have supported it either, at least not openly. It's not like Democrats have grown up in a different society/culture that enshrines same-gender relationships as anything other than distasteful if not downright evil. I find their embracing of civil unions to be a positive step forward, particularly given that few, if any, politicians would've openly supported them even a few years ago, however civil unions are still far short of where it ultimately needs to end up. It's very unfortunate that change comes so slowly on things like equality for same gender relationships but politicians- both Democratic and Republican- always seem to be behind the rest of the public when it comes to embracing social and political change and progress though the public seems to still be somewhat ambivalent on issue as well as evidenced by the spate of anti-gay marriage amendments still being proposed/adopted in states across the country. Of course, none of this justifies inaction and/or lack of leadership on the issue by anybody. It's just that it's (unfortunately) going to take a lot of time and pressure on the courts and our elected representatives to get to where we all think we should be. I suspect that a lot of the action in terms of increasing equality for LGBT citizens is going to come from the courts first and foremost. Everybody else should eventually catch on and catch up.

[Bluebear]

103. Sharpton & Kucinich were "serious" candidates. And the only other "recent" Dem. President...

a decade ago. I submit that things have changed. I also submit that our society/culture embraces gay marriage in such different areas as Iowa and New Hampshire.

We don't all have "a lot of time". And I don't need a President who I support financially and otherwise coming out AGAINST my rights.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

104. O.k. Well, I guess I have to qualify my comment about Sharpton and Kucinich

I meant no "electable" candidates supported gay marriage. The big three (or two) back in 2008 did not, unfortunately. Yes, more and more COURTS are making gay marriage legal but I don't think that any state has legalized gay marriage through the legislature.....yet. Howard Dean, I believed, signed Civil Unions into law when he was governor but, of course, that's not the same as gay marriage. Yes, more people are slowly coming around on gay marriage and the more states legalize it and people come to realize that the sky hasn't fallen, that support/tolerance thereof will certainly increase but it will be a slow process. The courts currently seem to be where the most action/progress is being made but hopefully Obama and Congress will come around more on the issue.

[Nye Bevan]

36. I wish Obama was as progressive as "The Economist".

[QC]

63. You mean that notorious Marxist propaganda organ?

They need to be more pragmatic!

[wmbrew0206]

44. This is something to keep an eye on with Republicans and how the Tea Party influences them.

Supposedly the Tea Parties are all about fiscal issues and wanting to focus on America's debt.

Time will tell if this is true, but a case study to keep an eye on is Mitch Daniels. Daniels proposed a "truce" on social issues for several years to focus the republicans on fiscal issues. Huckabee jump all over him about that claim, but Daniels doubled down on it after Huckabee's comments.

How the republican react to gay marriage and DADT in the future will tell us a lot about what they will be focusing on in coming elections. I see a civil war within the party between those who are only concerned with fiscal issues and the social cons who are willing to fight to the death over gay marriage and DADT.

[BlueCheese]

50. There are two explanations for Obama's position.

One is that he really believes that marriage is for straights only. In that case, he's truly lost and is a proponent of bigotry. That's about it.

The other is that he secretly supports gay marriage but is unwilling to say so out of political fear. That's not an honorable position either, for a number of reasons. But if this is the case, I wonder why? Is he afraid that being in favor of gay marriage is a losing position, even though a large bloc of Democrats and Dick Cheney, Meghan McCain, Ted Olson, and a host of other prominent Republicans are in favor? Or is it because he has to stay consistent with his original position and not appear like a weak flip-flopper? I wonder which it is?

The more he digs in the more he runs the risk of being remembered like Orval Faubus. Nobody really remembers anything about what Faubus did as governor of Arkansas. For all I know he was popular at the time and maybe did some good things as governor. But today all anybody knows is that he refused to integrate Little Rock Central High.

[mitchtv]

53. his "original " position before he ran for Pres

was pro equality. POlitics changed that. Typical politician.

[ibegurpard]

52. this gay man will NEVER, EVER support a repuke

and fuck those log cabin shitheads.

[mitchtv]

55. what would you do

with a pro equality Puke and a bigot Dem? We have a lot of that around here. I am planning to leave one ballot slot blank, myself probably, maybe write in, as I will not vote anti equality D or R

[ibegurpard]

56. no vote or a write in

edit: and quite frankly, I'd gladly let gay issues take a back seat if I saw progress on economic fairness and policies that put the general public first before protecting corporate interests...but I don't see that so it's one more thing to be pissed off about.

[Name removed]

60. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ZombieHorde]

61. I am glad a few Republicans are giving vocal support for equal rights,

but their track record is so bad I will have to see some real political support to believe them.

[SoCalDem]

66. It's election season.. they ALWAYS do this

They send out the dog-whistle message to their crazies, to "cool it" for a while, and then they send out their most moderate-looking shills to go on all the chat-shows...They hope to get the attention of the people they loathe and disrespect 24-7, and then try to soothe them into thinking they are "on their side"...at least long enough to get some of the less-informed ones to actually vote for them..

It's worked many times & they wrote the playbook.

Think about it...before Obama, how many black republicans were ever on tv?

[Tesha]

72. Occasionally, Republicans actually *ARE* on the cutting edge.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Brooke

> Edward William Brooke, III (born October 26, 1919), is an
> American politician and was the first African American to
> be elected by popular vote to the United States Senate
> when he was elected as a Republican from Massachusetts in
> 1966, defeating his Democratic opponent, Endicott Peabody,
> 60.7%–38.7%.

[SoCalDem]

73. 1966 republicans would be to the left of most dems these days

:rofl:

[Tesha]

79. Anyone with any sense is to the left of modern "Democrats". (NT)

[Whisp]

75. *snort

*guffaw.

[louis c]

78. Baker and Tisei

In Massachusetts, the Republican candidate for Governor chose an openly gay Republican State Senator as his Lt. Governor running mate. I know it's Massachusetts, but that's quite a statement.

[VMI Dem]

80. Obama has commented on the wisdom of gay marriage many times.

It is his right to do so.

[FreeState]

81. "the wisdom"? Not sure what you mean by that

but as a gay American citizen I have every right to demand better of my leaders.

[JerseygirlCT]

82. Personally, I don't care who is for equality - everyone should be

it's a default position, not a political bargaining chip.

So if more people, including prominent Republicans, want to wake up and do the right thing, I'm all for it.

[ProSense]

83. Obama should feel uncomfortable because

Glenn Beck is trying to co-opt civil rights, claiming he's the next MLK.

[TNLib]

84. I think it's a trojan horse, as soon as they get the log cabin republicans back

then they'll go all holly roller on them and start talking about constitutional amendments to ban gay marriage to appease their crazy base.

[stevenleser]

100. Some Republicans will flirt with the idea, but the GOP cannot get even close to where the Dems are

because the biggest most important part of the GOP base is the Religious right. They lose 1/4 to 1/3rd of their base if they lose the anti-gay portion of the platform.

The Libertarian-leaning part of the GOP is dying to embrace gay rights, but they also know why the party cannot do it. I have written that once we achieve full equality for the LGBT community, we will lose more of that community than we already have to the GOP. The LGBT community has a higher income on average than tne straight community and people who tend to make more, tend to support the GOP position on taxes more.

I'm happy to have the hit to the Democratic Party if it means full equality for the LGBT community. It also means we will have defeated the religious right once and for all.