Logo hosted an event (
okay, I don’t really remember where this event came from. Maybe I should work for Fox News...) that spoke with the Democratic candidates about gay issues only. I’ve always wanted to hear this. I mean, let’s just get straight answers about individual topics, not necessarily gay issues. With all the hemming and hawing most of the political candidates
ON EVERY SIDE do with issues as heated as this, let’s get to the brass tacks here. And don’t distract us with talks about terrorism.
From an
article on Yahoo! News: “All of the Democratic candidates support a federal ban on anti-gay job discrimination, want to repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" policy barring gays from serving openly in the military and support civil unions that would extend marriage-like rights to same-sex couples.” Of course they do. Big whoop. Let's get to the nitty gritty, shall we?
Now I’m strongly leaning towards Kucinich quite honestly, even though truth be told, I’m very fed up with the entire process and don’t trust any of them. The article is helping to cement my ongoing affection towards Dennis K. “A majority of Americans oppose nationwide recognition of same-sex marriage and only two of the Democrats support it — former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel and Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio, both longshots for the nomination.”
When Kucinich was asked whether there was anything on the agenda for gay and lesbian rights he didn't support, he paused and said, "All I can say is, keep those contributions coming ... and you'll have the president that you want." In a statement clearly aimed at the leading Democrats in the field, he said his support for same-sex marriage was "
a question of whether you really believe in equality."
I know the game though. It’s going to be either a total nutjob like Guiliani on the Repubs side that is all “9/11 and America and Terrorists” and either a "black man" or "white woman" on the Dem. Side, neither of which I’m convinced our knuckle-dragging devolved country can wrap their head around just yet and that is all most of them will see Obama or Clinton as. Just their skin or gentials. But it’s so obvious those will be our choices.
I also have a slight distrust of Obama. I don’t know, he just kinda came out of nowhere. And of course, like a true politician, Obama won’t say he’s going to support marriage for gay couples, just civil unions. “Barack Obama belongs to the United Church of Christ, which supports gay marriage, but Obama has yet to go that far.”
"If we have a situation in which civil unions are fully enforced, are widely recognized, people have civil rights under the law, then my sense is that's enormous progress," the Illinois senator said.
On the other hand, historically I’m not a fan of people who have opinions so far on one side or another. I’m a fan of grey area because I think it makes people open minded and not every situation is the same. So I’ll give him props for not bowing down totally.
Some surprising comments also came up from other candidates. New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson said: "Let me be clear — I do not believe that sexual orientation or gender identity happen by choice," Richardson said. "But I'm not a scientist, and the point I was trying to make is that no matter how it happens, we are all equal and should be treated that way under the law."
Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese, who was on a panel posing questions to the candidates, said in a statement, the forum "was an important night in the fight for equality."
"Unfortunately, we have more work to do," Solmonese said. "The overwhelming majority of the candidates do not support marriage equality. While we heard very strong commitments to civil unions and equality in federal rights and benefits, their reasons for opposing equality in civil marriage tonight became even less clear."
But my favorite piece of information from the article:
Of the eight Democratic candidates, two did not attend, Sens. Joe Biden of Delaware and Chris Dodd of Connecticut. Logo, available in about 27 million homes,
wanted to hold a second forum for Republican candidates but GOP front-runners showed no interest, channel officials said.
Ugh, have some balls. At least the Democrats are starting to. Let's see how many apologize or say these comments were taken out of context.
We're off tomorrow bright and early for the woods. My friend traded us painting their nursery for use of their summer pad this weekend and we can't wait. There are 2 pools, hiking and I hear there might be a pancake breakfast and demolition derby.
