Sharpton: Bush took advantage of gay marriage debate

[Freddie Stubbs]

ATLANTA - President Bush exploited religious feelings against gay marriage in his re-election campaign, former presidential candidate Al Sharpton said.

Speaking on Sunday at Atlanta's Butler Street Christian Methodist Episcopal, Sharpton said Bush used the gay marriage debate to draw attention away from the Iraq war and ignored domestic problems.

"I think George Bush manipulated a lot of religious feelings about marriage when the president has little or nothing to do with marriage," Sharpton said.

The 2004 election was not the place for a moral debate, the New York Democrat said.

more: http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/mld/ledgerenquirer/news/local/10607670.htm

[Philly Buster]

1. Actually I thought Bush pretty much ignored it

Instead he let his operatives do his dirty work for him. But I can't listen to him when he's on the tube so I may have missed something.

[russian33]

2. I watched a Chris Rock special yesterday

a recent one...and he said something to the extent "It's amazing how clear of a position Bush took on gay marriage. If you ask him about Iraq and economy, it's all about 'we're making progress...democracy is on the way...indicators are up..blah, blah, blah'...mention gays getting married, and it's 'F&^k the fags!'.

It's funny (and sad) cause it's true.

[Freddie Stubbs]

3. He is certainly able to stay on message

when he wants to.

[NationalEnquirer]

4. No Duh!

This is like "No Shit Sherlock!"

It motivated his base, I dont care what any analyst says.
I thought the whole "national debate" was a con job by the Republicans, and they got away with it.

Ultimately it doesn't matter, gay marriages WILL HAPPEN.
Sooner or later, it is unstoppable in my opinion.
As the old homophobes die off, the younger more tolerant folks will allow this to happen.

I didn't know ANY republicans who were really against it, but then all the ones I know are like under 30.

[Name removed]

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[forgethell]

5. I grant you that

all this is so. But can we realistically expect the Republicans only to campaign on issues where we represent the majority view and refrain from those that, they think anyway, they represent the majority view.

This seems to me to be wishful thinking that they would not raise their issues, same as we do. We just need to learn how to combat it better. Whining after the fact doesn't change anything.

[Name removed]

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[DearAbby]

7. I agree, They had to have a reason for the extra votes for *

Why would these states, have on a ballot to ban something that was not law in their repective states? It was a non-exisitant issue. Correct me if I am wrong, But which one of these states had a standing law that Gays could marry?

[Name removed]

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