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Clinton and Obama: We (Heart) Gays, Especially in Pennsylvania

gay-obama-08.jpgHillary Clinton and Barack Obama want you to know they're not just tolerant, they really like gay people. And they want their votes, especially in Pennsylvania later this month.

In her effort to court the gay vote, Clinton gave an exclusive interview to the Philadelphia Gay News during which she talked about "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," among other issues. The publisher of the paper says both Clinton's and Obama's campaigns have made noises about buying ad space, "but we haven't gotten an insertion order."

Though Barack Obama hasn't done a Pennsylvania-specific appeal to gay voters yet, he has in other parts of the country. According to Editor&Publisher, in March Obama bought full-page, full-color ads in four Ohio and Texas LGBT publications shortly before their state primaries. It was the first time (sez Obama's campaign rep) that any presidential candidate has placed ads in local gay/lesbian publications for the express purpose of "asking for the support and the vote of LGBT voters statewide."

John McCain was asked to do an interview by the Philadelphia Gay News, but declined, as did Obama. "It's a sad day when we are treated with more respect from the Republican candidate, John McCain, than a Democratic senator," said publisher Mark Segal. "With McCain, his top press representative called us back within three hours. It took seven weeks for Obama's representative to acknowledge."

And if you think there aren't enough gays in Pennsylvania to make a difference, think again. The publication says that a full 90% of its readers are registered to vote, and that the "gay vote" makes up to 3 percent of the Pennsylvania electorate, definitely enough to sway the state one way or another.

Ironically Obama (who like Clinton says gay marriage decisions should be left up to the states) said in a speech that marriage should be between a man and a woman. He went on to say that gay rights are often used as an attention-seeking ploy around elections. McCain similarly says that while he's in favor of gay people having some rights, they shouldn't be able to legally marry. Clinton stopped short of saying the same in her interview with the gay paper, but noted that if elected president, she will walk in gay pride parades "to the extent that security would permit."






Comments

I think that to the extent that gays don't reproduce (unless they are consciously seeking to do so) that they constitute a very important part of society in an age gone beyond overpopulation. When you look at the number of unwanted pregnancies and ill-cared for children that heterosexual relations sometimes engender, there is much to be said for the gay life style. Living in France, I'm used to the presence of the Mayor of Paris who is openly gay and who, some think, may well be the next president of France.
I think it's important for all three candidates to recognize the positive role that gays play in society above and beyond the immediate votes that they might receive from the gay community.

Posted by: kathy giannini on 04/04/08 at 1:30 PM  Respond

Hey People,

Just what we need, a cheese eating surrendur monkey from france telling the USA how to deal with the gay issue. This is wrong on SO many levels, i don't know what more to say..

Bill

Posted by: Bill Nigh on 04/04/08 at 1:54 PM  Respond

OBAMA barnstormed with Donnie McClurkin, gospel star, pastor to the black elite and crusading homophobe. Barack Obama ripped a page straight from the Bush campaign playbook with his three date barnstorm tour through South Carolina with notorious gay basher, gospel singer Donnie McClurkin. The Grammy winning black gospel singer’s last effort on the political scene was his song and shill for Bush’s reelection at the Republican National Convention in 2004. Obama has hitched his string to McClurkin’s high flying gay bash kite in part out of religious belief (he purports to be somewhat of an evangelical.) Perhaps like this minister who also practices restorative, religious 'therapy' to cure gays who said in defense of McClurkin: "Telling any child that he or she is born gay and cannot change is a death sentence. Gay activists and their blind allies in the mental health, medical and educational professions have blood on their hands for condemning young people to a life mined with such suffering and disease."

Lars is not voting for Obama.

Posted by: Lars the Viking on 04/04/08 at 3:08 PM  Respond

Perhaps Mr. Nigh can
simply refrain from saying
anything!

Posted by: C. Ryan on 04/04/08 at 3:10 PM  Respond

Bill is just a dirty little troll.

Posted by: Michael Z on 04/04/08 at 3:37 PM  Respond

Actually, Obama pointedly denounced McClurkin's views on homosexuality, and is strongly supported by many in the LGBT community. He supports civil unions between same-sex partners, and equality of benefits for such partners; he supports the Employment Non-Discrimination Act; he favors repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell, and supports the right of gay and lesbian people to serve openly and without discrimination in the military; and unlike Hillary Clinton, he supports the total repeal of the notorious, so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which is a law that singles out gay and lesbian people for affirmative discrimination. Clinton supported DOMA until late 2007, when she switched to oppose one portion, and only one portion, of the law, dealing with federal benefits. She continues to support the portion of DOMA that says that states need not recognize same-sex marriages validly performed in other states. Obama favors repeal of the entire discriminatory law.

Posted by: TKD on 04/04/08 at 3:57 PM  Respond

Hey People,

NO, not a dirty troll, just an average american who can't beleive that you left wing nuts would attack EVERY aspect of America and try and tear down our country, without anyone speaking up...!! For far to long, you were able to hide in the shadows and spout your lies, but not anymore. We will not be silenced, we will stand aginst your assault on our freedoms, and your attempts to decay our culture from the inside. We will not just sit by and watch you destroy and defame our country without a fight.
It is a wonderful thing that free speech works both ways...HUH?

Bill

Posted by: Bill Nigh on 04/04/08 at 4:00 PM  Respond

TKD....thank you so much for
the update regarding Obama.
I appreciate your comments.

Posted by: C. Ryan on 04/04/08 at 5:08 PM  Respond

I'm a lesbian and a thirty-year-Democrat who has voted for every Democratic presidential candidate since I could vote. But I'll never vote for Obama. The Donnie McClurkin episode, plus his refusal to give an interview to the Philadelphia gay press shows me what a homophobe he is. Not only that, but I am disgusted that he never denounces the misogyny in this campaign: the MSNBC creeps like Matthews and Olbermann, and now Randi Rhodes with her "Hillary is an F-ing whore" garbage. No, he never denounces it, he just benefits from it.

He may have "publicly denounced McClurkin's views" although I never saw it, but he still campaigned with him and ignored our protests for months. Obama does not GET it on gay issues. And he REALLY does not get it on women's issues.

I have far more trust in Hillary Clinton. Plus, Obama is unelectable. Twenty years hanging out with Rev. Wright isn't going to fly in the general election.

Obama is the candidate of the wealthy gay male elite. Clinton is the candidate for the rest of us.

Posted by: ccameron on 04/04/08 at 6:44 PM  Respond

Bill Nigh thinks what my partner and I share as a gay couple somehow has an effect on how he lives his personal life. I suppose because he can't get gay sex out of his mind. It's eating the man alive. While I think that all sex between respectful and consenting adults has a kind of beauty - the intimacy, the slide of skin, the desire and satisfaction met - I really don't stop to think about straight sex. It just doesn't occupy my thoughts because if I think of sex it is in the context of my own inclinations. If I do think of straight sex abstractly, it is respectfully and without derision. Again, I can see this universal beauty in people giving pleasure to one another. But Bill just can't stop thinking about gays and their sex lives, despite his insistance that it is vile to him. It's just amazing.
Bill, gay people have been along side of straight people from the beginning: tending farms and classrooms alike; building cities; putting out fires; felling forests and growing orchards; milling grain and textile; helping each other to higher ground in the floods of spring, waiting out storm and siege and waiting in lines for the laughter of theater or the necessity of food. We are people. We've always lived side by side. What your kind objects to is our growing honesty, our rejection of shame, our fledgling freedom. And we will not surrender our innate right to human dignity. No one makes you explain yourself as a straight man or tries to crowd you out of the picture. And I won't let you do that to me or anyone else - nor will countless others. I fully expect your hateful, self-righteous diatribe. You aren't capable of being touched by any man's honesty. I think you're damaged too much for that. However, for every word you waste on hate, I will space one for respect, tit for tat, tirelessly.

Posted by: Paul Miller on 04/04/08 at 6:56 PM  Respond

YOU MIGHT BE AN IDIOT:-)

If you think Barack Obama with little or no experience would be better than Hillary Clinton with 35 years experience.

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think that Obama with no experience can fix an economy on the verge of collapse better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) led the greatest economic expansion, and prosperity in American history.

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think that Obama with no experience fighting for universal health care can get it for you better than Hillary Clinton. Who anticipated this current health care crisis back in 1993, and fought a pitched battle against overwhelming odds to get universal health care for all the American people.

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think that Obama with no experience can manage, and get us out of two wars better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) went to war only when he was convinced that he absolutely had to. Then completed the mission in record time against a nuclear power. AND DID NOT LOSE THE LIFE OF A SINGLE AMERICAN SOLDIER. NOT ONE!

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think that Obama with no experience saving the environment is better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) left office with the greatest amount of environmental cleanup, and protections in American history.

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think that Obama with little or no education experience is better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) made higher education affordable for every American. And created higher job demand and starting salary's than they had ever been before or since.

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think that Obama with no experience will be better than Hillary Clinton who spent 8 years at the right hand of President Bill Clinton. Who is already on record as one of the greatest Presidents in American history.

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think that you can change the way Washington works with pretty speeches from Obama, rather than with the experience, and political expertise of two master politicians ON YOUR SIDE like Hillary and Bill Clinton..

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think all those Republicans voting for Obama in the Democratic primaries, and caucuses are doing so because they think he is a stronger Democratic candidate than Hillary Clinton. :-)

Best regards

jacksmith...

Posted by: jacksmith on 04/04/08 at 6:57 PM  Respond

DON'T BE DUPED !!!

Large numbers of Republicans have been voting for Barack Obama in the DEMOCRATIC primaries, and caucuses from early on. Because they feel he would be a weaker opponent against John McCain. And because they feel that a Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama ticket would be unbeatable. And also because with a Clinton and Obama ticket you are almost 100% certain to get quality, affordable universal health care very soon.

But first, all of you have to make certain that Hillary Clinton takes the democratic nomination and then the Whitehouse. NOW! is the time. THIS! is the moment you have all been working, and waiting for. You can do this America. “Carpe diem” (harvest the day).

I think Hillary Clinton see’s a beautiful world of plenty for all. She is a woman, and a mother. And it’s time America. Do this for your-selves, and your children’s future. You will have to work together on this and be aggressive, relentless, and creative. Americans face an even worse catastrophe ahead than the one you are living through now.

You see, the medical and insurance industry mostly support the republicans with the money they ripped off from you. And they don’t want you to have quality, affordable universal health care. They want to be able to continue to rip you off, and kill you and your children by continuing to deny you life saving medical care that you have already paid for. So they can continue to make more immoral profits for them-selves.

Hillary Clinton has actually won by much larger margins than the vote totals showed. And lost by much smaller vote margins than the vote totals showed. Her delegate count is actually much higher than it shows. And higher than Obama’s. She also leads in the electoral college numbers that you must win to become President in the November national election. HILLARY CLINTON IS ALREADY THE TRUE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE!

As much as 30% of Obama's primary, and caucus votes are Republicans trying to choose the weakest democratic candidate for McCain to run against. These Republicans have been gaming the caucuses where it is easier to vote cheat. This is why Obama has not been able to win the BIG! states primaries. Even with Republican vote cheating help.

Hillary Clinton has been OUT MANNED! OUT GUNNED! and OUT SPENT! 4 and 5 to 1. Yet Obama has only been able to manage a very tenuous, and questionable tie with Hillary Clinton.

If Obama is the democratic nominee for the national election in November he will be slaughtered. Because the Republican vote cheating help will suddenly evaporate. All of this vote fraud and republican manipulation has made Obama falsely look like a much stronger candidate than he really is. YOUNG PEOPLE. DON’T BE DUPED! Think about it. You have the most to lose.

The democratic party needs to fix this outrage. I suggest a Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama ticket. Everyone needs to throw all your support to Hillary Clinton NOW! So you can end this outrage against YOU the voter, and against democracy.

I think Barack Obama has a once in a life time chance to make the ultimate historic gesture for unity, and change in America by accepting Hillary Clinton’s offer as running mate. Such an act now would for ever seal Barack Obama’s place at the top of the list of Americas all time great leaders, and unifiers for all of history.

The democratic party, and the super-delegates have a decision to make. Are the democrats, and the democratic party going to choose the DEMOCRATIC party nominee to fight for the American people. Or are the republicans going to choose the DEMOCRATIC party nominee through vote fraud, and gaming the DEMOCRATIC party primaries, and caucuses.

Fortunately the Clinton’s have been able to hold on against this fraudulent outrage with those repeated dramatic comebacks of Hillary Clinton’s. Only the Clinton’s are that resourceful, and strong. Hillary Clinton is your NOMINEE. They are the best I have ever seen.

“This is not a game” (Hillary Clinton)

Sincerely

jacksmith...

Posted by: jacksmith on 04/04/08 at 7:00 PM  Respond

Hey jacksmith, you might be an idiot...

If you think its acceptable to lie to the faces of the American people about your track record on NAFTA, and claim to support working Americans while having a union buster manage your campaign.

Or if you believe consumer protection can come from the Hillary who supported the banks over the people with bankruptcy bills designed by banks and against consumers.

Or if you believe that the man who proclaimed 'its the economy stupid' did anything but ride the tech wave of the '90s while laying the ground work for the current economic crisis by repealing Glass Stegal, which was designed in the 1930s to protect Americans from fiscal shams by banks like the ones that caused the housing crisis.

Or if you want to elect a fool that lacked the common sense to vote against an obvious ploy by Bush to get us into an unnecessary war, and in fact lobbed on behalf the war along with her idiot husband which led to the deaths of 4000+ soldiers.

Or if you think having fewer years in elected office equates to more experience.

Or if you think that currently losing the popular vote by hundreds of thousands and having a virtually insurmountable delegate lead constitutes a tie.

Or if you think think that some one who is losing belongs on the top of a ballot.

(PS bill is a troll)

Posted by: Michael Z on 04/04/08 at 10:00 PM  Respond

Yes Bill you are a troll, you represent arcane values that the American people are rapidly moving beyond. You in fact do not represent any thing but ignorance and bigotry, and while you so rightly proclaim your freedom of speech those representing values much like your own are undermining the very core of the democracy that belongs to every American from the white house. Its loud mouth ignorant views like your own that have oppressed the freedom of speech of the majority in this country, with snide remarks (get a life, get a man honey, hahaha, etc.) and over whelming belligerence that has degraded the national discourse and attempted to silence true freedom of speech. Its the right, if not the duty, of every American to voice their opinion in our democracy preferably in a respectful manner, and while I admit to the occasional rant you truly degrade the tone of the discourse everywhere you post. (you troll)

Posted by: Michael Z on 04/04/08 at 10:25 PM  Respond

Hillary is musch stronger on gay rights than Obama. He believes marriage is between a man and a woman; she says that right now, it's unachievable.

In all of his years of elected office, he has never marched in a gay pride parade. She is the first First Lady ever to have marched in a gay pride parade.

Posted by: SophieL on 04/05/08 at 12:31 AM  Respond

Do not trust the liar! TKD is correct and I'll vote Obama.

Posted by: Pedro on 04/05/08 at 7:49 AM  Respond

Hey People,

What do you mean by "vote cheat"..? Are you talking about the democrat leaders decideing to let other parties vote in the primary..? Why do you think that the republican primary is limited to Republicans..? You democrat voters have set yourself up for this manipulation. It is all very legal and oh so much fun..:-) I can't tell you how many people i know in other states who are doing JUST what you are talking about. Especially after hussein obama was found to be sitting in the black kkk church with his kids for so long. It kind of made alot or good voters decide to have obama as the democrat candidate...who would have ever thought that the republicnas would be picking the dem's candidate..?
Do you ahve any idea what the black people in this country are going to do when billary arranges to "Steal" the nomination at the convention in Aug..? If you live in an urban center, you had better make sure you are not home when billary does the dirty deed and steals your nomination.. If you think obama supporters will stand by and be disenfranchised by the "Man", you better start talking to your black friends. I have and they keep mentioning something called burn, baby burn... Do any of you younger billary supporters know what that means...?

Bill

Posted by: Bill Nigh on 04/05/08 at 8:38 AM  Respond

michael z, Bill is in the mainstream. In the many states that had the initiative on gay marriage around 66% voted against it. Now may be the morans that didn't vote were all in favor of gay marriage, but for the ones that did vote, gayness was resoundingly defeated.

Posted by: Jody on 04/05/08 at 9:00 AM  Respond

Actually, Jody, in most states where this emotionally charged and manipulative kind of initiative was presented, the votes were more split like 49-51, meaning that a teensy-weensy majority are homophobes. The next generation will see those numbers radically change in favor of gay people like myself. Meanwhile, you and Bill and the current 51% just hang on for the ride. Oh, by the way, guess who you share your world view with? People like Adolph Hitler... Cool, right?

Posted by: Paul Miller on 04/05/08 at 9:30 AM  Respond

Paul,

You are wrong..!!! even in california, the land of fruits and nuts, we defeated ti by OVER 60%.. STOP LIEING...!!! No matter what you think, you have like 20% who are with you, and 20% who feel SORRY for you...Do not for a second think that the majority of citizens agree with your deviant ways..OK..?
Just because you have gotten your gay clubs into our public high shools, just remember, there are schools who have disbanded ALL clubs, rather than accept your gay ways..!!!

Bill

Posted by: Bill Nigh on 04/05/08 at 9:50 AM  Respond

Bill, I stand corrected. My county in Virginia is extremely conservative and here the split was 49-51 so I made an assumption. However, your days are still numbered. Take a look at the poll on this link to see how public views on homosexuality are changing:

http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=273

By the way, why do you insist on validating your view by saying that the majority see it your way? Do you feel your view is less valid if not as many people back you on it? I for one don't have trouble standing up for what I believe in whether it's popular or not. Freeing slaves plunged this country into war because half the nation didn't want to grow - now a very marginal few would say slavery is right. Your kind will stand out as social barbarians in another thirty years.

Posted by: Paul Miller on 04/05/08 at 10:20 AM  Respond

Straight White Obama supporting Guy here,

God bless mmy Gay/Lesbian/Transgendered brothers and sisters on this board. I respect your assertions of dignity and endorse/support your efforts for equality. That said, I'm convinced that your path to equality is through the public hypocracy of "seperate, but equal" domestic partnerships all but indistinguishable in federal and state law from "marriage." Once legal rights are acknoweldged, they can't be rescinded, and, ultimately, such seperate structures won't stand.

Posted by: RJG in VV on 04/05/08 at 12:07 PM  Respond

I never said that bill was outside the mainstream on gay marriage, and in fact I don't pay much attention to that issue as it is of little concern to me and I figure it will probably resolve its self in ten years or so. The fact is the people of my generation (20+ years younger than bill) aren't threatened by the issue, heck I know a guy a little younger than me whose dad was convicted of a gay hate crime and he seems to think gay marriage is fine. The fact is that bill is very backwards on a variety of issues that the rest of America is realizing are important, such as global warming. I for one am convinced that the abysmal job done by the Bush administration has helped set the stage for a long term progressive majority in this country. It seems that neocon rule along with demographic changes that MoJo mentioned a while back will lead to a long term series of crushing defeats for the belligerent fools in the republican party that represent bills positions, meaning he is falling into the minority. Perhaps he is not falling into the minority rapidly, but is instead doing it slowly but surely, but either way its happening.

Posted by: Michael Z on 04/05/08 at 1:01 PM  Respond

Paul, you are a troll. You should post some place else. Everybody knows that Hitler was a homosexual along with many in the third Reich. Hitler was also a vegetarian.
In my state of Louisiana, the gays were defeated by 7 to 3. And we tolerate diversity in sin city(which God sent the flood, and people didn't listen to Noah, and they partied on, and got what they deserved), but when it comes to marriage, no way.

Posted by: Jody on 04/05/08 at 3:46 PM  Respond

We must not forget our dear Karl Marx who condemned the sexual freedom advocated by Fourier and Saint-Simon as a relapse into a "bestial" state of "universal prostitution". Engels condemned homosexuality among men of ancient Greece in two separate passages of The Origin of the Family, Private Property, and the State, describing it as "morally deteriorated", "abominable", "loathsome" and "degrading". Marx apparently shared Engels' views, writing that "the relation of man to woman is the most natural relation of human being to human being" and describing the author of a text promoting sexual freedoms as "that queer prick" ("Schwanzschwulen"). According to the socialist writers Hekma, Oosterhuis and Steakley, Marx and Engels saw any form of sexuality outside of a monogamous heterosexual marriage as a kind of degeneracy fostered by capitalism, which could be cured by socialism. According to Engels, "natural moral principles" would flourish in the socialist future, when (heterosexual) "monogamy, instead of declining, finally becomes a reality — for the man as well, and homosexuality would simply disappear.
August Bebel's Woman under Socialism (1879), the "single work dealing with sexuality most widely read by rank-and-file members of the SPD," was even more explicit in warning socialists of the dangers of same-sex love. Bebel attributed "this crime against nature" in both men and women to sexual indulgence and excess, describing it as an upper-class, metropolitan and foreign vice.

Posted by: Steinberg on 04/05/08 at 3:59 PM  Respond

Although I believe the gay marriage issue should be addressed, it's not important to most of the country, and I agree that gay marriage and abortions, two issues usually used as wedges in the right/left culture wars, act solely to divide people. I don't care if adam wants to marry johnny. Creating jobs, eliminating poverty, health insurance, iraq, those WEIGH FAR MORE than gay marriage.

Posted by: Jazzence on 04/05/08 at 6:52 PM  Respond

Although I believe the gay marriage issue should be addressed, it's not important to most of the country, and I agree that gay marriage and abortions, two issues usually used as wedges in the right/left culture wars, act solely to divide people. I don't care if adam wants to marry johnny.
Creating jobs, eliminating poverty, health insurance, iraq, those WEIGH FAR MORE on the scale of importance, than gay marriage. period.

Posted by: Jazzence on 04/05/08 at 6:53 PM  Respond

Although I believe the gay marriage issue should be addressed, it's not important to most of the country, and I agree that gay marriage and abortions, two issues usually used as wedges in the right/left culture wars, act solely to divide people. I don't care if adam wants to marry johnny.
Creating jobs, eliminating poverty, health insurance, iraq, those WEIGH FAR MORE on the scale of importance than gay marriage. sorry.

Posted by: Jazzence on 04/05/08 at 6:54 PM  Respond

Although I believe the gay marriage issue should be addressed, it's not important to most of the country, and I agree that gay marriage and abortions, two issues usually used as wedges in the right/left culture wars, act solely to divide people. I don't care if adam wants to marry johnny.
Creating jobs, eliminating poverty, health insurance, iraq, those WEIGH FAR MORE on the scale of daily importance than gay marriage. sorry.

Posted by: jazzence on 04/05/08 at 6:55 PM  Respond

For those haters who say Obama doesn't come correct on gay issues, here's something to chew on:

http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid50021.asp

Posted by: jbb on 04/05/08 at 7:00 PM  Respond

Jazzence, I hear you. I was responding to Bill and Jody, who have been hate spewing. But by and large, economy, ecology, health care and civil liberties for all groups are obviously of a greater importance to any thinking person. Johnny being able to marry Frank is nice, but not if they can't find a job because of the economy or if food is scarce because of the environmental conditions.
Jody, who is the troll here? Why is someone who is so backward that they aren't even familiar with the Bible [God promised never to use flooding as a measure again] trying to take a righteous religious position on homosexuality and Katrina? Why is someone who is so cemented in a hateful and conservative view hanging out with the faggoty, vegetarian, tree-hugging, progressive crowd over at MoJo? That's what real trolling is, kid.

Posted by: Paul Miller on 04/06/08 at 5:52 AM  Respond

To be honest, the LGBT community is loose and broken. Those who hold the closest of similarities - lesbians and gays - also have very little interaction as would not surprise most men and women. Bisexual individuals often opt eventually to marry heterosexually and find greater acceptance in the public at large, and transgender issues are almost beyond the scope of the concept of innate sexuality. After all, a boy that wants to be a girl in order to be with boys sounds like a case of firm resistance to innate homosexuality than an issue of gender (has become susceptible to society's gender role expectations rather than accepting one's own identity and sexuality). Furthermore, LG people also have concerns - do we even want marriage? why is everyone talking about marriage when we don't even have housing and employment protections?! For many of us, it is more important to have non-discrimination legislation than marriage, because many including myself find that civil unions are much like marriage without a religious aspect. I do not think a religion should be forced to recognize a homosexual union, but can if it wants. So how about we just wipe the whole system clean and give marriage certificates to people joined by a religious leader and civil certificates to anyone joined by a public servant/official? The government has gotten too deeply involved in marriage and personal unions and therein lies the greatest problem. Still, how does a politican court such a diverse community? It's like bundling heterosexuals together and ignoring differences in culture, age, economic class, etc. For Clinton, though, I see a great hurdle - her once unfaithful husband passed DOMA in order to escape his own infidelity and reaffirm a general commitment to his own marriage. Personally, that hypocrisy by Mr. Clinton leaves a sour taste in the mouth enough to spit (and I do not like spitting). As for the other candidates, well they are all too corporate-led to appeal to me much. I suppose I'll end up voting Nader/Gonzalez because we need an equally strong counterweight to this system to bring it back into balance.

Posted by: Mark on 04/07/08 at 8:51 AM  Respond

Good points, Mark, but a vote for Nadar is just a vote for McCain. It's a fact. You might as well just go vote for McCain directly; the result will be the same.

Posted by: Paul Miller on 04/07/08 at 9:00 AM  Respond

A few thought for Mark and Paul, 1) voting directly for McCain is most defiantly not the same as a vote for a third party candidate. If you vote Nader you are definitely throwing your vote away, but an actual vote for McCain is a vote for things no progressive in their right mind really wants. 2) I agree with Mark about the right of churches to refuse or allow the granting of marriages, but I think that there is a more fundamental issue that undercuts the rhetoric of the right. Conservatives always talk about the 'sacred bond between a man and a woman', but of course it would be against the constitution for the government to make anything sacred. Only a church can sanctify, therefor by the conservative definition of marriage the government merely grants extra rights and no government can grant anything that is an actual marriage. On another note certain things can constitute too much information Mark, and that would leave a bad taste in everyone's mouth.

Posted by: Michael Z on 04/07/08 at 11:46 AM  Respond

Vote for Nader. IF you vote for the major parties, you are throwing your vote away. Americans need to take back the country from the CFR that controls both paries.

Posted by: Pete on 04/07/08 at 3:57 PM  Respond

It's not that I don't agree that both parties are corrupt, but voting for Nader or any other independent right now spells out disaster. It only hands the election over to what is still, at the end of the day, the far, far, far worse of two evils. That thinking has already damaged America too much. Get the 'lesser' in, slow the death march that the republicans have set this country on, and then begin to build a ground swell, progressive movement that will help independents. A twelve percent group of Nader enthusiasts only acts as a fly in the ointment. When you can get your public behind you better, showing much higher numbers in polls [any polls] then you can feel confident enough to step into the ring and swing things around. But now, as I've said before, you might as well just march us all into the RNC and concede the election. The reality is that if everyone that wants to vote Nader got organized and went to the DNC making progressive demands, making a very convincing argument that their votes can make or break the Democratic victory, they would be able to shape the platform of the DNC. But divided we fall.

Posted by: Paul Miller on 04/08/08 at 4:31 AM  Respond

Paul, the DNC understands losing an election because they do not adopt Ralph Nader's position of the issues. It is a blunt but effective tool. The Democrats will lose this election if they do not come around and support the will of the people. You have to tear down to build up. The Democrats got punished the last 8 years and it appears, that like a Donkey, they have not learned their lesson yet.

Posted by: Pete on 04/08/08 at 8:44 AM  Respond

No, Pete, the Dems aren't punished - the people are the ones who lose here. And no matter how you might gloat, thinking your indie vote is really tellin' em off, you just make the people whom the Bushites hold in contempt the victims - everyone outside of their elite power circle. Hate to seem like I'm overstating things, but you've got blood on your hands, Pete. Hope your self-righteousness comes with a stain remover.

Posted by: Paul Miller on 04/08/08 at 12:21 PM  Respond

Did anyone saw Hillary's comments on Ellen Degeneris Show? She fully support Gay and Lesbian marriage.
Wake up America, we are all sharing the planet and we all benefit from peaceful communion.

Posted by: Monica on 04/09/08 at 11:26 AM  Respond

Paul, you are delusional. Probably comes from trolling too much.

Posted by: Pete on 04/09/08 at 11:58 AM  Respond

Mark - I disagree with you on your stance regarding a boy wanting to become a girl so 'he' can be with a boy, being a case of unacknowledged homosexuality. Transgender issues are totally separate and apart from homosexuality (as has been explained in great detail by my daughter). I understand the confusion that could arise because it is a really complex state of being but I doubt that there are many people who would go to the trouble and pain, both physical and emotional, of doing what needs to be done to become the other gender in order to disavow their being gay. Kind of overkill, don't you think?

Posted by: Brianna on 04/09/08 at 12:08 PM  Respond

I'm queer and I support Obama 100%. there were a few moments when I questioned his decisions, but I think he's the right person for the job.

Posted by: heather on 04/09/08 at 12:12 PM  Respond

gayness was defeated? who's the morOn (educate yourself on issues and spelling). gayness was defeated-you make no sense honey.

Posted by: heather on 04/09/08 at 12:17 PM  Respond

There are no "gays" or "straights" - just humans.

Homophobia is a personal fear of ones own sexuality. Internal confusion expressed externally as hate.


Flash! This is the 21st century.
Leave your hang-ups behind. I'm a tax paying democratic voter. What I do or don't do with my life is nobody's business. Now, for my taxation I do demand MY rights, ALL of my rights, not just some of them. Nice of all three politicians to converge in their condescensions.

Posted by: maribel on 04/09/08 at 3:42 PM  Respond

Marx, Engels? Just what are you talking about Steinberg?
If Bill is stuck in the past millenium, you're definitely stuck in the 19th century. If you're just an orthodox communist, you may look into China, they're totalitarianly accepting new members.

Posted by: maribel on 04/09/08 at 3:56 PM  Respond

You know what I happen to like gay people its their lifes to do as they wish they are not bothering anyone, as for hil and her comments on the gay votes she used a "derogatory"statement by useing the words "fairytale" when she knew it was Obama really wanting liberation for the gay rights, I hope Obama gets all their votes and can see the issue here.

Posted by: somegal on 04/09/08 at 5:41 PM  Respond

RJG in VV great post one step at a time excellent thinking !

Posted by: somegal on 04/09/08 at 5:53 PM  Respond

maribel, China is 1 billion people and the future. Get with the program. We are number one. You can't stop our Olympic Torch or our Olympics.

Posted by: Yellow Dragon on 04/09/08 at 8:04 PM  Respond

"cheese eating surrendur monkey"

Hey Bill - watch out - you're ignorance is showing - wow - you're so smart, you can insult French people - you're to be much admired

Posted by: eviltwit on 04/09/08 at 10:44 PM  Respond

Obviously Bill and Jody like being "verbal terrorist" in their posts.

Posted by: Tristan on 04/10/08 at 3:39 AM  Respond

Tristan, you just can't handle the truth.

Posted by: Jody on 04/10/08 at 7:50 AM  Respond

Jody, The truth? As you see it. The voice of the majority does not always speak for what is right. You mention Hitler...as most far "right wingers" do and yet he too is considered "far right". He promoted "love" the nation or else and he promoted the selected majority as you do. You need to study your history before you make a "miss statement."

Posted by: Tristan on 04/10/08 at 9:07 AM  Respond

Tristan, "miss statement"? What a sexist your are.

Posted by: Jody on 04/10/08 at 10:40 AM  Respond

Love all you people on this board for your honesty!

Posted by: somegal on 04/10/08 at 10:58 AM  Respond

Jody Bravo...or Brava! Thought you'd get a kick out of that one.

Posted by: Tristan on 04/10/08 at 1:10 PM  Respond

Gay marriage is as important an issue as was ending segregation for black people in the south. Telling us that our right to legally marry isn't important is like telling us to sit in the back of the bus.

Posted by: Andrew Werling on 04/10/08 at 1:34 PM  Respond

Hey People,

This post:

Gay marriage is as important an issue as was ending segregation for black people in the south. Telling us that our right to legally marry isn't important is like telling us to sit in the back of the bus.

Is so stupid on so many levels it is funny. I bet black people would have a problem with you trying to equate there outward skin tone and the treatment they recieved, with your internal gayness..?
And by the way, NO ONE is restricting you right to get married...!!!! There are just limits in place, like me not being able to mary a child, a sister/brother, or any other form of deviant sexual pairing you can come up with. There are limits to everything in society, you are just trying to tear down one more piece of our moral culture, so that you can satisfy whatever sexual perversion you want that day. YOU want NOTHING to be improper or unacceptable...!!!
I will give you this, the day you say it is legally permisable for your next door nieghbor to mary and bed you 10 yr old sister, then you can actually beleive that the rules have changed enough for you to mary his little brother..

BIll

Posted by: Bill Nigh on 04/10/08 at 1:50 PM  Respond

Thanks for that feedback Bill. Very, um, enlightening. I didn't realize that what I wrote was stupid. But after reading your reply I feel as if a white light is shining down upon me and I have awakened from my own idiocy! Thanks, man!

Posted by: Andrew Werling on 04/10/08 at 1:53 PM  Respond

Andrew, what you did write was not stupid, just moronic.

Posted by: The Professor on 04/10/08 at 2:25 PM  Respond

Us GLBT folk will never get exactly what we request nor what we need as tax paying, hard-working, consumers in Amerika [See Kafka.] to realize 100% of our basic civil rights. Every election finds us looking to a politician who verbalizes support, receives our votes, then throws us under the bus [Thanks, Melissa!] once in office. That's on the Democratic side, on the Republican side a laughing stock is made of the Log Cabin members who seem to only bang their heads against the Republican Party planks, not a single change has been effected from within by the Log Cabin members. We either need our own GLBT party or our own GLBT candidate in every presidential race, otherwise, we will continue to beg and plead for crumbs making the same whining noises to the same powers that be and I will not be able to marry my domestic partner of 27 years thereby having to gird ourselves with much more legal paperwork than any other couple will have had to complete to be together so that if hospital visits are needed there won't be any obstacles, so that our joint tenantcy with right of survivorship won't be challenged upon the death of one of us leaving the other without a house, and a myriad of other legal rights, privileges, and protections afford to other married citizens. Replay the Logo Channel "debates" and listen to Senator Obama then Senator Clinton answer the questions. I urge everyone who has posted a comment in this list to post comments at the Obama, Clinton, and McCain web sites about the candidate's stance on the GLBT issues, same-sex marriage, why newspaper interviews were not given, what is it that informs their homophobia or their support and how they plan to demonstrate such in legislation, etc. The debates that we have in columns such as this one are the debates in which the candidates must be included. If they won't come here, then we must take it to them.

Posted by: Dorian Gray Resurgent on 04/10/08 at 7:46 PM  Respond

How is Bill Clinton one of the greates President's in our History ? Please explain! Did he do away with the FED? ( corrupt organization), HE IS A LAWYER RIGHT? What about the 16th amendment, you know the lack of 2/3 majority ratification, did he spend more money then he took in? created jobs? i drive a truck.. teamster and my wages have been falling for 10 years!! i work harder and harder every year to bring home less WTF!!! great president!? Kiss my [deleted]!!!

Posted by: Karl Marx on 04/10/08 at 11:33 PM  Respond

Karl, it is the CFR and the Trilateral Commission, not to mention the international Bilderbergers that are the puppet masters. The presidential candidates are their puppets. Vote for Ralph Nader.

Posted by: Ms. Green on 04/11/08 at 6:44 AM  Respond

Oh grow up, "professor."

You guys are so boring.

Posted by: Andrew Werling on 04/11/08 at 10:25 AM  Respond

I think some of the posts here prove some people have a very hard time getting past the hate. Some people want to sit in judgment of others and they do so without any consideration for the unique and varied human response.

They don't know themselves so they will never know others.

"We hate some persons because we do not know them; and we will not know them because we hate them."
Charles Caleb Colton (1780 - 1832)

Michelle Obama should be ashamed.

"GLORK" Michelle Obama should be ashamed of her separatist-racist connection to Farrakhan and Chicago's Trinity United Church trumpeting Barack Obama AKA Barack Hussein Obama as the second coming of the messiah. Beneath that Darth-Vader-Mace-Windu-Jedi-Me ssiah Helmet Hairdo of Michelle Obama lurks a Wildabeast. If Michelle Obama new what her husband -- the Hope-A-Dope, Fonster Monster -- Barack Obama AKA Barack Hussein Obama did in Harlem, she would wash her wide-open, Hus-suey loving MUSILM mouth out, with twenty-four (24) mule-team double-cross X-boX-BorraX. The Lexis-Nexis-Albatross-Abacus-Complex of Barack and Michelle's relationship with MUSLIM "PATWANG-FWEEE" Rev. Wright, Louis Farrakhan, and black demagoguery; is about as much of a Hoax as Oxfam volunteers believe in HIV-- AIDS Witch Doctors in Africa they feed. If Barack Obama had married Shaniqua instead of Michelle, his jackenapes collegial elitism attraction would be taken a lot more seriously. Expectations are that Obama will manage his explosive MUSLIM JIHADI -- FATIMA EXTREMISM obsession bitter. He is a MUSLIM "Glork" It’s time to introduce this false, fake "GLORK" Xerox - X box Obama and invite the self-indicting thief plagiarizing pipsqueke Xerox - X box to meet the Buffalo "GAZOWNT-GAZIKKA" Police Department Buffalo Creek. He's MAD!!!

http://www.halliburtonwatch.org/

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