Morality is not determined by the church you attend nor the faith you embrace. It is determined by the quality of your character and the positive impact you have on those you meet along your journey
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Where do the Presidential hopefuls stand on the issues pertaining to gay rights?
By the way Fred Karger is gay, which should explain why he so completely separated from the rest of the GOP field on these issues.
I hope all LGBT voters recognize that President Obama is their best hope for complete equal rights. If we vote in a Democratically-controlled House and keep a Democratic majority in the Senate, then President Obama can continue to expand civil rights for every citizen.
What I really don't understand about these right wingers is how they can feel no embarrassment about discriminating against the LGBT community when they actually know some or are even related to LGBT people (helloooo, Michele Bachmann - step-sister, maybe even husband!).
It's easy to demonize a group that you have no contact with because they're the mysterious, scary 'others' who have no impact on your daily life. But when you have members of your own family who are part of that group, HOW can you say they're somehow deviant, evil, despicable people who don't deserve basic human rights?
Rick Perry will sidestep this issue if he can. That's why he lays it on so thick with the generalities and the preacher-ish cadence and the macho schtick. He's got waaaay too many gay lovers here in Texas, and their friends, and their co-workers, etc. It's just a matter of time until this brings him down. You'll see.
Can you provide a source for the GOP candidates who are in favor of job discrimination and against equal pay and benefits based on sexual preference? The others make sense (in the sense that I believe it without a source), but I need to see some evidence for those two.
I simply don't believe that Gingrich or Perry or Huntsman would say that they oppose equal pay or approve of job discrimination.
Hilarious!! I'd suspect it's a wee bit chilly in the family home!! If there was a photo op, I think it would be like that of Sarah and Toad!!! Evil Eye Bachmann!!
"Bachmann on her victory lap in Iowa yesterday,....repeatedly mentioned her family reunion that day, citing it as an excuse for her late arrival at a local party event in Waterloo.
But Bachmann’s mother and two cousins told POLITICO’s Emily Schultheis that Bachmann didn’t attend the reunion, though her husband and children did. Her spokeswoman, Alice Stewart, didn’t respond to two emails asking for an explanation of the disparity"
Funny thing, the voters don't care anymore. The candidates who are so far behind the times can have the 20 percenters, the rest of the country has moved past this wedge issue.
Before I started reading Gryphen's blog, I agreed with you. If you know and love someone who is gay, how is it possible to demonize that person and his/her community?
But now I understand that these people are crazy. I don't understand their motivation, but they live in a black and white world.
That's what mainstream pundits need to understand. They analyze the behavior of evangelicals from a rational perspective, pointing out discrepancies and untruths that don't make sense.
What they fail to understand is that reasoning won't make a difference. Just like the lady on my jury panel years ago, they cross their arms, dig in their heels, and make statements like "Police can do no wrong." We were a hung jury, and sadly that's what the Tea Party is doing to this country.
"I simply don't believe that Gingrich or Perry or Huntsman would say that they oppose equal pay or approve of job discrimination."
oh, they'll probably tell you to your face that they're all in favor of equal pay and equal rights in the workplace. then they'll tell you that what they're opposed to is making new laws mandating that businesses treat everyone equally. businesses have proven time and time again that they won't do the right thing out of the kindness of their hearts they have to be made to do it (see the creation of the fda, epa, osha, etc). they hide behind the "burdensome regulations for business" excuse as a means to justify discrimination.
I hear you and you have a sad but accurate point. I suppose that I will never understand how anyone can feel such hate for a group of people because of something they have no more control over than the color of their eyes (colored contact lenses not withstanding!).
Because of my profession, I have many friends and colleagues who are LGBT. Fortunately, they have all been embraced by their families, as have their partners and their children. What a terrible loss for their families if they DIDN'T accept them with the respect and the love they deserve.
I do take comfort in the knowledge that things are changing for the better, despite of the efforts of the radical right wing. When a high school friend came out to me more than 30 years ago, his family's initial rejection of him was quite a commonplace reaction. However, acceptance of LGBT people as a valued part of our community is becoming more and more an assumed, outside of a small and ever-shrinking minority. Perhaps that minority will never change, but there is a whole new generation who will someday wonder what the fuss was all about. (Anon 5:32 pm)
I think that people who believe in the Rapture (you're either with us or against us) can't allow compassion or empathy to sway their beliefs.
Sounds like you're old enough to have lost some of those close to you to that 80s scourge of AIDS. I'm old enough, and recall those terrible days of losing so many young (mostly) men during the prime of their lives.
There's a certain percentage of people whose minds will never change based on facts presented, but nonetheless MSM has a duty of confronting hypocrisy in all candidates, not just the incumbent ones (as they hammer President Obama every day).
I have to object to Marriage Equality USA's methodology. If you read the details, you saw that they sent surveys to the campaigns "starting in August 2011" with pre-filled answers. The campaigns were "invited" to respond if their positions had changed (note, not to confirm or deny MEUSA's assessment). MEUSA then published their results on August 17 using their pre-filled answers unless they heard back from a campaign.
Consider, if I were to follow this same methodology, I could post to my blog that "Democrats support terrorism" and then invite President Obama's campaign 17 days to respond. When they don’t respond (and why would they; I’m just an obscure blogger), I’ll put out my official 2012 campaign survey results saying that Obama supports terror. After all, he didn’t contact me to change his position.
I'm sure my opinion isn't welcome here, but I would hope the clear-thinking liberals and progressives here would recongnize that MEUSA's methodology is flawed. Conservatives and the GOP support equal rights for gays, regardless of how MEUSA parses our speeches, documents, and interviews into survey results.
well if that doesn't say "gays are 2nd class citizens" then I don't know what does.
ReplyDeleteI hope all LGBT voters recognize that President Obama is their best hope for complete equal rights. If we vote in a Democratically-controlled House and keep a Democratic majority in the Senate, then President Obama can continue to expand civil rights for every citizen.
ReplyDeleteVote!
What I really don't understand about these right wingers is how they can feel no embarrassment about discriminating against the LGBT community when they actually know some or are even related to LGBT people (helloooo, Michele Bachmann - step-sister, maybe even husband!).
ReplyDeleteIt's easy to demonize a group that you have no contact with because they're the mysterious, scary 'others' who have no impact on your daily life. But when you have members of your own family who are part of that group, HOW can you say they're somehow deviant, evil, despicable people who don't deserve basic human rights?
I just don't get it.
Rick Perry will sidestep this issue if he can. That's why he lays it on so thick with the generalities and the preacher-ish cadence and the macho schtick. He's got waaaay too many gay lovers here in Texas, and their friends, and their co-workers, etc. It's just a matter of time until this brings him down. You'll see.
ReplyDeleteCan you provide a source for the GOP candidates who are in favor of job discrimination and against equal pay and benefits based on sexual preference? The others make sense (in the sense that I believe it without a source), but I need to see some evidence for those two.
ReplyDeleteI simply don't believe that Gingrich or Perry or Huntsman would say that they oppose equal pay or approve of job discrimination.
Wow, I wonder if the rabid Ron Paul supporters are aware of his views...?
ReplyDeleteMichele Bachmann BUSTED by her own MOM!!
ReplyDeleteHilarious!! I'd suspect it's a wee bit chilly in the family home!! If there was a photo op, I think it would be like that of Sarah and Toad!!! Evil Eye Bachmann!!
"Bachmann on her victory lap in Iowa yesterday,....repeatedly mentioned her family reunion that day, citing it as an excuse for her late arrival at a local party event in Waterloo.
But Bachmann’s mother and two cousins told POLITICO’s Emily Schultheis that Bachmann didn’t attend the reunion, though her husband and children did. Her spokeswoman, Alice Stewart, didn’t respond to two emails asking for an explanation of the disparity"
http://firedoglake.com/2011/08/16/michele-bachmann-busted-by-her-own-mom/
BUSTED!! ROFL!! Good on ya Mom!!!
Funny thing, the voters don't care anymore. The candidates who are so far behind the times can have the 20 percenters, the rest of the country has moved past this wedge issue.
ReplyDelete@Anon 5:32 pm
ReplyDeleteBefore I started reading Gryphen's blog, I agreed with you. If you know and love someone who is gay, how is it possible to demonize that person and his/her community?
But now I understand that these people are crazy. I don't understand their motivation, but they live in a black and white world.
That's what mainstream pundits need to understand. They analyze the behavior of evangelicals from a rational perspective, pointing out discrepancies and untruths that don't make sense.
What they fail to understand is that reasoning won't make a difference. Just like the lady on my jury panel years ago, they cross their arms, dig in their heels, and make statements like "Police can do no wrong." We were a hung jury, and sadly that's what the Tea Party is doing to this country.
The Heathen Republican @ 5:40 pm sez:
ReplyDelete"I simply don't believe that Gingrich or Perry or Huntsman would say that they oppose equal pay or approve of job discrimination."
oh, they'll probably tell you to your face that they're all in favor of equal pay and equal rights in the workplace. then they'll tell you that what they're opposed to is making new laws mandating that businesses treat everyone equally. businesses have proven time and time again that they won't do the right thing out of the kindness of their hearts they have to be made to do it (see the creation of the fda, epa, osha, etc). they hide behind the "burdensome regulations for business" excuse as a means to justify discrimination.
Could it have been a MIGRAINE headache that made Michelle Bachmann miss her Family Reunion?
ReplyDeleteHey Griff, did you see David Frum's piece on SP? K. Parker had a good one also, too. The shine has come off the turd. LOL
ReplyDeleteI stand with Mr. Karger. Enough said.
ReplyDeletearapaho415 @ 6:49 -
ReplyDeleteI hear you and you have a sad but accurate point. I suppose that I will never understand how anyone can feel such hate for a group of people because of something they have no more control over than the color of their eyes (colored contact lenses not withstanding!).
Because of my profession, I have many friends and colleagues who are LGBT. Fortunately, they have all been embraced by their families, as have their partners and their children. What a terrible loss for their families if they DIDN'T accept them with the respect and the love they deserve.
I do take comfort in the knowledge that things are changing for the better, despite of the efforts of the radical right wing. When a high school friend came out to me more than 30 years ago, his family's initial rejection of him was quite a commonplace reaction. However, acceptance of LGBT people as a valued part of our community is becoming more and more an assumed, outside of a small and ever-shrinking minority. Perhaps that minority will never change, but there is a whole new generation who will someday wonder what the fuss was all about.
(Anon 5:32 pm)
The Heathen Reblican, that's what links are for. Note the blue text in the post: (H/T to Marriage Equality USA.) It's a link. It will bring you here:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.marriageequality.org/election2012
Republicans run on 3 things. abortion, gunrights and antigay. Oh! I forgot the bible, also, too.
ReplyDeleteHey Gryph, did you get a load of this shit???
ReplyDeletehttp://www.foxnews.com/slideshow/entertainment/2009/12/01/sarah-palin-featured-new-childrens-political-book#slide=1
UGH..I think I threw up in my mouth a little.
Wow, I didn't realize Buddy Roemer is such a tool.
ReplyDeleteCheck out Meghan McCain's article
ReplyDelete"Sarah Palin Is a Tease!"
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/08/16/meghan-mccain-on-why-sarah-palin-is-such-a-tease.html
Thanks, I didn't recognize those as links to sources, but that's what I was looking for.
ReplyDelete@Anonymous 5:32 pm
ReplyDeleteI think that people who believe in the Rapture (you're either with us or against us) can't allow compassion or empathy to sway their beliefs.
Sounds like you're old enough to have lost some of those close to you to that 80s scourge of AIDS. I'm old enough, and recall those terrible days of losing so many young (mostly) men during the prime of their lives.
There's a certain percentage of people whose minds will never change based on facts presented, but nonetheless MSM has a duty of confronting hypocrisy in all candidates, not just the incumbent ones (as they hammer President Obama every day).
I have to object to Marriage Equality USA's methodology. If you read the details, you saw that they sent surveys to the campaigns "starting in August 2011" with pre-filled answers. The campaigns were "invited" to respond if their positions had changed (note, not to confirm or deny MEUSA's assessment). MEUSA then published their results on August 17 using their pre-filled answers unless they heard back from a campaign.
ReplyDeleteConsider, if I were to follow this same methodology, I could post to my blog that "Democrats support terrorism" and then invite President Obama's campaign 17 days to respond. When they don’t respond (and why would they; I’m just an obscure blogger), I’ll put out my official 2012 campaign survey results saying that Obama supports terror. After all, he didn’t contact me to change his position.
I'm sure my opinion isn't welcome here, but I would hope the clear-thinking liberals and progressives here would recongnize that MEUSA's methodology is flawed. Conservatives and the GOP support equal rights for gays, regardless of how MEUSA parses our speeches, documents, and interviews into survey results.