Boy, that didn't take long! "Gay marriage back as campaign issue"

[KamaAina]

#^%$&%!! AP! :grr:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/gay_marriage_politics

McCain rejected the will of the state's high court even as he tried to maintain his long-held stance that the issue should be left to the states. He suggested that he backs an effort by California's religious conservatives to put a constitutional amendment defining marriage as solely between a man and a woman on the November ballot.

The Arizona senator opposes gay marriage but, in a break with the GOP's right flank, he also opposes a federal constitutional amendment banning same-sex unions on grounds that states traditionally have decided the issue. McCain did work to ban gay marriage in Arizona, campaigning for a ballot measure there in 2006. The measure failed.

This year, there are indications that the GOP's conservative base is not nearly as energized as the Democrats' liberal base. If true, a California ballot initiative — and others in Arizona and Florida — could help mobilize dispirited conservatives to turn out in the fall there and elsewhere, and, perhaps, boost McCain's prospects.

All this spin is making me dizzy!!

[Booster]

1. Amazing, isn't it? Although we shouldn't be surprised.

[Patsy Stone]

2. The big wedge issue that keeps on giving

Frankly, I don't think anything will energize the GOP this year, not even the old favorites.

[msongs]

3. get yer donnie mcclurkin CDs with that old time religion (the one that used ta enslave blacks) nt

[tjwash]

4. God guns and gays...McSame is just a one trick pony like the rest of the repukes.

nt

[MrModerate]

5. It's a sure fact that McCain would love to see a gay marriage . . .

ban on the CA ballot, in some desperate attempt to flog up enthusiasm for his campaign.

I'm all for it too: it'd mean McCain would in all likelihood spend lots more time and money in CA (a state he will certainly lose) in the vain hope that the issue's coattails would do him some good.

Bring it on.

[Monk06]

12. You're absolutely correct. McCain would lighting the 'exploding cigar' of campaign killers by

hitching his wagon to movement to over turn settled
state law by yet another proposal to turn exclusive hetero
marriage into the eleventh commandment.

[Lex]

6. Don't be fooled. It never went away.

nt

[marshall]

7. Isn't that pretty much all three candidates' view

Hillary is against gay marriage altogether, and both McCain and Obama think the states should decide.

Go figure.

[KamaAina]

9. Is she?

Hillary is against gay marriage altogether

From the article:

Clinton's campaign said she "believes that gay and lesbian couples in committed relationships should have the same rights and responsibilities as all Americans and believes that civil unions are the best way to achieve this goal. As president, Hillary Clinton will work to ensure same-sex couples have access to these rights and responsibilities at the federal level. She has said and continues to believe that the issue of marriage should be left to the states."

Sounds pretty close to Obama's position to me.

[marshall]

11. Close, but Obama hasn't restricted himself to civil unions

Hillary doesn't believe the answer lies in marriage equality. Her solution is more of a "separate but equal" one. Maybe that is how the whole thing will play out in the end.

[dsc]

13. that is utterly false

Just today, yes today, he restricted himself to civil unions.

[dsc]

14. that is utterly false

Just today, yes today, he restricted himself to civil unions.

[marshall]

15. I realize they waffle and change their minds, clarify--I was speaking about the relative present

I was talking about the present. I realize candidates can waffle, some more than others. I was just mulling over how Hillary might change her mind about civil unions in order to court the Oregon vote--but then she would alienate the Kentucky vote, which is her West Virginia style base. I think she will stick with her current (as far as I know it) standpoint.
So at this point as far as we know all three candidates have the same position.

Can you point us to the URL that gives Obama's pronouncement this month that clarifies his opinion making it different from what he said in October:

http://visiblevote08.logoonline.com/2007/10/30/obama-on-ellen-gay-unions-now/

[ruggerson]

16. What are you talking about? Of course he's restricted himself to civil unions

and he uses his "religious beliefs" as his reason for opposing same sex marriage.

[marshall]

17. His stand is different than Hillary's

He said he is fighting for civil unions but he basically leaves marriage alone (which I would agree is less than what he could do). Hillary has also supported civil unions but she has said she does NOT support marriage equality. I realize it may not seem like much of a difference, and perhaps Obama is just playing the game better. He does after all have to court the traditional black churches that are (Rev Wright notwithstanding) against marriage equality. Perhaps Hillary is taking a more outwardly strident standpoint because she is scrambling for the West Virginia/Kentucky votes now.

[Bluenorthwest]

19. False-

Obama opposes, on a personal religious basis, marriage equality. This is odd because his church and Rev Wright support equality. Obama has clearly stated that he thinks marriage is 'one man and one woman' just like a Republican, and in fact has said he agrees with Dick Cheney on the issue, he specifically said 'I agree with Dick Cheney'.
In addition of course, his campaign has been tainted by the open use of Evangelical anti-gay preachers who spread their message at Obama events.

Obama has said over and over again that he does not support marriage equality. For others that is. For himself and his parents of course. For others, he wants unequal treatment under the law, he says so, and no amount of Secret Spin Sauce is going to make that go away.

[Freddie Stubbs]

18. Obama is opposed to gay marriage:

"I'm a Christian. And so, although I try not to have my religious beliefs dominate or determine my political views on this issue, I do believe that tradition, and my religious beliefs say that marriage is something sanctified between a man and a woman."

http://lesbianlife.about.com/od/lesbianactivism/p/BarackObama.htm

[marshall]

20. Thanks for the citation!

It's always better than heresay.
Looks like California has an uphill battle.

[Turbineguy]

8. Yes,

it worked the last two times...

[Ichingcarpenter]

10. States Rights... vs the feds

Alabama can keep their laws against dildos
and sex toys.

[Highway61]

21. Yeah?

That train has left the station...just their feeble attempt to cultivate seeds of hate to the ignorant.

Well....this time the Dems better take off the gloves and swing back....lots of ammunition available. They must preface every single time with " an example of another flag waving, christian conservative....and there are LOTS to pick from....


http://salem-news.com/articles/october172007/repub_scandals_10_17_07.php

http://dkosopedia.com/wiki/Republican_Sex_Scandals

http://dir.salon.com/story/news/feature/2005/01/18/scandal/index.html