Why I, a gay American, don't care about Hillary's response.

[PresidentObama]

Like the title says, I'm a homosexual.

With that said, I understood Hillary's response. Politically speaking, she was avoiding the question. It's one of those questions you're damned if you do, damned if you don't. But if she would have answered it, it would have been used by either side of the arguement of homosexuality and morality down the road. While I wasn't 100% pleased with her reply, I understood it. And frankily, putting myself in her place...I would have done the same thing!!

I remember on Meet The Press when Edwards said he was against gay marriage because of his beliefs, and then went on to say being gay isn't a choice and it isn't a sin. I thought that hurt him answering those questions, and as the favorite candidate I have in the current field...I was left a little disappointed by his answer.

Truth be told, Hillary is doing a lot of things we disagree with to be careful and not stumble. Obviously, while I hate that she didn't, not apologizing for her IWR vote was politically motivated in nature. As was not answering this question. Do I think she should have answered the question? Yes. Do I blame her politically speaking? Not at all. Will it change my thoughts about her one way or another? Not even a little bit!!

This is being exaggerated and spread like peanut butter by some of you.

It's obvious Hillary isn't less pro-gay rights then Edwards, Obama or most others. So whats the big deal, she made a good political decision by not taking the bait :shrug:

[Captain Hilts]

1. thanks for this reasoned response. nt

[illinoisprogressive]

2. I just think the gop hate machine has made the dems timid about not standing up

for people. I wish they would stand up and say enough of this hating people because of who they are.

[PresidentObama]

5. Maybe so. But I don't like the fact some DUers are overexaggerating to attack her some more. n/t

[Tellurian]

3. Yep, I agree.. There is a dangerous, evil, mob mentality afoot here

that seems to thrive on attaching Hillary for every little thing they can imagine or invent.
It's absolutely pathological in nature.

I have taken the path, it is impossible to rationalize with the irrational people.

[AtomicKitten]

4. I think it was an inappropriate question posed by the MSM.

As I posted elsewhere:

I have a problem with ANYBODY pontificating about morality. It's entirely subjective and is as individual and personal as spirituality. Nobody has the right to dictate what it means unequivocally. It has been used as a conduit of hate and should be taken out of the mouths of leaders entirely and relegated to the minds and hearts of each individual where it belongs.

[PresidentObama]

7. Agreed. I'm tired of the media's style of "gotcha" politics. Enough!! n/t

[AtomicKitten]

12. K&R

I have stolen your "no more gotcha politics" epithet --- giving you credit, of course

[JerseygirlCT]

34. Exactly. But it's pretty typical of what passes for

news reporting these days -- all tabloid, all the time.

[PresidentObama]

35. "all tabloid, all the time" Exactly....If I wanted Anna Nicole coverage 24/7....

I'd watch Entertainment Tonight or buy Star Magazine.

News these days. Tisk, tisk. The political coverage they give is almost ALWAYS the gotcha politics they like to play. And it seems to always be the Democrats whom are playing hardball with these folks in the MSM.

[JerseygirlCT]

36. I think you get less of her there than on MSNBC and CNN.

As if it matters...

But it's bread and circuses for the masses, isn't it?

[Double T]

6. Agreed. Brilliant real world logic.

Thank you.

[DemKR]

8. I, as a gay American, completely agree. GO HILLARY

[dflprincess]

9. Wellstone was told it was good politics to vote for the IWR and voting against it

would destroy his chances of reelection. He chose to vote his conscience because, as he said, "I have to be able to live with myself." Contrary to what his advisors told him, he surged (pardon the expression) in the polls after that vote.

Pardon me all to hell if I want a candidate with principles.

[PresidentObama]

11. Wellstone, my friend, was a rare breed. May he RIP. n/t

[mtnsnake]

10. Awesome post

Recommended.

[JohnnyLib2]

13. Happy to give the 5th recommendation--for a sensible, sensitive

(and sorta rare) post. Thanks.

[Tellurian]

14. K&R

for Lucky 7!

[wavesofeuphoria]

15. Do we really want elected officials making

proclamations about what is "moral" and what is not?

[Catchawave]

16. Thank you....

:toast:

[mzmolly]

17. She could/should have said "according to the Bible" we're ALL "sinners."

And followed up with Jesus said "let he who is without sin cast the first stone." Not that I want to appeal to the Bible belt personally, but I think these are the people who question others so called "morality."

:shrug:

It's great you have such an understanding perspective, but I am tired of her equivocating personally. I say this as a "straight" American. ;)

[ProSense]

18. It's already out there:

Hillary: I'll Let Others Decide if Homosexuality is Immoral

Don't Ask Hillary About Gay Rights -- She Won't Tell

[flpoljunkie]

30. Very instructive how Taibbi ties Hillary's political cowardice with the DLC mindset

from "Don't Ask Hillary About Gay Rights, She Won't Tell"
by Matt Taibbi, RollingStone.com. Posted March 14, 2007.

We know that's the deal. But that crap doesn't fly with this gay-rights issue. In this case there is no future performance in office one is safeguarding with a careful, poll-tested answer. In this case the very act of answering the question is policy. When you're trying to combat bigotry and ignorance, you need to demonstrate actual human leadership, not computerized hedging. By punting the issue of the morality of homosexuality, Hillary dignifies the question. And let's all be clear about what's going on here. It was the word "morality" that had Hillary spooked. If you read the Democratic Leadership Council's press releases (and Hillary is the horse they're backing most forcefully in this race -- Hill's face is on the banner of their site), you know that they understand "moral values" to be the field of Marathon upon which the 2008 electoral battle will be won or lost. The DLC hacks speak in code in this area, but you can catch their meaning easily enough. Here's a review in Blueprint (the DLC’s magazine) by Jason Newman of a book about "family values":

This is not to say that Democrats can ignore such issues as abortion or gay marriage, topics that reasonable people of all faiths disagree on. There is common ground that can be found, as Miller notes, such as on the need to reduce unwanted pregnancies.

But Miller argues that Democrats must understand that America is one of the most religious countries in the world and confront those issues head on -- by showing respect and understanding for those who disagree on the hot-button social issues.

In the DLC mindset, "confronting" issues head on basically means surrendering. When they say that we need to "understand" that America is a very religious country and "show respect" for people who disagree, what they really mean is we need to waffle as much as is humanly possible in the hopes that the Okies won't guess what we really believe. In Hillary's case, that means trying to reassure gays in one sentence by telling them that homosexuality is "who you are," and stroking swing-vote Christians in the next by saying that you’ll "leave it to others" to conclude the issue of the morality of homosexuality.

http://www.alternet.org/rights/49251

[Connie_Corleone]

19. Someone actually being reasonable in GD Politics??

Let's face it. This place is going to be filled with thread after thread of back and forth flowing crap among each candidates' supporters.

Some news organization gets us all riled up over some non-story to make a candidate look bad and we argue among ourselves over it for days until the next non-story comes along.

You all have a great time fighting over whose candidate is better. :hi:

[Bronyraurus]

20. But it wasn't a good political decision

What mainstream Republican would attack her if she had said "no?"

Could you picture McCain speaking to a group and saying, "Hillary doesn't even think homosexuality is immoral!"

No.

[Bluedogvoter]

21. It was a good decision.

I'd rather she answered, but I also don't think she is worried about Republicans attacking her for what her answer would be.

[Bronyraurus]

22. What was she worried about?

Turning off Christian fundamentalists who would rather blow Elton John than vote for her?

[Bluedogvoter]

24. My opinion is...

If she wins the nomination she will say it is immoral.

[Bronyraurus]

31. Not every problem can be solved

with the classic Clinton 3rd Way. Show some balls, for God's sake.

[donco6]

27. Exactly.

Who did she think she would alienate by simply saying, "no"?

[Bronyraurus]

32. Depressing, ain't it?

[paulk]

48. she's afraid of alienating the people who could very well

decide the next election. The swing voters - the one's in the middle.

Look at the last elections we had in Colorado - both proposals having to do with gay rights went down to defeat. The anti-gay marriage amendment won by 14 pts, while the partnership rights thing lost by 10 pts. Yet we elected a Democratic Governor, took another House seat (giving Dems a 4-3 majority), and maintained the hold on the Statehouse which we won in 2004 (for the first time in 35 years).

Colorado is a swing state - if Democrats want to win the Presidency in 2008, competing in states like Colorado is key. Clearly gay issues don't play well here - yet, a Democrat can win... if they tread lightly around "values" issues. Thus, the "no" answer.

I think we need to give HRC (and the other Dem candidates) a pass on this.

[donco6]

28. It wasn't a good decision from this potential Hillary voter.

Let me be clear: I don't hate Hillary. I cannot imagine not voting for her should she win the nom. BUT, this incident did NOT help her image with me. So how is that a politically good decision? Does fear of Republican attack overrule my impression of her - as a potential voter?

[Bluedogvoter]

47. This is just my opinion.

The reason I say it was a good decision is because I beleive she would say it is immoral. You are assuming she would say it isn't.

Currently she is pandering too her base, well at least she should be. It has been my experience that when someone refuses to answer a question with a yes/no its because there answer will go against what the question asker believes.

[MonkeyFunk]

23. right on

I'm gay, too, and I'm not in the slightest bit offended by her response.

[OneBlueSky]

25. not apologizing for her IWR vote was politically motivated in nature. . .

As was not answering this question." . . .

and therein lies the problem with Sen. Clinton -- EVERYTHING she says or does is politically motivated . . . where are the core values that define who she is? . . . rather than taking a stand on anything, she waits to see which particular wind direction might be most politically advantageous to her . . .

we need more than a human windsock in the White House . . . MUCH more . . .

[paulk]

49. first you have to get in the Whitehouse

why is having the political savvy required to get elected seen as detrimental ?

[Forkboy]

26. A weak answer to a gotcha question

She needs to be a little more ready for that shit,but it doesn't seem like a big deal to me,though I'm not gay,so factor that in if you want to.I certainly don't see her as an enemy of gays,but I don't think she's going to go out on a limb for them either...or anyone else for that matter.She's not that type,for good or ill.

[Cameron27]

29. Excellent post,

K&R if I'm under cutoff time.

[JerseygirlCT]

33. Not gay, but having read the remarks

I agree.

Her personal position on the morality of someone's sexual orientation is beside the point anyway. It's the political positions she'll take wrt to gay rights that matter.

I think, as you say, she was attempting to avoid a ridiculous set-up. And I thought her answer wrt DADT was fairly well done.

The questioner seemed to want a couple of things: a diss of her husband, and a either a put-down or endorsement of something that would tick a large number of people off. Either thing gets lots of press, but she stepped around and kept things focused on the real issues, which is to say gov't policy concerning gays and lesbians.

[eppur_se_muova]

37. Regretfully, I agree. A shame candidates have to play these games...

but it would be foolish to expect them to fall on their swords when they know the question was asked (only?) for the sake of divisiveness.

[ruggerson]

38. Obama did the exact same thing Hillary did

he first tried to dodge it, then his "spokesman" came out later and clarified.

I hold it against neither of them, but find it very sad that at DU, Hillary was bashed for this and Obama given a free ride, when they both reacted EXACTLY the same way.

[AtomicKitten]

40. *

so very DU, sadly

[David Zephyr]

39. Log Cabin Democrats need your membership

Apparently, you are not sure if you are moral or immoral and justify her statement. That's fine.

I only wonder at how far you will go in your dive to the bottom of self-respect.

[PresidentObama]

43. Yawn. Excuse me? n/t

[MasonJar]

41. Hillary did clarify today that she does not think that homosexuality is

immoral. Good for her. It is not the government's business in any case. Even that frightening Mohler who is president of the Baptist Seminary here in Louisville said that homosexuality is partly biological... of course he only said it so that he could push the idea of altering babies at birth or some such nonsense. But he sure did "rile" up a bunch of evangelicals.

[PresidentObama]

42. Agreed. I'm glad she clarified. No more blood in the water for some DU members n/t

[Clarkie1]

44. Well, clearly many others do. nt

[Rusty MacHenry]

45. I agree Kerry'08

First off Edwards is an ass for what he said about being gay. Homosexuality is not a sin nor a choice it's who you are a man don't just go to bed one night dreaming about being with a woman and wake up having a desire for men it just dosen't work like that, you are who you are. I knew a guy when I was in high school who was gay (he was closeted though) and told me growing up he didn't have a desire for women and always thought he was different. He would spend his time playing with barbie then G.I Joes.

And finally I can't stand the stance Hillary took on "don't ask don't tell" when your running for pres you take stsnces on issues, you don't go out and say "it's for other people to decide". that's bullshit. And I feel we need to repeal don't ask don't tell. It's sad here we are 2007 and gays can't serve openly in the military unless they lie about there sexual orientation. When I hear republican talking heads in support of it, it makes me sick. Saying it will devide the military and it will put our troops in harms way WTF? how does being gay put troops in danger, your just saying that cause you hate gays.

I say if gays want to OPENLY serve in the army, navy etc. they should have the right cause they'll fight where alot of straight won't.

Am I right?

[paulk]

50. you are wrong

Hillary is opposed to "don't ask, don't tell" .

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070306/D8NMDAVG0.html

[ruggerson]

46. kick

n/t