Biden: GOP Crowd Members Booing Gay Soldier Was 'Reprehensible' (VIDEO)

WASHINGTON -- Appearing on ABC's "The View," Vice President Joseph Biden said it was "reprehensible" for members of the audience at the most recent Republican presidential debate to boo a soldier simply because he was openly gay.

"I did have a visceral response to it," Biden said. "I'm not sure if it's because my son spent a year in Iraq. And I know my sons and all the kids with them -- kids, they're grown men -- I don't think they give a damn whether the guy firing a rifle to protect them is gay or straight. I don't think they care about that. Look this kid risked his life. This kid is there for them. And I, quite frankly, I thought it was reprehensible."

Biden, notably, didn't needle the Republican presidential candidates themselves for the episode. When it was noted that none of those candidates spoke out about the booing at the time it happened, he sat there in uncharacteristic silence. But in bringing it up during the show, he joined President Obama in highlighting and elevating that specific moment.

"You've got audiences cheering at the prospect of somebody dying because they don't have health care and booing a service member in Iraq because they're gay," the president said during a fundraiser over the weekend.

"That's not reflective of who we are," he added. "This is a choice about the fundamental direction of our country. 2008 was an important direction. 2012 is a more important election."

Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) -- to whom the gay soldier addressed his video question during last Thursday's debate -- said he couldn't hear the boos that the question engendered. Later, he insisted that had he heard them, he would have denounced the hecklers and thanked the member for his service.

That may absolve the senator. But the histrionics of a small minority of the GOP debate crowd -- cheering over executions, endorsing letting an uninsured patient die and booing a gay soldier -- continues to present a lasting problem for a Republican Party struggling to come off as inclusive.

 

 

Comments

[SparkyDash]

09:40 AM on 09/30/2011

Good for Joe!

Btw, each time the vice president is on this show, the ladies appear to enjoy him immensley ;-)

Unlike Bill O'Reilly who got totally reamed.

[Jason N]

03:48 PM on 09/29/2011

Not a single GOP rep holding elected office has taken part in the "It Gets Better" campaign. Says ALL anyone needs to know about the GOP stance on gays and lesbians.

[MichaelRCooke]

01:31 PM on 09/29/2011

The booing is not a reflection of the candidates, but of the Republican primary voters.

[TBJ]

02:17 PM on 09/29/2011

Pretty sure Santorum would have done more than boo had he not had a camera on him at the time.

[MichaelRCooke]

11:39 PM on 09/29/2011

It's a catch 22 for a homophobic Republican, as the mainstream conservative framing of the issue I believe is that Gay soldiers should be permitted to serve as long as they do so while lying about their sexuality and keeping it a secret from everyone.

[Miller Time]

12:11 PM on 09/29/2011

Just came across this. Shed's a completely different light on the subject.

"In 2010, when I was deployed to Iraq ..."

(No booing.)

"I had to lie about who I was ..."

(No booing -- despite the fact that not talking about your sex life with your co-workers is not lying about who you are. In fact, many Americans manage quite easily to go days and days without talking about their sex lives with co-workers.)

"because I'm a gay soldier ..."

(No booing, although we didn't ask and would prefer that you not tell.)

"and I didn't want to lose my job."

(No booing.)

To recap: So far, a remarkably boo-free interaction.

Finally, we got to the question: "My question is, under one of your presidencies, do you intend to circumvent the progress that's been made for gay and lesbian soldiers in the military?"

Then there was booing. And for good reason.

[TXanimal]

01:05 PM on 09/29/2011

And what "good reason" would that be?

[MichaelRCooke]

01:36 PM on 09/29/2011

Well, let's think for a moment. They may have booed all the content and waited simple for the end of the video. The may have booed the concept of changes to the military constituting 'progress' (they love their gay sons and daughters and want them protected from military service?). They booed the prospect someone not being Christian in the military (to the extent Christians believe gayness incompatible?). They booed the fact the soldier wasn't carrying a bible?

So many possibilities?

[Miller Time]

01:44 PM on 09/29/2011

I don't know. I didn't write the article. Do some research and blame the author. I know who it is, but this will give you something to do.

[TBJ]

01:24 PM on 09/29/2011

They booed when the soldier's video ended; you can't claim any solid amount of certainty for the booing to be only directed at the question.

[Miller Time]

01:42 PM on 09/29/2011

t is obvious from the transcript that they booed the question, not the preamble.

[frank vincent]

09:08 AM on 09/29/2011

republicans werent booing becuase he was gay. republicans were booing becuase this represents another democratic (communist) destruction of Americas core values. another swipe at the US Consitution by obama. represents Americans being victims of obamas ideology. its amazing how this "president" of dishonor can control men and women of duty honor and integrity. join grassfire.org

[duckpuddle]

10:00 AM on 09/29/2011

RE: communist destruction of American core values and a swipe at the constitution

Please define what YOU mean by communist.

Please name one American core value that YOU feel is being destroyed by the repeal of DADT.

Please describe the constitutional clause (or idea) is being swiped by the repeal of DADT.

Please identify the American victims of the repeal of DADT.

I'll take my answer off the air, thanks very much for talking my call.

[practiceempathy]

10:36 AM on 09/29/2011

They were booing this brave Americans very presence. That's ugly, ungrateful, and un-American.

You should be ashamed of yourself.

[Vanderbil Covington]

10:07 PM on 09/28/2011

As Vice President Biden indicated, in the heat of battle, it doesn't matter if the soldier next to you is gay or not. Rounds fired by gay soldier are just as lethal when protecting fellow troops. When a gay soldier is hit, their blood flows just as all others. When they die, loved ones grieve just as deeply.
The fact they volunteer to sacrifice life and limb to protect our American values is not lessened, nor is it considered in acts of valor. There are many acknowledged and un-acknowledged gays serving in the military to protect the rights of those who speak out in hate against them. "Reprehensible" is not a sufficient description for those a**holes that scream in protest, revealing the true nature of most tea partyers. They all should return under the rocks and muck from which they came

[frank vincent]

09:10 AM on 09/29/2011

its not the heat of battle that is the concern. veryone will fight to save their lives. its the socila setting of the barracks. think about it. you comfy showering with a gay man? what about that? in the long run this wil be more trouble than we can anticipate.

[duckpuddle]

10:03 AM on 09/29/2011

Frank, you've been showering with gay men all your life. Get over it.

Just because I can now talk about my boyfriend doesn't mean that I'm going to look at you differently (or be more interested in you than I was last month).

Get over it. Your comfort level in a social setting does not warrant discrimination based on sexual orientation.

[practiceempathy]

10:36 AM on 09/29/2011

If you're not comfortable showering with a man known to be gay perhaps you shoudn't be trusted with a gun. The defense of such remarkable, pitiful insecurity is pathetic.

[AudreyLee]

06:42 PM on 09/28/2011

"Later, he insisted that had he heard them, he would have denounced the hecklers and thanked the member for his service. "

Yeah, after telling him that he would gag him before letting the soldier reveal his sexuality.

[Bill J4321]

07:31 PM on 09/28/2011

I heard Santorum isn't big enough to gag anyone, so it's likely he's over-compensating for something very, very small. ; )

[AudreyLee]

04:46 PM on 09/29/2011

LOL! Funniest thing I've heard all day, gracias.

[garymiceli]

01:09 AM on 09/29/2011

http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/booing-of-gay-soldier-what-has-each-of-the-gop-candidates-said/politics/2011/09/24/27533

[Atwill]

07:56 AM on 09/29/2011

i wish most , if not all, of these crazy republicans who think they are going to be president hahhaaha, would chock themselves with their own dismembered hand, like Ashley there in your photo. i'd pay a dollar to see that .

[AudreyLee]

07:38 PM on 09/29/2011

I found that interesting. Thank you for the link.

[AGENT7511]

03:25 PM on 09/28/2011

Cj Overby
40 Fans
Become a fan
25 minutes ago (2:56 PM)
I don't hate the troops. I hate what the troops do, and whom they do it for. I would love to see our superbly trained military COME HOME and, perhaps, patrol and secure our southern border. I would love to see our troops, en masse, say enough is enough! And insist they only wage war against those that have attacked us. And insist on total transparen­cy when it comes to any military actions against or in support of anyone that is not attacking us.
_______________________________________

So YOUR in favor of OUR TROOPS ABANDONING their SWORN DUTY to the NATION and the CONSTITUTION and establishing a MILITARY JUNTA in the UNITES STATES.

If a LIBERAL spoke your STATEMENT WORD FOR WORD....

CONSERVATIVES would be FROTHING AT THE MOUTH.

[AGENT7511]

03:20 PM on 09/28/2011

This man is one of our TROOPS....

So the people in the AUDIENCE were BOOING OUR TROOPS....

And the SILENCE of the folks ONSTAGE...

CLEARLY SIGNAL that the CONSERVATIVE HIERARCHY think THAT'S OK.

[maximus5757]

01:09 AM on 09/29/2011

Not true! If you will watch the video of the event-no one booed the soldier, he spoke for a while without being booed before he mentioned the unpopular policy. Upon the mention of the policy a few members of the audience booed because they disagreed with policy. Most of the military leaders disagree with the DADT policy also.

[practiceempathy]

10:39 AM on 09/29/2011

If those candidates had any decency and respect for those gay troops currently serving, he or she would have simply said, "Now, I understand you may disagree with the policy repeal, but please remember that this troop who posed his question is currently serving us abroad. We need to respect that."

That's all.

I find the defense, the excuses all sickening.

[mjtaylor22]

12:17 PM on 09/29/2011

he was booed immediately when he said i am a gay soldier serving here....booo........
that is what I heard.......azs soon as he mentioned him self beign Gay.........

[hsmachine]

02:44 PM on 09/28/2011

Gives a whole new meaning to the phrase Fox Hole .

[AGENT7511]

03:17 PM on 09/28/2011

So we're talking about Sarah Palin now?

[hsmachine]

04:02 PM on 09/28/2011

We are?

[garymiceli]

01:14 AM on 09/29/2011

Nah, Palin would best be described by another seven letter word ending in hole.

[practiceempathy]

02:23 PM on 09/28/2011

There are many conservatives on board having the audacity to claim the flagrant disrespect towards this soldier (booing the soldier himself, the soldier's question, or the statement of policy is irrelevant; the disrespect of this soldier because of his mere PRESENCE within the military is what is relevant) is not indicative of the GOP.

Some of you have even had the raw nerve to propose the audience members booing were actually liberal "plants." Unreal.

Liberals don't HAVE to plant.

Let's take a look at some HP conservative responses to gay men being hanged in Iran:

***********************

“For once, something I agree with Iran on.”

“Should we send all gay people in the U.S. to Iran ??”

“America needs to understand that every nation doesn't rule by democracy, what's accepted here isn't the norm in other parts of the world and there is penalties meted out for such conduct.”

"Well three well hung gay guys. Could have been hero's in New York or San Fransico”

"I do not believe in homosexual¬ity, I believe the lord did not intend for us to take part in that lifestyle. It was bought about by satan, in order to disrespect God's creation."

“Good point, when will we learn to mind our own business”

“Iran 3...US 0”

“They finally got something right!!!!”

“THEY GOT SOMETHING RIGHT.”


***************

How dare you all try to debate the tangible FACT that the GOP, as a whole, hates, hates, HATES gay Americans?

[AGENT7511]

02:28 PM on 09/28/2011

Fanned and faved.

[accautotrainer]

04:32 PM on 09/28/2011

Fanned and Faved! My suspicion is that you will not hear back from these individuals to answer your factual information. This is due to the fact that in about 20 or so minutes they will be washed up in watching FOX news to soothe their senses, telling them mythical stories from past Presidential hopefuls, informing them how the Country "ought" to be, spreading mis-information around in the populace, all for the sole purpose of getting rid of a President that they have consistently marginalized, attempted to de-legitimatize etc.

The problem with these people is they are not interested in the facts. Heck, some of them most likely believe the earth to be flat. But worse than all, they truly have a "purist" litmus test for all of the people allowed to dialogue with them now. They in a nutshell cannot handle the truth because they are afraid of the truth. They project their anger towards one man because of their disdain for a specific race. The project onto the poor because they believe that only minorities are poor and afterall, they don't really want to work. They cheer, jeer, and do whatever they can to be the loudest without facts. Let's keep after it!

[Cj Overby]

02:16 PM on 09/28/2011

I watched that debate and right away I noticed the boo's started with what sounded like one very strong, very loud man and others joined in. I agree with many that say it was a planted audience member. These debates are as scripted as reality television.

[AGENT7511]

02:20 PM on 09/28/2011

The SILENCE of the NINE onstage spoke LOUDER than the BOOS.

[Cj Overby]

02:35 PM on 09/28/2011

In that I agree. All nine showed an absence of leadership, or at least, proof of not knowing how to react without handlers to consult first. I would also apply that to the President and his silence when members of the left make outrageous and hateful remarks.

[practiceempathy]

02:36 PM on 09/28/2011

The reaction to the booing, or rather lack thereof, is what screams contempt and disrespect.

[Cj Overby]

02:13 PM on 09/28/2011

The world has turned upside down when a Democrat says booing the military is reprehensible. *stares at Vietnam*

[AGENT7511]

02:17 PM on 09/28/2011

You got MORE to worry about than DEMOCRATS.

[Cj Overby]

02:29 PM on 09/28/2011

It was probably John Kerry hiding in the audience. He was the plant.

[Jason N]

02:23 PM on 09/28/2011

Deflect, deflect, deflect. Your side booed an active duty soldier. You should be ashamed.

[Cj Overby]

02:32 PM on 09/28/2011

The left cant have it both ways. There are either concrete values or all things are relative. You say I should be ashamed of someone elses actions but personal shame is wrong in liberal dogma. Liberals...a mess of contradictions.

[ShatterTheIllusion]

01:50 PM on 09/28/2011

I'm always amazed that the Vice President has the time to go on The View and debate world affairs with Sherri Shepherd.

[AGENT7511]

01:58 PM on 09/28/2011

That went over like a_FART_in the elevator the FIRST time.

[AGENT7511]

01:49 PM on 09/28/2011

fordsrule150
43 Fans
Become a fan
6 minutes ago (1:40 PM)
Most conservati­ves like myself agree with Biden. It was wrong to boo a man who has seved his country in the line of fire. Gay or straight. It's an unfortunat­e fringe element of the conservati­ve population­.
___________________________________

Actually Pew Reasearch reveals that it's MOST of the conservative population.

DON'T MINIMIZE IT.

[practiceempathy]

01:56 PM on 09/28/2011

True. I mean, if it was just a fringe element, why are so many Republicans so silent when such flagrant disrespect is shown to gay Americans, even our fighting soldiers?

[duckpuddle]

10:17 AM on 09/29/2011

Then you guys have a lot of work to do to get you party out of control of the fringe.

Otherwise, the conservative movement is doomed.