Gore Posts Video Backing Gay Marriage

From Ben Smith: Not sure what prompted this, but Al Gore has quietly released a video with a forceful endorsement of equal marriage rights for gays and lesbians. It pushes the Democratic establishment that much closer to a position he now shares with Eliot Spitzer and some other leading Dems, and is prompting a bit of grumbling in gay political circles that this batch of candidates aren't quite there.

"Gay men and women ought to have the same rights as heterosexual men and women -- to make contracts, to have hospital visiting rights, to join together in marriage, and I don't understand why it is considered by some people to be a threat to heterosexual marriage," he says on the video, which appears on his Current TV network. "Shouldn't we be promoting the kind of faithfulness and loyalty to ones partner regardless of sexual orientation?"

Read more here.

Comments

[Andres]

Senator Obama recently gave a great speech in which he said "We have scorned our gay brothers and sisters instead of embracing them," and "the scourge of anti-Semitism has, at times, revealed itself in our community," also "for too long, some of us have seen the immigrants as competitors for jobs instead of companions in the fight for opportunit­y." Very important words and Obama deserves a lot of credit for addressing these issues. It is unfortunate however, that unlike Kucinich, Obama doesn't back his indictment of homophobia with support for true equality for our gay brothers and sisters who deserve the right to marry under the law if not necessarily under the gods of those religions that remain homophobic for whatever reason. I am straight but firmly believe "We need a government determined to end discrimination" of ALL KINDS.

It baffles me when those who are part of communities that have endured discrimination, don't come together against the discrimination of all others. The fight for equality must be a fight for justice, not just self-interest.

[Mormondude]

Did he purposely leave out incestuous marriage? Polygamy? It's all interrelated, no pun intended.

It never ceases to amaze me how quick these people are to rush to the defense of gays and then so quick to turn around and slam the door in the faces of other people with a similar plight who they personally dislike...

[mpgarr]

Absolutely correct Mr. Gore--along with the fact that to deny such rights to gays and lesbians is a restriction and denial of rights of America citizens---this is also a stand that reflects both rationality and the way things are in the real world--not some pie in the sky, dreamland---but then --the people who are anti-gay marriage are neither rational or much in touch with the real world and with real people and real life!!!! AND--they are not real democracy loving Americans----

[loki]

I hate it when a small group of radical group think religious freaks insist that "America" says anything. THey are not the majority, much less a the voice of sanity. And the hypocrites they are as they never practice what they preach.
I can however speak for myself, and I think I know how my friends and family feel about this, and that is, who cares! As long as the 2 people are happy, and they dont actually hurt anyone, then they should be allowed to marry if they wish. If some people dont like it, tough.

This whole anti gay bash of the religious wrong reminds me a lot of the way rednecks bashed blacks in the south. Saying they are not human but animals, and not as smart and shouldnt be allowed to mingle with "whites". This is the same crap these religious loonies are doing, and it does only harm, just like the rednecks and the KKK did & some still do.

[TimmySlagle]

Well funny you should mention that Al...

Because it turns out that the American People have reached a CONSENSUS. A Marriage is between a man and a woman.

The debate is over.

[LeftVetPatriot]

Whycome rwe is so quick getting to the gay topic posts?

Just asking.

[LeaderofMen]

No one is entitled to an uninformed opinion.

You are ONLY entitled to an informed one.

If you don't understand sexual orientation you have NO RIGHT to express an uninformed opinion. Otherwise, it is merely your stupidity talking - and that's very obvious.

[SpadeWork]

What's up with all the Gore fanboys? Does anyone remember:
a. had the wisdom to select Lieberman as VP
b. Clinton Gore = Defense of Marriage Act
c. "Mr. Global Warming" but Clinton-Gore = nothing to reduce vehicle emissions and passed anti-environment NAFTA.
d. Mr. Democrat helped shut Ralph Nader from debates in 2000.
and so on and so on...
All he got right was the Iraq War, and so many other real progressives (i.e. Kucinich, Nader) got that right too.

[sethcohen1]

What's wrong with you people who keep pointing out Al Gore's weight? What does that have to do with anything? Conservative trolls / idiots I'm guessing.

[Stevo]

Look, it's 2008. If you are still worried about gays marrying each other, you are an ignorant moron. Just admit it and move on. There is absolutely no reason why the gays can't marry each other. Who cares? How many of these anti-gay marriage people even know a gay person? These anti-gay marriage arguments are just like the anti-interracial marriage arguments that were espouse just a few decades ago by equally stupid and deranged people.

To all the gays and lesbians out there, please understand that there are many of us straight people who support you in your fight for equality. You are NOT alone!!! We will fight alongside you and we will raise our children to be more tolerant so that even if we don't achieve all the human rights goals in our generation, there will be hope that things will get better in generations to come.

[robinhood1]

Too bad Al Gore didn't have the courage to "come out" with this statement on equal rights for gays in 2000, when he was running for President. But better late than never. I think Mr. Gore would have made a better president than Mr. Bush, but it's too late now to worry about what might have been. A lot of politicians have enhanced their careers by bashing gays, or at least remaining silent in the face of anti-gay discrimination. I checked Mrs. Clinton's web site for her stand on gay issues a few months ago, but couldn't find any comments on such issues. Maybe she is still where Al Gore was in 2000, afraid to talk about gay issues for fear of offending middle America. Well, middle America could not have been offended more than it has been by President Bush in the last 7 years. It looks like I will be voting Libertarian in November. Now there's a party that actually makes equal rights a part of its party platform, even for gays. I will no longer vote for the lesser of two evils.

[Bushgirlsgonewild]

.

Attention loyal Republicans!

Several Republicans have noticed a single theme emerging since Hillary Clinton announced her candidacy for President of the United States. The following is a partial list of deaths of persons connected to Hillary Clinton and facts regarding those connections. All loyal party members are expected to memorize and transmit this information this summer the moment the secret signal is given.

-- THE HILLARY CLINTON BODY COUNT -- Part 1:

1. "Lady Bird" Johnson (widow of the late President Johnson, not a basketball player). Hillary was overheard making comments about LBJ signing some kind of "act" just a few weeks ago. Evidently, this presidential signing "act" repealed many of the rights belonging to members of our base to practice Republican values. Hillary Clinton's husband, Bill Clinton, has also "signed" (but use "committed") acts!

2. Henry J. Hyde, 83, powerful House Republican who led impeachment of Clinton and later admitted to having an extra-martial affair (with a woman! unique in the "annals" of Republican history)!

4. Tammy Faye Bakker, 65, evangelist. Bad blood brewed for years between Bakker and Hillary because Hillary once told her "the only person who wears more eye-shadow than you is Rudy Giuliani"!

5. Merv Griffin, 82, television innovator. Hillary and Sam Walton were rumored to have put out a "contract" on Merv in 1986 while they were conspiring to eliminate all unions worldwide!

[Mrlosangeles]

The word "marriage" is not owned by religious organizations, just as the word "voting" was not owned by white aristocrats.

Civil Unions are separate drinking fountains, and an insult to my intelligence and humanity.

Massachusetts is still doing just fine and nothing has happened to the poor heterosexual family unit because of gay marriage there.

It's a shame that Clinton and Obama and Edwards are still so backward. I won't be voting for any of them because of this issue alone (and obviously not the Republicans either).

My tax dollars would gladly go to Gore or Kucinich since they are evolved and have some guts to stand up for what's right.

Gay Married for 23 years

[UncleDave]

While Clinton(s) and Obama bicker like children and Edwards is shut out,here comes The Voice of Reason once again. In simple, concise ways Gore forms and delivers his arguments for common sense. America would flock to this man if only.....B­UT I don't blame him for staying out. I will say again-The Dems are teaching us 'How to Lose Elections(again)' 101.

[Hirnlego]

01) Being gay is not natural. Real Americans always reject unnatural things like eyeglasses, polyester, and air conditioning.

02) Gay marriage will encourage people to be gay, in the same way that hanging around tall people will make you tall.

03) Legalizing gay marriage will open the door to all kinds of crazy behavior. People may even wish to marry their pets because a dog has legal standing and can sign a marriage contract.

04) Straight marriage has been around a long time and hasn't changed at all; women are still property, blacks still can't marry whites, and divorce is still illegal.

05) Straight marriage will be less meaningful if gay marriage were allowed; the sanctity of Britney Spears' 55-hour just-for-fun marriage would be destroyed.

06) Straight marriages are valid because they produce children. Gay couples, infertile couples, and old people shouldn't be allowed to marry because our orphanages aren't full yet, and the world needs more children.

07) Obviously gay parents will raise gay children, since straight parents only raise straight children.

08) Gay marriage is not supported by religion. In a theocracy like ours, the values of one religion are imposed on the entire country. That's why we have only one religion in America.

09) Children can never succeed without a male and a female role model at home. That's why we as a society expressly forbid single parents to raise children.

10) Gay marriage will change the foundation of society; we could never adapt to new social norms. Just like we haven't adapted to cars, the service-sector economy, or longer life spans.

Land of the free and home of the brave? BS!