2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: Has Sanders really always supported marriage equality [View all]dsc
(52,152 posts)very, very slowly. Yes, Bernie voted against DOMA. I know that. I have stated that several times. But, he didn't say then, and he didn't say in 2000 that he favored marriage equality. every single straight congressperson who gave a reason for the record in 1996, Bernie didn't, stated that they didn't favor marriage equality but felt the law should be opposed as it targeted gay people for no good reason. I provided this sitation already and it is getting late so you can search my posts for it. Now as to the specific votes you put up. Hillary also voted against the amendment (while not favoring marriage). She was out of the Senate by 2009 but her husband and her fought for ENDA in 96 (I assume Sanders who have voted for it had the House had a vote). She also had a 100 percent rating in 06 (again while opposing marriage). The vote from 99 apparently didn't pass the House so Clinton didn't act on it. I would presume he would have vetoed it had it come to that but it didn't.
But bottom line, this is about one thing and one thing only. We have been regaled with tales of two candidates. One supported marriage equality longly and loudly since 1972 or at least since 1996. The other, is a vile flip flopper who evolved on it and can't be trusted. Yet, I keep asking for evidence of the first candidate's support and keep getting stiffed. Now there are some differneces, I agree with that. He voted against DOMA and she supported it. He was silent while opposing a Constitutional amendment in 2004 while she gave a rather unfortunate speech while doing so. But both voted the right way, it should be noted. I have no problem with honestly pointing out differences between candidates. I do have a problem with dishonestly doing so. It is dishonest to say that the letter written in 1972 has anything at all to do with marriage. Not only that, it is profoundly disrespectful to those of us who were alive back then and know just what being gay was like back then. It is also dishonest to say he was a loud supporter of marriage equality back in 96 or in 2000. Not only haven't I found anything with him saying he was such a supporter back then, no supporter of his here or elsewhere has found any either. And yes, I did search for it, because I try to be honest with all candidates. The fact is he might have supported it very quietly, I admit there is no video of him opposing it, nor have I found statements of him opposing it. I know what you would say of Hillary if this were the state of the evidence, you would say, quite fairly, that she certainly wasn't a huge leader on the issue and she was playing it safe. And if supporters of Sanders were to stick to saying he voted against DOMA and didn't give speeches about opposition to marriage equality both of which make her record better than Hillary's in this regard, I wouldn't say a word. But that isn't what you all are saying. When you type unmittigated nonsense like a letter written in 1972 that was clearly about removing sodomy laws was some sort of marriage manifesto, I am going to call you on it.