Clinton Key in LGBT Massachusetts Win

Super Tuesday is here and LGBT voters across the country are asking, why won't Clinton or Obama just say they support our rights, clearly, without hesitation, without disclaimers? Why all the wordsmithing?

With a media that will spend days parsing on the color of your pantsuit or the timbre of your laugh -- to delicately and cautiously wordsmith is a political reality.

There is, however, a distinct difference in the two candidates and their efforts for the LGBT community. I'm going to vote for with the one who has delivered and who I believe will continue to deliver.

In June 2007, Massachusetts was faced with an anti-gay, anti-marriage equality measure at the Constitutional Convention that would have ripped the state apart. Not only the state, but also it would have set the tone for all marriage equality fights across the country.

Senator Clinton's campaign manager, Terry McAuliffe, made quiet calls to state legislators to vote down the initiative, according an anonymous source in a key role in the efforts to secure marriage equality in Massachusetts.

Senator Obama? Nothing. Not a word. Not a call. Not one.

In fact, Senator Obama invited to his stage Donnie McClurkin, a rabid homophobic gospel singer. He has garnered the support of yet another anti-gay pastor Reverend Kirby Caldwell.

Imagine what would happen to Clinton had she stood on stage, clapping and singing, with a white evangelical who believed Jews should burn in hell.

I was asked today what is the single most important issue for me. I can't say one without the others. How do you choose between the war, a women's right to choose, and healthcare, because it is about individuals and it is about American businesses competing on a global stage and public education and someone giving a damn about it, funding it, and staying on top of it.

And I want marriage equality, repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell, a fully inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act. I want to be recognized as a full citizen with the same rights as every heterosexual.

Clinton, in my opinion, has already started the work. She's already working behind the scenes to make important votes happen.

Senator Clinton and Senator Obama have come out against gay marriage. Both have said they would not support federal recognition of gay marriages.

Both have written to the LGBT community asking for their support.

Wordsmithing is a political reality. Actions, in my opinion, speak louder than words. Last June when we were struggling to keep marriage equality in the state of Massachusetts? Clinton's campaign manager Terry McAuliffe made phone calls.

I'm voting for the one who helped deliver a key victory in LGBT history.

I'm voting for Senator Clinton.

Comments

[ericstern75]

I want to respond from the perspective of being the DNC Director of LGBT Outreach from 2003-2005.

I was responsible for developing the plan for turning out LGBT voters for Democratic candidates in 2004.

Our community did not always get priority inside the DNC in 2004. I and others had to fight for everything we got; overcoming claims many made(like Carville) that if the DNC did too much to reach out to gay voters-we would hurt our chance of winning.

We were only able to produce results because of the strategy I employed along with DNC LGBT Caucus Chair Jeff Soref and Vice Chair Gloria Nieto--along with the support of LGBT donors/activists.

Mass Equality deserves credit for stopping the amendment.

It is disingenuous to suggest that Terry picked up the phone and made these calls based on his motivation to protect marriage in Massachusetts.

Terry did not support marriage equality then and he does not support it now. His role in the campaign should not persuade LGBT voters who believe based on the calls he made that we will have a voice for marriage equality should Hillary win.

Bill Clinton has yet to acknowledge (he doesn't "feel our pain"), or better yet apologize, for the harm DADT and DOMA has caused LGBT Americans. If Hillary is going to take credit for all of the GOOD things that happened during the Clinton Administration, then she also needs to account for all of the BAD things that happened too--namely DOMA.

Since 2004, Obama has supported the full repeal of DOMA; as a Presidential candidate, he has pledged to use the power of the White House to work with Congress to repeal ALL of DOMA.

How can we get past the damage DOMA continues to cause by putting back in the White House the very people who supported it and signed it into law?

It's time to move on. I voted for Obama on Tuesday and will do everything I can to help him win the nomination and the White House.

[rw808]

Wilson33, how about interracial marriage?

A full 70% of the US population in 1967 was against interracial marriage when Lovings vs. Virginia struck down existing anti-miscegenation laws.

By your logic, interracial marriage should have stayed illegal, since the majority of Americans was against it.

Marriage is a LEGAL contract establishing rights and responsibilities of two adults vis-à-vis mutual care, financial transactions and property ownership. It is a CIVIL RIGHT. Therefore, denying it to gays and lesbians makes no sense and clearly violates the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution (if current stare decisis is upheld-- a precarious assumption).

Just because a misguided majority (and barely that) find same-sex relationships icky doesn't mean that civil rights should be put up to a vote. EVER.

As to the original post: I'm with the majority of responders. Hilary and her husband have held the door to the bus open for the LGBT community, and then swept us under the bus as often as it was politically necessary. Why would anyone expect that to change now?

I'll put my lot in with Obama and hope that he comes through with a true ENDA and a civil union law.

Well, let's be realistic. I'm hoping he doesn't throw us under the bus with the same "I feel your pain" frozen smile we got from the Clintons.

[underzero]

I was pretty upset when Obama invited McClurkin to that rally. But, he also went in front of a largely African American audience at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta on MLK day this year, and spoke out against homophobic bigotry in the African American community. Pretty gutsy, I'd say. That's one of the reasons my partner & I went to the polls early this morning & voted for Obama. And BTW, why are you giving Hillary credit for McAuliffe's call anyway?

[Filinbills615]

That would be awesome. Maybe she will work to repeal Don't ask Don't Tell and the DOMA.

Wait, weren't those Clinton creations?

Or do those years only count when we're adding up "experience?"

Sarcasm aside, Obama should definitely be called out for his courting the anti-gay vote.

However, neither one of them is going to stick his/her neck out for LGBT rights (not even with the courageous leadership of Terry "making calls behind the scenes" MacAulliffe), so it's kinda weird you're basing your vote on this.

[birdman98]

Good choice. The first Clinton president did wonders for the LGBT community. I'm sure they won't burn you again.

Don't Ask, Don't Tell and DOMA are disgraceful, and Clinton pushed them through.

What is it they say about being fooled twice?

[BobSF94117]

"Senator Clinton and Senator Obama have come out against gay marriage. Both have said they would not support federal recognition of gay marriages."

Speaking of wordsmithing.

Anyway, it's pretty easy to find Obama's position on civil unions: that they be fully equal to heterosexual marriage at the federal level. Try to find unequivocal language from Clinton on the subject... not so easy (I gave up after about ten minutes on Google).

[mommadona]

"Clinton's campaign manager Terry McAuliffe made phone calls.

I'm voting for the one who helped deliver a key

victory in LGBT history."

Some people NEVER learn.

I would think everyone would learn from the

LogCabin Republican treatment.

YOU WILL VOTE FOR CLINTON BECAUSE HER HIRED

HAND MADE A PHONE CALL????????????????????

That is truly lame, and overall - you would be

voting against your own economic and social interests.

It's ALL about the money, honey.

AND the power.

It has NOTHING to do with the GLBT agenda, from

their standpoint. They could give a fig.

HillBill and especially DLC hit man McAuliff

will do ANYTHING to get them elected.

What a silly way to choose your candidate.

Or, perhaps you want that "Business as Usual"

of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell, but fill up our

pockets cause WE know what's bestest".

[steverexxx]

Hillary didn't want this to be an issue in the general election--that's why McAuliffe called. Also, Hillary only wants to repeal part of DOMA and has defended it as well as don't ask, don't tell. I went to Boston Pride in June 07 and only Senator Obama had representation there for his campaign and I saw him speak in Boston last night--he mentioned acceptance of gays twice and he mentioned Jesus once.

On some issues, it"s hard to tell them apart, but on LGBT issues and the war, Obama is clearly superior. That's why I voted for him this morning.

[Wilson33]

They wordsmith because they are pandering to you, to people that are against gay marriage and everyone else that will listen. They have no principles and therefore can't stand for anything. You've heard the saying before, "stand for something or fall for everything." That's what Clinton has been about all of her life, telling people what they want to hear and pandering to those she needs like blacks and gays. Its sad really, but you will vote for her anyways.

And again, few people are against your rights as a gay person, but many are against gay marriage since marriage is not a god given right. I'm a little sick of your community spinning what the majority of Americans want, a ban on gay marriage, and saying that they don't want gays to have any rights. That is just spin.

And with the reasoning of "the majority of Americans" want to get out of Iraq, couldn't we say the same for gay marriage?

[RileysMom]

thank you - thank you for seeing that actions speak so much louder than words

period.



thanks again Go Hillary