More on the Democrats on Gays

Matt Foreman, president of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, shares my disappointment in the Democratic candidates over their lack of support for full legal equality for all Americans:

It’s déjà vu all over again — the GOP often slyly and sometimes audaciously whips us for political gain. The Democrats include us — sorta — but only in response to a direct question and typically in the language of careful legislative reform.

This must change...We deserve and we must demand from the Democratic 2008 presidential candidates the simple and straightforward statement that our humanity requires full respect and fair treatment by all and, further, an equally simple and straightforward condemnation of those who seek to use our lives for political gain. This needs to be said in front of all audiences — not just in front of us.

It's refreshing to see a leader of one of major gay rights organization speaking the obvious about the Democratic candidates. Don't expect the HRC to ever confront this reality.

Gay people from New Mexico can marry in Massachusetts

The AP Reports:

Gay couples from New Mexico can marry in Massachusetts because their home state has not explicitly banned same-sex marriage, according to Massachusetts records officials.

New Mexico joins Rhode Island as the only states whose gay residents are allowed to marry in Massachusetts, the only state that allows same-sex marriage.

In a July 18 notice, city and town clerks were instructed by Stanley Nyberg, Massachusetts’ Registrar of Vital Records, to give marriage licenses to gay couples from New Mexico.

...

Massachusetts began marrying same-sex couples in 2004. Gov. Mitt Romney then prohibited out-of-state couples from marrying in the state, citing a 1913 law that bars Massachusetts from marrying couples who would be prevented from marrying in their home states.

This is good news for gays in New Mexico, but they still aren't totally in the clear:

New Mexico hasn’t outlawed same-sex marriage, but it hasn’t endorsed it either. Nor have lawmakers approved domestic partnership legislation, despite prodding from Gov. Bill Richardson.

...

But those who decide to marry in Massachusetts or elsewhere must be prepared to live with uncertainty, advocates of gay marriage cautioned Thursday.

Those marriages “will be respected to varying degrees,” warned Equality New Mexico. The group said the state, businesses and others may join the federal government in refusing to recognize the unions.

Will Governor Richardson stay true to his Youtube debate rhetoric and recognize the marriages of his gay constituents performed in Massachusetts? If he can't even take this small step (which I'd say Massachusetts has rightly foisted upon him), gays surely cannot trust him to 'achieve' his promises of civil unions, domestic partnerships, hate crimes legislation, and a repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell.

Sullivan on the Democrats' gay responses

Andrew Sullivan provides a nice brief response to the Democratic candidates' responses to the gay questions at the Youtube debate:

It still frustrates. They still won't actually answer the simple question: Why do you oppose equal marriage rights? I'm sorry but I'm not interested in John Edwards' "personal journey". In fact, I'm extremely uninterested. I want to know what his argument is. He disavows the religious rationale but offers no other. If it's the "ick" factor, let us know. If you can't justify that, then live up to your own convictions. Obama was just as evasive. Richardson came closest in talking about what's "achievable." But what does that mean? The answer is: they're too afraid to say what they believe. They still smell of fear. As long as candidates are too afraid to stand up for what they believe, why should anyone support them? We're not electing a focus-group or a consultant. We're supposed to be electing a president.

I concur.

The Democrats on religion

More from the Democratic Youtube Debate: Senator Biden (D-DE) says one of the most sane things I've heard from a politician on religion in a long time:

Religion informs my values, reason dictates my outcomes...I don’t find anything inconsistent about my deep religious beliefs and my ability to use reason.

I did not like what Senator Obama (D-IL) had to say:

We've got to translate our moral, our religious values into moral terms that all people can share, including those who are not believers.

Is he implying that the non-religious lack moral values, that they somehow need to be taught by the religious? Even though Obama represents a liberal twist on faith in politics (a welcome change from the religious right), I still feel uncomfortable with the divisions he makes along religious lines.

The Democrats on gays at the Youtube debate

At the Democratic Youtube Debate, which aired tonight on CNN’s Situation Room with Anderson Cooper, Americans were allowed to submit their questions to the Democratic candidates via Youtube.

Rev. Reggie Longcrier of Hickory, NC submitted the following video to Jon Edwards:

Senator Edwards said his opposition to gay marriage is influenced by his Southern Baptist background. Most Americans agree it was wrong and unconstitutional to use religion to justify slavery, segeragation, and to deny women the right to vote.

So why is it still acceptable to use religion to deny gay Americans their full and equal rights?

Edward responded:

I think Rev. Longcrier asks a very important question, which is, fundamentally, whether it’s right for any of our faith beliefs to be imposed on the American people when we’re President of the United States. I do not believe that’s right. I feel enormous personal conflict about this issue. I want to end discrimination, I want to do some of the things I just heard Bill Richardson talk about; standing up for equal rights, substantive rights, civil unions, what Chris Dodd just talked about, and I think that’s something everybody on this stage will commit themselves to as President of the United States.

But I personally have been on a journey on this issue. I feel enormous conflict about it. I think as a lot of people know, Elizabeth spoke at, my wife Elizabeth out a few weeks ago, and she actually supports, uh gay m-marriage [stutter], I do not, um this is a very difficult issue for me and I have enormous respect for people who have a different view of it.

Anderson Cooper, being a good moderator, pressed Edwards to answer the question, asking bluntly, "why is it OK to quote religious beliefs when talking about why you don’t support something?"


Edwards responded:

It’s not. I’ve been asked a personal question, which, I think is what Rev. Longcrier is raising. The personal questions is, do I believe, do I personally support gay marriage. The answer to that is I don’t. Uh, but I think it is absolutely wrong as President of the United States for me to use that faith basis as a basis for denying anybody their rights. And I will not do that when I am President of the United States.

Edwards still did not respond to Rev. Longcier' s question! From what I've taken from his response, Edwards believes that religion should not be used to discriminate and that he is against discrimination, but he still thinks it's right to discriminate against gays by keeping them from marrying.

Anderson Cooper then pressed Barack Obama on the issue (presumably because he is the only black candidate), saying, "the laws banning interracial marriage in the US were ruled unconstitutional in 1967—what is the difference between the ban on interracial marriage and a ban on gay marriage?"


Obama responded:

Well I [stutter] I think it is important to pick up on something that was said earlier by both Dennis and by Bill and that is that we’ve got to make sure that everybody is equal under the law, and the civil unions that I propose would be equivalent in terms of making sure that all the rights that are conferred by the state are equal, uh, for same sex couples as well as for heterosexual couples.

With respect to marriage it’s my belief, uh, that it’s up to individual denominations to make a decision as to whether or not they want to recognize a marriage or not. Uh, but, in terms of, you know, the rights of people to uh, transfer property, to have hospital visitation, all those civil rights that are, uh, conferred by our government, those should be equal.

Doesn't Obama, of all people, realize that separate is never equal? I wonder when gays will finally wake up and realize that none of the mainstream candidates support their full equality. Gays donate and vote for Democratic candidates overwhelmingly. When will gays stand up and hold the Democrats accountable?

Sex talk on the Senate floor?

In the words of Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) on the Senate floor today:

"all the intercourse I had as a military officer was the best".



No idea what he was actually talking about...I won't ask, I just wish he wouldn't tell.

Useless and Corrupt Politician Hired by Hillary '08

What were your elected officials doing yesterday, besides engaging in hypocritical scandals and cheap election '08 posturing?

Well yesterday, the House of Representatives passed H.RES.287, to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the first use of the name "America", and for other purposes.

H.RES.287 was introduced by Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL) on March 29, 2007. I'm proud to see that the House, under the brave leadership of Rep. Hastings, has taken this step in commemorating such a milestone in the history of our great nation.

So what else has the Honorable Alcee Hastings been up to lately? Besides introducing H.RES.183, expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States Postal Service should issue a postage stamp commemorating the Fisk Jubilee Singers, to the House in February (which was referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, in case you were wondering); and recovering from his 1989 Senate conviction and removal from office for bribery and perjury?

He has been appointed as co-chair of the national Clinton campaign!

Oh the caress of a 7 year old boy: Springer

So lately I have had a true sampling of the best American television has to offer: Top Chef, Hell’s Kitchen, Wife Swap, and yes, America’s Got Talent (I had long been adverse to this, since I am a nostalgic of the good old sitcom of the 1990s; think Seinfeld).

What particularly struck me from tonight’s showing of America’s Got Talent (the selecting of the top 20) in Las Vegas, was a deliciously pernicious soundclip, which could ruin a candidate, if he were say, considering a run for the Cincinnati City Council.

Host Jerry Spring said that millions of Americans watching wished they were as lucky as [Springer] to be holding such a sweet boy. All while hugging and consoling Sage, the 7 year old contestant who had just been eliminated.

P.S. In case you were too lazy or uninterested to click on the links listed above, see key excerpts from the Slate article:

Springer settled in Cincinnati, lost a race for Congress in 1970, and was elected to the city council a year later. He was only 27. He became a popular, outspoken, lefty leader--his first action was to propose a ban on the drafting of Cincinnati residents for the Vietnam War. He resigned in 1974 when he was fingered in a vice investigation--he had paid a prostitute with a check (duh).

P.P.S.

This sounds vaguely familiar (in the broadest sense, forget the particulars of ideology for a moment) to Senator David Vitter (R-LA) who just admitted to paying the ‘D.C. Madame’ for sex.

At least Springer wasn’t one of the greatest crusaders for protecting the ‘sanctity of marriage.’

Dropped call from Obama

I was quite enthusiastic to learn about a new series of ringtones offered by the Obama '08 campaign. Forget the iPhone, I was totally ready to awe all I met through catchy beats such as ‘2002 Speech Remix.’ And of course, nothing says true politico like having your cell phone ring off mawkish platitudes about "change" to the beat of hip hop during your 9am intro to american gov class.

But alas, it all seems to be a communications malfunction at best, or a dirty campaign trick at worse.

Upon signing up for an Obama ringtone (the ‘2004 DNC Speech Rock’ tone to be precise), I learned that there were no free ringtones involved, just a ploy to keep track of and pester unassuming youth like myself. I was told via text that I would be contacted 'periodically' by the Obama campaign, but there was never any information provided, even upon request (also via text) about where I could get my Obama jams.

If we can’t even trust Obama to deliver a ringtone, how can we honestly expect him to deliver universal healthcare?