Love him or hate him, Edwards was honest on gay marriage.

[PresidentObama]

Many parents of gay children go through the same personal journey John Edwards is. I'm gay, and my parents are on that same journey. It's a personal conflict between your faith, who you are, and what you believe is right. Obviously people like Edwards and my parents believe in equality and non-discrimination. But they also have a strong Christian background, and a strong belief in God. I can respect that, and respect that they're honest and up front with that struggle. The struggle between what they know is right and what the religion they practice tells them is acceptable.

I think while Obama and Hillary dance around on this issue, and I like both of those mentioned, Edwards is being honest and open. I understand the political danger of stating anything other than "HELL NO" to the answer of do you support gay marriage. I don't think Edwards cared if it was career suicide. He didn't shut up Elizabeth from coming out in support of gay marriage.

I know the critics and usual suspects will make there way in to attack Edwards, say he was lying, and try and explain "how"
he was lying...but give it a rest....last night Edwards was right!! Edwards was bold, honest, and open with the American people on one of the toughest personal journeys one person can go through. And as a gay American, I appreciated his honesty!

[Double T]

1. Great Dem candidate with straight forward honest answers.

Edwards would make a good President or Vice President.

[PresidentObama]

2. Absolutely. I agree.

I really like Edwards this time around. I liked him in 2004, but I think now more than ever he is less worried about advisers advise and focus group motivated rhetoric. He's being honest, open, and bold. He's showing a lot of strength, and looking very mature and Presidential.

[Double T]

5. ......and there is NO substitute for MORE EXPERIENCE.

The collective group of Dem candidates are doing 'US' ALL PROUD!!!

[DrDan]

4. after the past 6 years, I sure hope honesty is on top of the voters minds

Sure would be refreshing to have some coming from the Executive Branch. Sure has been lacking.

Whether you agree or disagree, it would be nice to count on honesty.

[SaveElmer]

3. The problem is he contradicted himself...

But there was no follow up so the damage was limited...

1. He says his religious view tells him gay marriage should not be allowed

2. He also says he will not allow his religious views to affect public policy..


So why then is he opposed to gay marriage as a matter of public policy?

Either he is letting his religious views affect his view of public policy, or there is another unexplained reason for his opposition...

[PresidentObama]

8. I don't see the contradiction.

He can have his own personal and honest opinion on gay marriage, and still believe that his personal beliefs shouldn't dictate how Americans feel on the issue. If a majority of Americans woke up in January 2009 in support of gay marriage, I have to believe John Edwards would go with the will of the people and against his own personal belief. Especially since he passionately described the personal journey, the same one my family is going through, he is on. Maybe as an GLBT American, I understand the personal journey. I have no idea. But I thought he answered the question very well.

[SaveElmer]

16. But he said...

He would not let his own personal belief dictate his position on public policy...yet he opposes Gay marriage...

But you have added texture to one of the options...

1. He is opposed to Gay marriage on some grounds other than his personal religious conviction...or

2. Is is opposed on his religious conviction, and will not change that position unless confronted with an overwhelming expression of the public mind...

This begs the question though, will he fight a move to legalizing Gay marriage if it becomes an issue while he is President...?

[maximusveritas]

39. Exactly

My guess is that if Obama or Hillary gave that response, they'd be getting toasted here by these same people praising Edwards for being "honest".

[PresidentObama]

43. You've got to be kidding me?

If Obama or Hillary said the same thing, I would have praised them just the same. Being as I like all three candidates, and that was the kind of honest and open response I was expecting. I wasn't expecting any of the top three to come out in support of gay marriage, but I expected honesty. All Obama and Hillary have done is dance on the subject, and Edwards has at least been open about it. Love him or hate him.

[calteacherguy]

53. I don't think it was an honest response. I think it was pandering.

I don't think Edwards has a strong belief that gay marriage is morally wrong. He's too smart for that. He just doesn't want to lose the Southern "faith" vote.

[calteacherguy]

52. Excellent point! nt

[ripple]

6. I think most of them would probably support it, if not for the political implications

Given the way gay marriage was used as such an effective wedge issue for the republicans in 2004, I'd rather not see it front and center this time around, especially since we still have a few states that haven't amended their constitutions (unfortunately, mine isn't one of them).

But back to Edwards, I agree with what you said and I think it's especially cool that he and Elizabeth agree to disagree on the issue. :)

[NCarolinawoman]

7. I am not in any way an Edwards supporter, but I agree with you. n/t

[yardwork]

9. I'm gay, too, and I agree with you.

I think that Edwards is a much better candidate than most give him credit for being. The msm is always after him - they seem to be terrified at the thought that he might actually get elected. Right there, there's food for thought...

[Adelante]

10. I don't think so

The question was about religion and gay marriage. His reasoning has been that his Baptist upbringing informs his disagreement with gay marriage. That's an excuse, in my opinion. People break out of religious indoctrination every day in various ways in the course of their lives. Edwards just thinks he can't win on saying okay to gay marriage, but he wants the gay vote if he can get it, so he he says his outspoken wife favors gay marriage. So what? She's not running for president and he is. I don't actually believe Edwards opposes gay marriage, necessarily. He may not care one way or another. But it's politically necessary to obfuscate the point, because he feels he cannot be honest about it, and so he does. I understand you believe in Edwards in a way that I don't. But it's this sort of muddled presentation on issues, which I find misleading, that keeps me a skeptic. Dodd was honest when he said, "I believe marriage is between a man and a woman."

[jonnyblitz]

11. great post!! I have no problems with Edwards being a bigot

as long as it is "faith based" bigotry ( you know, the "journey") and he is honest about it!! it's so REFRESHING!!!!!!!!!1111111

signed , jonnyblitz, another gay DUer who supports loyalty to DEM politicians over full equal rights for all! :thumbsup: :patriot:

[TankLV]

13. Yep - that about summarizes it for me...

[PresidentObama]

25. It sickens me that you just called my parents bigots too.

They're on the same journey. Perhaps it takes being in that situation first hand to understand. When I was 12, I rallied against gay marriage. I'm now gay, and for it. It's a personal journey one goes through. My parents are experiencing the same thing. It's the same journey of change Americans felt after African Americans started gaining equality (well, somewhat equal...still not there) in our country

[jgraz]

35. Why do simple human rights require a "journey"??

It's the same journey of change Americans felt after African Americans started gaining equality

Yes, those firehoses and dogs were a big help on that "journey". If you want to compare your parents feelings to southern whites' behavior in the civil rights movement, then YOU'RE the one calling your parents bigots. And you just might be right.

I love Edwards, I'm gonna vote for him in the primaries, but somebody should smack him and tell him to wake the fuck up on this issue.

[PresidentObama]

37. Your response is laughable at best.

Not all Americans brought out the firehoses and dogs in the civil rights movement. But most felt the struggle of what they knew from the way they were raised versus the struggle with what they know is acceptable treatment of another human being. Comparing my parents, who you've never met, to those who unleashed the firehoses on African Americans is insulting. My parents are struggling with personal beliefs versus what they believe I as a gay American deserve and want. They aren't bigots. You have NO right to even suggest that.

Edwards was honest and open on gay marriage. I can't thank him enough for being clear and direct on this issue, instead of dancing around like Obama and Hillary.

[jgraz]

40. Remind me again who compared your parents to anti-civil-rights whites?

I believe that was you. And it's illustrative of how shameful Edwards position is.

[PresidentObama]

42. I didn't do such a thing.

And how do my parents illustrate how "shameful" Edwards position is? What the....?

I guess Edwards should have lied. Fuck being honest, they'll still attack you. Sheesh.

[jgraz]

44. You do know we can still read your previous posts, don't you

It's like, three inches above this one. Right up there ^^^^

My parents are experiencing the same thing. It's the same journey of change Americans felt after African Americans started gaining equality

So, explain how this is not a comparison between the two situations. Or...lemme guess...someone else was using your account. That's it...



No one says Edwards should have lied. He should educate himself and wake the fuck up. If he really wants to be president of ALL Americans, he needs to demonstrate a bit more ability to get outside of his own prejudices.

[TankLV]

12. I'm gay and he WON'T get my vote for his pandering to the religious idiots...

Either you're FOR Equal Rights or you're NOT - he's NOT and "has trouble with the concept" and waffles and weaves.

It's really very simple people.

He is not worthy of MY vote.

But it's "so refreshing" to be an "OPEN" AND "HONEST" bigot...!

[PresidentObama]

26. He waffles? He's had the same position ALWAYS.

No waffling here. He's against gay marriage. He's stated a personal conflict with his beliefs that support the reasoning behind why he's against it. He's never said I'm for it, then said he was against it. Save that kind of transformation for Mitt Romney.

[Hollow Shells]

14. When we have candidates that are with us

on every issue, why should we support bigots and others that do not share our values. Why not vote for the real deal in the primaries? Kucinich is the obvious choice. Homophobic Edwards is weak on the issues.

[sandnsea]

15. They were all fine on the issue

In the sense of being where most of the country is. I also don't see how supporting legal rights, and reminding people churches decide who they marry, is dancing around the issue. That's a clear message that the right wing nuts need to hear, nobody can tell them how to run their church so they really have nothing to bitch about on some of these issues.

[beachmom]

17. Thanks, Kerry2008, for telling us about your own personal experience

in how it relates to this very delicate issue. I missed the debate last night, but from everything I have seen, the country as a whole is not ready for gay marriage (although New England is going to soon be an all civil union/gay marriage territory, it seems). I live in Virginia, and I can tell you, we've got a long way to go. I certainly can't fault Dem candidates for favoring civil unions, but no gay marriage. I also can't blame gay activists for insisting that gay marriage is the right thing now. I am for gay marriage. It is the older generations that are not yet ready for it -- I hope that it will be legal during my lifetime.

[JerseygirlCT]

21. You undoubtedly know this already, but there were plenty of

people across the country who weren't "ready" for segregation to end, either.

Right is right, and people's readiness really ought to be secondary, IMO.

I'm a straight, married, mother. Not so very young anymore. But I've known this was just the right thing to do for the past 25 years. How long do we as a society just wait for other people to have their eyes opened? How long do we ask others to wait to have their rights?

[beachmom]

22. I think doing it state by state is the best path at the moment.

Then people see how the world didn't end in Mass., Conn., etc. and realize it was all much ado about nothing. But I live in Pat Robertson land, and it is very hard for Dems to win here (um, Webb lost Virginia Beach. He won the state of Virginia but the hate amendment also easily won -- which means anti-gay marriage people also voted for Webb). I think it would be suicide for a candidate in my area to endorse gay marriage, but he/she should be in favor of civil unions. Our last Dem candidate was against gay marriage and civil unions. He lost. The next one needs to show more spine and be for civil unions. See where I'm coming from?

[JerseygirlCT]

27. Yeah, I do. I'm just so lacking patience on the issue! nt

[JerseygirlCT]

18. I really struggle to have the patience for his journey.

It seems so bloody clear to me.

I guess we hope that his wife works on him in the meantime. His position is just wrong, and I really have limited sympathy for his "struggle" while real live people are being denied basic rights.

I don't think he was lying, from what I've read of what he said. I just think he's flat-out wrong. And his wrong opinion will hurt people. And that upsets me.

[Hissyspit]

32. See my post #31. n/t

[JerseygirlCT]

38. Yeah, exactly. Is it really such a difficult concept to grasp?

And if it is, what does that say about him?

So is it the mere thought of two men or two women being lawfully wed that gives him the "icks", or is there some obscure legal reasoning he has to work through here?

The bottom line is there is NO legal, civic way to reason against gay marriage. Churches can and will continue to make their decisions, based on their own innate reasoning. None of that has a single thing to do with our government.

So where's the hold-up? What is it exactly that he has to work through here? Get the heck over it, and yourself John Edwards. Deal with your own demons, and allow gays and lesbians their full civic rights in the meantime.

[quinnox]

19. yes he should be commended for it

Edwards isn't bullshitting about this and it is refreshing to see a politician give honest answers. I respect Edwards on this issue.

[Hollow Shells]

23. Many republicans

feel the same way about gays, do you respect them on this issue?

[dsc]

20. Then why doesn't his religious views affect his view of abortion? (as a policy matter)

He opposed all bills regulating abortion including the "partial birth" abortion bill. Presumedly he grew up in churches opposed to all abortions. If his religious views affect his views on gay rights, then why not abortion? His answer may be honest, but it is both inconsistent and leaves him open to political problems.

[DemBones DemBones]

33. Because polls show more people oppose gay marriage than abortion?

Just a guess.

I appreciated his honesty but would remind everyone that George Wallace was honest about his opposition to racial integration.

[Maven]

34. But I thought it was about his journey, not the polls! nt

[dsc]

41. How honest is he being

if the number of people who agree with the belief matters. Incidently same sex marriage polls better than opposing the partial birth abortion bill did. But even forgetting that fact if the number of people matters then it isn't his belief guiding him.

[polichick]

24. That was a fascinating moment in the debate...

But I honestly don't get what people are so concerned about in granting gays the right to marry ~ seems like the same kind of irrational fear that kept women from voting and interracial couples from marrying.

[goodgd_yall]

46. It comes down to being afraid of losing votes for most

I bet Hillary couldn't give a fig about gays marrying, but she doesn't want to lose votes.

[illinoisprogressive]

28. i think he is evolving on this issue thanks to elizabeth

[rainy]

29. honestly I believe it's geographics that dictate his position on gay marriage.

he's a southern candidate and his base is probably against gay marriage.

[Maven]

30. I like Edwards fine, but how does being "honest about his journey" make any difference whatsoever?

For that matter, you ought to commend past candidates like Pat Buchanan on the issue. He hates us, and he was perfectly honest about it.

[Hissyspit]

31. I've lived in NC, Edwards home state, almost all my life and have never had

ANY problem with thinking gays should be able to get married, speaking as a straight male.

I was brought up a Baptist, too, (atheist now) and Christ never told any same sex people that they couldn't get married.

Edwards has had plenty of time to figure this all out.

[polichick]

36. self delete nt

[goodgd_yall]

48. He needs educating

What does he think is so different in a partnership between people of the same sex and people of the opposite sex that makes one partnership worthy of marriage and the other not? And what are his thoughts on the meaning of marriage versus the meaning of a civil union?

[goodgd_yall]

45. I appreciated Edwards honesty (and Dodds "No.")

I know only Kucinich supports gay marriage, and I do believe Richardson was sincere about being realistic. What I didn't like was Obama's answer which was confusing and avoidant. He worked hard at not being clear.

I think what Edwards meant by not letting his personal beliefs get in the way of policy is that he will not be leading the fight to outlaw gay marriage. I don't think we would see him supporting an amendment proclaiming marriage as only between two heterosexuals. But neither will he lead a fight in legalizing gay marriage.

All but Kucinich have the same view, but not all are being clear about it, and that's what I don't appreciate.

[Colobo]

47. I'm not gay, but I didn't like his reponse, although he was honest. Credit to him for that.

[LaPera]

49. I love John Edwards! A President Edwards will do great things for the people & workers of

this country...he sure as fuck won't be spying on us...nor taking us into illegal invasions and occupations, or allowing the rich to have all the tax breaks, and he'll stop all of our taxes going corporations welfare...Edwards health care plan is the best..


The republicans know this and are doing every sneaky thing possible to get Edwards out of the race early...the republicans want as always the weakest Dem to be nominee!!!

[burrowowl]

50. I respect Edwards very much!

I respect Elizabeth even more, were that she was running.
I will take Dennis Kucinich any day!

[Point_n_click]

51. Probably the first completely honest answer to a question

that we've seen by a front runner in a presidential campaign in the nation's history. That takes serious courage and this is the message his supporters need to push to help him climb the ranks. The campaign needs to run on integrity, trust, and honesty along with his passions. If they bring enough attention to his forth-rightness in the face of that question he might just win through.

This one answer shows he has more integrity than anyone in the * admin has ever read about let alone ever considered attempting to have.

(note: I think Kucinich is honest, but he's not getting the same coverage in the corporate media)

[calteacherguy]

54. How do you know he was honest? nt

[Point_n_click]

56. Hmmm, wasn't the first word in my post "probably"? nt

[Dragonbreathp9d]

55. So was Vitter

but to Edwards's credit, I believe him when he says hes trying to get past his upbringing