Just weeks into their presidential campaigns, former Sen. John Edwards (D-NC) and Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) are impressing some political observers for their handling of gay rights issues.
Democratic National Committee GLBT Caucus Chair Rick Stafford and other politicos said Edwards and Obama have quickly outshined a crowded field of other White House hopefuls because they’re prepared to sincerely discuss gay issues.
Stafford said such genuineness is a key quality that many other candidates, including top Democratic contender Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) have yet to demonstrate.
“When Obama and Edwards talk about our issues. I think there’s a sense that they speak from their hearts and they’re willing to show that they’re not there yet, where I’m not sure that kind of speaking from the heart comes from Hillary.”
Edwards and Obama oppose same-sex marriage, but have said they want to expand gay civil rights.
Clinton also opposes marriage equality. In a surprise move last year, though, she said she wouldn’t fight efforts to pass a same-sex marriage law in New York. She has since avoided the topic of gay marriage. In an online chat on her campaign web site last week, Clinton reiterated her support for civil unions but made no mention of marriage rights.
Stafford said Clinton’s approach isn’t playing well among gay voters, who prefer the more “honest and sincere dialogue” that Edwards and Obama offer.
“I think Hillary’s got a lot of work to do reassuring LGBT voters where she is on issues for our community. I think sometimes she thinks of the political angle so much more than where her heart should be.”
Maybe it’s me having attended private elementary school growing up, but when I see and hear Clinton I’m reminded of those stern, border-line mean school marms who tried to force algebra down my throat year after year.
They say one on one Clinton is better. Warmer and less stern but the thing is, the camera doesn’t lie and I just can’t imagine listening to this woman for 6 long years while she’s in office.
Granted, Clinton is better than Bush or McCain but I think I’d prefer Obama.
Morning all. I had high hopes for Hillary but her war vote and her mamby-pamby support for gay rights put me off her. She likes our money and our creativity but when push comes to shove, Clinton would hang us out to dry.
President Bush says his conservative views on homosexuality are informed by his Methodist beliefs. Hillary is also a Methodist. See a pattern? To her credit, Hillary did say her views on gay marriage “evolved.” But in a debate with say, John McCain, I question if she would dart back to her comfort zone on the issue for fear of offending the red state voters she seems so interested in currying favor?
I’m not impressed with Clinton either and I’m not gay. I detest the ROM (republican owned media) for focusing on Hillary & Obama like they’re the only two running for the 2008 election! Because they are focusing on these two, I don’t want these two. I can’t be brainwashed.
Hillary’s objective is to get elected – not to be a champion of civil rights.
The only reason she’s turned on the administration regarding Iraq is 70% of the voters are against it and want the troops home. If a new poll came out tomorrow showing the opposite to be true, Hillary would don military drag and call for a nuclear assault on Baghdad.
Since 1980, we’ve had either a Bush or a Clinton in office and Americans are sick of both! We want change.
Kay,
I feel the same way.
Bush: Clinton: Bush: Clinton? Enough already with the Bush clan and the Clintons.
Someone needs to bump the record player because the needle is stuck! LOL!
Gays are smart. They know from experience when they’re being manipulated by a political opportunist like Hillary Clinton
All things told, the most pro-gay candidate is Rep. Dennis Kucinich and he doesn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of getting elected president.
Oops. New Mexico’s govenor Bill Richardson is good too. I forgot to add him to the mix.
I’m with Kay. If it were realistic, I’d strike a deal with the Republicans today………no more Bushes in exchange for no more Clintons. I’m just so not impressed with Hillary’s “star power” or her lurch to the center. She’s just not the social progressive that I thought she was.
Who knows the real Hillary?
I have gay family members. I also count as my friends, a number of gay people. Without a doubt they are some of the most decent people I know. They’re smart, loyal, kind and funny. Why any politician or political party wouldn’t embrace gay Americans with open arms is a mystery to me.
I know a lot of gay people too and some of them come from conservative families.
This fact alone makes it all the more unsettling that the far right and the religious zealots continue to demonize gay Americans. But this is how conservatives operate today. They rally the troops by uniting around a common enemy.
Unfortunately, it’s usually gay people.
In Michigan, our braindead Supreme Court said employers and the state isn’t required to offer Domestic Partner benefits to gay and to straight unmarried couples.
I was heartbroken and terribly disappointed.
Most of the Fortune 500 companies and many other states and cities are on the leading edge offering Domestic Partner benefits to employees. It’s just: it’s fair: and it’s the right thing to do in the 21st century.
I know the official election season doesn’t begin until 2008 but, I haven’t heard much from any of the candidates on the issue of civil rights, gay rights and certainly not on the subject of gay marriage. Everyone of them is playing it close to the breast for fear they might offend a winger with a Bible. Too bad they’re such cowards.