Same-Sex Marriage Update

[dreadgeek]

Originally Posted by iamkeri1

Toughy and dreadgeek,
I can not imagine a female, a poc or a queer folk of any kind BEING a republican. There are of course, at times, good republican candidates for office who deserve our votes. For me, I will "dance with the one what brung me." I have been a democrat since I was 8 years old. and I will remain one till death.

See, my problem with the Democratic party is that they KNOW we have no place to go so they never have to go on record or actually keep any campaign promises. It's not so much policy (although I have problems with both the far conservative and far liberal wings of the Democratic party) that I differ with. Rather, I want the Democratic party to have to work for my vote. Last night on The Last Word, O'Donnell asked Howard Dean a very penetrating question "to what degree do Democrats just *say* that they not in favor of marriage equality when they are actually only saying that for electability reasons". Dean was manifestly uncomfortable with that question because, I believe, it hits very close to where the Democratic party lives. I am willing to bet that most Democratic politicians, and EVERY one that isn't in the South, is in favor of marriage equality but will not say that for one reason: cowardice.

It's a very simple calculus for the Democratic politician: Yes, hemming and hawing will piss off the queer base of the party but where else are they going to go? The GOP? Not hardly. The Greens? Probably not. So at the end of the day, they'll still get our vote no matter how much they evade. I want that to pass. I want the Democratic party to have to worry that if sell us out time and time again, we'll take our votes elsewhere.

As far as being a Republican, if certain conditions were met I could see myself voting Republican. Those conditions would have to be met before that could happen. The GOP would have to decide that they want MY vote more than want the vote of some racist. They would have to decide that they want MY vote more than they want the vote of some homophobe. If that day ever comes, I might consider it.

I remember a very different GOP than the current party. Thirty or forty years ago, the GOP was not the haven of crazies and bigots it has become now.

It is said that elected Democrats hate their base and elected Republicans fear theirs. I would like to give the Democratic party a moment of pause.

However, it seems our president has preceeded you in joining the republican party.

Naw, he's just a typical Democrat (i.e. spineless).

My hope is that next year, with the Tea Party pulling the GOP to the extreme fiscal right and the religious right pulling it to the extreme social right, the coalition will tear itself apart in the aftermath of a humiliating loss.

Cheers
Aj

[iamkeri1]

Originally Posted by dreadgeek

My hope is that next year, with the Tea Party pulling the GOP to the extreme fiscal right and the religious right pulling it to the extreme social right, the coalition will tear itself apart in the aftermath of a humiliating loss.

Cheers
Aj

From your lips to the goddess ears!
Smooches,
Keri

[MsTinkerbelly]

Has anyone heard what is happening with the vote in New York?

[iamkeri1]

Watching MSNBC - still no vote.
Biting my finger nails!
Smooches,
Keri

[Jess]

Obama speaks at NY Gay fundraiser tonight.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...ryId=137359508

[MsTinkerbelly]

Originally Posted by Jess

Obama speaks at NY Gay fundraiser tonight.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...ryId=137359508

I understand that President Obama has done what he can do with the Gay rights issues...he cannot "make laws", and change things alone.

That being said, he has been a HUGE disappointment to me on the issue of Same-sex marriage. I can get how you would be on the fence about it, and then "see the light" and want to fight for equality, but to one day be for it and then crawl back into the "I think marriage should be one man and one woman" hole because it is a more "popular" view point and you want to get re-elected....he won't get my vote this time.

But that is just my viewpoint.

[Toughy]

Anytime someone says that Obama will not get their vote again a thought runs through my head: Who in the hell are you gonna vote for then??????

If the response is I'm not gonna vote for anyone, I think about the duty and obligation of a citizen to vote.

And I flat out do not understand why anyone votes for Republicans. They seem to be a party of hate and greed.

Obama did say last night: "Ever since I have a memory about what my mother taught me, and my grandparents taught me, I believed that discriminating against people was wrong. I believed that discrimination because of somebody's sexual orientation or gender identity ran counter to who we are as a people, and it's a violation of the basic tenets on which this nation was founded. I believe that gay couples deserve the same legal rights as every other couple in this country."

I will see in my lifetime gays serving openly in the military and having the right to a civil marriage. It will happen under Obama and probably in his 2nd term. If a Republican is elected President and/or gains control of both Houses in 2012, I would bet my life neither will happen.