Reply #236: You have given me some food to chew on... [View All]

[FedUp_Queer]

I was an Edwards guy...still at heart am. I have to admit I have never been a fan of the Clintons, either one. As a gay person, I do NOT understand the apparent love many GLBT people have of Bill and Hill. He signed DOMA (then he ran ads during the 1996 campaign bragging about preserving "traditional marriage"). He instituted DADT. Now...Hillary is not for full repealing DOMA (big minus for me). Hillary is for repealing DADT. Hillary is for the Uniting American Families Act. So, there are reasons for me to vote for Hillary. Obama is for fully repealing DOMA. Obama is for repealing DADT. Obama is for the Uniting American Families Act. Obama shared the stage with Donnie McClurkin (big minus for me.) Based upon these things, I slightly favor Obama. Now...Much of what LadyVT says gives me pause. The Pakistan issue troubles me. I know I'm nearly alone on this, but I don't think al Qaeda is that big a threat, but I would like to see bin Laden brought to justice and the fact is that he is in Pakistan (Waziristan).

I like Hillary's health care plan in that it covers more people...everyone apparently. There appears to be a long-standing commitment to health care on her part. However, if I recall Michael Moore's movie SICKO, she is now a great beneficiary of health care lobbyist dollars. I see this as a segue into her continuing to take lobbyist money. I don't mind that. The comment by her that lobbyists don't influence her vote was just plain silly. Obama does not, at least any more, take lobbyist money. Obama's plan does not cover everyone, from what I've read. Advantage Hillary on health care. Advantage Obama on lobbyists.

Before I start rambling too much, I thank LadyVT for her thought-provoking thread. It illuminates some interesting rifts within the party. I think the Obama and Clinton people need to come down from the ramparts and stop belittling each other for their support of their respective candidates. The Clinton people implying that the Obama people are just dumb and gullible and are just impressed by great rhetoric. The Obama people implying that the Clinton supporters are neocons in disguise and saying a number of silly things about the Clinton supporters. There seems to be a lack of respect by either side of the passions that each hold. I think that should stop. Ok...soapbox pushed back under the bed.

The bottom line...time to come down from the ramparts, folks.