Hillary Chooses States Rights Over Gay Rights

[GaryC 7]

Sen. Mike Gravel Tue Aug 14, 10:05 AM ET

During last week's historic gay debate, Hillary Clinton dredged up the old states rights argument when justifying her opposition to gay marriage. Apparently she thinks that the second class citizenship of gays and lesbians is a matter for the states to decide. By drawing upon the language of states rights, Hillary embraces the tradition of John Calhoun and the defenders of slavery along with Strom Thurmond and the segregationists. Throughout our nation's history, every time national public opinion turns against oppression, opponents of progress use states rights to present themselves as defenders of liberty in the face of federal power. States rights has always been the last refuge of the bigots. Now Hillary has given rhetorical cover to the homophobes. If she wins the Democratic nomination, opponents of gay marriage will cite her statement to justify their opposition to national marriage equality over the next decade. If Hillary misspoke, I urge her to immediately admit it and move on. If she's on a personal journey toward accepting gay marriage, like John Edwards, that's fine. Even he admits his opposition to marriage equality is irrational. But as a leader of the Democratic party, Hillary needs to understand the danger of offering constitutional arguments against equality for all Americans. If she believes the states have the right to deny equal rights to their citizens, then she should tell us what other groups she's willing to sacrifice on the altar of states rights. During the last week's debate, I said that marriage equality is inevitable. But in order to achieve it, we are going to need leaders like we had during the civil rights movement -- brave leaders who are willing to ignore the polls, overcome their personal hang-ups and fight for equal rights all Americans in all states.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/huffpost/20070814/cm_huffpost/060351

[Jenn! 918]

I like Gravel more and more by the day and Hillary less and less...

[no name 1]

She is opposed to the Constitutional amendment banning same sex unions. Bottom line, this si what counts. What's wrong with giving states the right?

Tell me Gary, which Republican supports same sex unions?

Edited August 14, 2007 by devilette

[GaryC 7]

I like Gravel more and more by the day and Hillary less and less...

I have a feeling that Hillary's supporters will start feeling like you soon.

She is opposed to the Constitutional amendment bannign same sex unions as well as supporting states rights.

Tell me Gary, which Republican supports same sex unions?

None I hope. (marriage not unions)

mar·riage /ˈmærɪdʒ/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[mar-ij] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation

–noun

1. the social institution under which a man and woman establish their decision to live as husband and wife by legal commitments, religious ceremonies, etc.

2. the state, condition, or relationship of being married; wedlock: a happy marriage.

3. the legal or religious ceremony that formalizes the decision of a man and woman to live as husband and wife, including the accompanying social festivities: to officiate at a marriage.

4. a relationship in which two people have pledged themselves to each other in the manner of a husband and wife, without legal sanction: trial marriage; homosexual marriage.

5. any close or intimate association or union: the marriage of words and music in a hit song.

6. a formal agreement between two companies or enterprises to combine operations, resources, etc., for mutual benefit; merger.

7. a blending or matching of different elements or components: The new lipstick is a beautiful marriage of fragrance and texture.

8. Cards. a meld of the king and queen of a suit, as in pinochle. Compare royal marriage.

9. a piece of antique furniture assembled from components of two or more authentic pieces.

10. Obsolete. the formal declaration or contract by which act a man and a woman join in wedlock.

Edited August 14, 2007 by GaryC

[mawilson 2,133]

She is opposed to the Constitutional amendment banning same sex unions. Bottom line, this si what counts. What's wrong with giving states the right?

Why hasn't anyone proposed a Constitutional amendment to allow same sex unions?

[no name 1]

I like Gravel more and more by the day and Hillary less and less...

I have a feeling that Hillary's supporters will start feeling like you soon.

Using your republican crystal ball again?

She is opposed to the Constitutional amendment bannign same sex unions as well as supporting states rights.

Tell me Gary, which Republican supports same sex unions?

None I hope. (marriage not unions)

Dark ages much? Damn is that backwards.

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

Hillary running for president in my opinion, shows how fkucked -up her and Bill's relationship is. It's a I can do better than you sort of thing.

[no name 1]

Hillary running for president in my opinion, shows how fkucked -up her and Bill's relationship is. It's a I can do better than you sort of thing.

Wow, I just wasted a minute reading your .02.

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

Hillary running for president in my opinion, shows how fkucked -up her and Bill's relationship is. It's a I can do better than you sort of thing.

Wow, I just wasted a minute reading your .02.

Wow, Replying to it though was not? How did you get your computer in that bubble you live in? Must be wireless. I can be argumentative too.

Sorry Gary.

Edited August 14, 2007 by CarolsMarc

[Jenn! 918]

I like Gravel more and more by the day and Hillary less and less...

I have a feeling that Hillary's supporters will start feeling like you soon.

I do hope so.

[GaryC 7]

She is opposed to the Constitutional amendment banning same sex unions. Bottom line, this si what counts. What's wrong with giving states the right?

Tell me Gary, which Republican supports same sex unions?

I think you missed my position. Civil unions for gays is something I support. Marriage is not something I support. And states should have the right to choose if they allow civil unions.

[Cassandra+Yuibi 0]

I'm pretty sure Hillary had a good lesbian (and feminist. better yet- feminist lesbians!) vote before this- but she probably just kissed it goodbye. What I find hilarious is that she was supposed to be the front runner through all of this- and she is slowly but surely destroying her chances.

IMHO. None of the "candidates" who want to run for president are all that great. Most of them can't even make up their minds about what their positions are.

[thesnowman 1]

She is opposed to the Constitutional amendment banning same sex unions. Bottom line, this si what counts. What's wrong with giving states the right?

Tell me Gary, which Republican supports same sex unions?

I think you missed my position. Civil unions for gays is something I support. Marriage is not something I support. And states should have the right to choose if they allow civil unions.

I agree. Which is odd as I dont usually agree with you. For example I think Hillary will be a good President. I remember people saying Maggie Thatcher would be a terrible Prime Minister in the Uk and she ended up being ok (just dont mention the poll tax)

[no name 1]

She is opposed to the Constitutional amendment banning same sex unions. Bottom line, this si what counts. What's wrong with giving states the right?

Tell me Gary, which Republican supports same sex unions?

I think you missed my position. Civil unions for gays is something I support. Marriage is not something I support. And states should have the right to choose if they allow civil unions.

And my point is that Dems are open to the idea of civil unions or marriage while most Republicans oppose both marriage & same sex unions.

[mybackpages 0]

She is opposed to the Constitutional amendment banning same sex unions. Bottom line, this si what counts. What's wrong with giving states the right?

Tell me Gary, which Republican supports same sex unions?

I think you missed my position. Civil unions for gays is something I support. Marriage is not something I support. And states should have the right to choose if they allow civil unions.

Gary, I do understand your arguement about keeping marriage between a man and a woman and I do appreciate you trying to retifiy the inequalities by allowing civil unions. But this is what i can not get my head around- if the law says civil marriages can only be between a man and a woman, then aren't we stiill saying same sex couples can be treated unequally under the law?

Would you be willing to abolish the role of the government to perform marriages (allowing it to be only a church santioned union) so that the government is treating all citizens equally under the law?

Also the problem with allowing states to choose comes with the full faith and credit clause of the US Cosntitution which requires states to recognize contracts and other formal obligations when one moves from one state to the other. I marry in Texas and move to Oklahoma. Oklahoma does not reqire me to get married again under Oklahoma law. But if a same sex couple married legal in a state that allows it moves to a state that doesn't allow it, that union is not legally recognized.

One more question- in your support of civil unions would you allow all rights and beenefits that married couples receive (natioanl, state and local) be afforded to a smae sex couple? (e.g. the right to petition a fiance?)