Posted by
Justin Haskins on Wednesday, March 26, 2008 11:51:03 AM
In all fairness, I must disclose that I would not vote for Barack Obama for reasons regarding foreign policy and taxes...as well as other socialistic principles he holds dear. Also, I would never vote Hillary Clinton because I feel she is just an incredibly dishonest person and has a lot of policy flaws as well.
On the issue of gay rights, there are three distinct groups of people: Those who hate homosexuals or hate the idea of any kind of rights given to homosexuals, those who believe gays should have the same rights given to married heterosexual couples but not the actual right to marriage, and those who feel gay couples should be allowed actual marriage.
Barack Obama, who I have heard speak numerous times on this issue, is againt gay marriage but for providing all of the rights a typical marriage would provide a heterosexual couple to a homosexual couple. So my first question is: If you are a Barack Obama supporter, does it bother you that he does not support gay marriage?
I found it rather surprising that Obamites, who are often the most liberal of the liberal, have not made an issue of this? I mean if Obama was a Republican who supported gay rights, the base of the party would never nominate him. Why then are liberals and members of the DNC willing to let Obama win the nomination despite this?
Personally, I believe that the government has absolutely no business determining marriage. Marriage should be between two people, their reigion, and their family. Why is the government getting involved with this at all? I understand that there are complicated issues that stem from marriage. Various rights, tax codes, and parental rights are just a few. However, it is my hypothesis that these issues could be handled with the signing of a simple contract at the time of marriage.
I find it rather interesting that Republicans talk about the idea that marriage is being "ruined" or family values destroyed because of the idea of gay marriage when the government already has swooped in and taken all of the meaning out of the word already!
Clinton's view on gay marriage is, like Barack Obama, one that has her opposing marriage rights but supporting equal rights under a different name. However, Clinton has hinted multiple times that she may support gay marriage in various speeches. In an appearance early Wednesday evening in front of roughly three-dozen LGBT leaders, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton indicated that she would not oppose efforts by Eliot Spitzer, the odds-on favorite to become the new governor, to enact a same-sex marriage law in New York.
The following is from a Paul Schindler article at gaycitynews.com:
"She also suggested that language she used when she first ran for the Senate in 2000 explaining her opposition to marriage equality based on the institution's moral, religious, and traditional foundations had not reflected the 'many long conversations' she's had since with 'friends' and others, and that her advocacy on LGBT issues has certainly evolved.'"
So where do you stand? Are you for gay marriage, against gay marriage but for gay rights, or do you think the government should stay the heck out of our bedrooms and homes like I do?