Just got off the phone with a Blouin staff member

[Debi]

When I asked about Blouin's thoughts on Gavin Newsom's recent comments. He stated that Blouin wasn't at the event. I asked specifically about Blouin's position on gay rights, he stated that Blouin likes gays, he even has a gay staff member.

When I said that goes against Blouin's Catholic faith he said that Pope JPII said we should love our gay sons and daughters (I reminded that JPII isn't the Pope anymore).

I asked if Blouin could go against his religion on sexual orientation then why not on a woman's right to make her own health care decisions, he responded that Blouin was against gay marriage.

Wouldn't comment on Stem Cell Research (other than to say that there are more than a few issues that define Democrats and Democratic candidates)

Most important thing from the call is that Blouin's staff is stating that he will basically be a pro-choice Governor. He has no different beliefs than John Kerry. (I reminded him that John Kerry professes to be pro-choice). He will not sign any legislation that restricts a woman's health care choices no matter what the USSC does. (I asked why he doesn't just say he's pro-choice then and he responded that Blouin believes in the Culture of Life). That the Choice issue has become too politicized and that maybe for some it's black and white, but for 80% of the people it's a grey area. That the Democratic Party needs to embrace pro-life people as much as pro-choice people.

He also stated that Mike is a great guy with a lot of political experience and that he'd rather work for someone who has that then someone who doesn't. (Jab at Culver? Judge? Fallon? all with less time in than Blouin).

______________________________________________________________

So, I guess Mike Blouin is supportive of women being able to make their own reproductive health care choices except for the fact that he is on record for being against women being able to make their own reproductive health care choices. (because of his religion)

Mike Blouin is anti-stem cell research (because of his religion) - but believes that there are more than a few issues that define Democrats...like supporting stem-cell research?.....

Mike Blouin's religion (in which he is a Deacon of the Catholic Church) is anti-gay/lesbian/bi-sexual/transgender. But Mike Blouin happily goes against his religion on this issue (which is a good thing but makes him a hypocrite on the other two issues).

Glad we have a guy with so much political experience running for Governor - otherwise we might get a candidate that doesn't speak out of both sides of his mouth.

JMHO

on edit:

I'm probably more riled than I need to be, except for one thing this person asked me about was whether or not I'd be at caucuses. I haven't missed one since I joined the Party and I've been a central committee member, a county/district/state convention delegate as well. I told him he was going to have to run somebody against me and knock me out of my spot. (We live in a small township, not a lot of Democrats) His response? "Okay, I will." :grr:

[DU9598]

1. LOL, Debi

My friend is a staffer for Blouin and he is gay. I missed my opportunity to ask Blouin many of the questions you were able to ask. Hopefully I will some day.

Chet Culver called me and has asked me to advise him on gay rights and other civil rights issues. I said yes, so look for his answers to gay rights questions when he is on Iowa Press this weekend - if they are asked. Chet is a true progressive on our issues.

[Debi]

2. I believe that Blouin is in the right side of the GLBT issue

He just needs to quit being a hypocrite on women's health care and stem cell research. He should just say he's against it because he's against it, not because God told him to be against it.

I don't doubt that he's a nice guy either, I just disagree with him (on more than one issue) and don't think he is our best choice for Governor.

Your friend will laugh at my post, and I'm sure the staffer that I talked with (whom I have known well for four years now and LOVE!) will be thrilled that I posted our telephone conversation on this board. Silly boy, he should have known better than to call me.

I hope Culver sincerely took your advice, after hearing in the news about how most Iowa schools don't take bullying of gays seriously and that most Iowa schools don't have any gay rights policies in place I think this issue will be moving to the front of the political process.

:hi:

Gotta go - Making signs tonight for the game Friday night (CF vs West Des Moines Valley) BOOOOOOOO Des Moines ;)

[rurallib]

4. Cedar Falls? Isn't that a suburb of Waterloo?

[Debi]

8. I don't know if you're joking or not....

Cedar Falls and Waterloo are right next to each other, however Cedar Falls is a city in it's own right (having housed the University of Northern Iowa for years).

With building expansion in both cities they are soon to be blended (in fact the commercial area between the two is called Cedarloo).

I live a couple of miles north of Cedar Falls but work in downtown Waterloo. :hi:

[progressoid]

14. I have great memories of Cedar Falls

I can't believe it's been nearly twenty years since my days at UNI. Time for another road trip, I guess.

[rurallib]

3. "culture of life"? Isn't that the regressive talking point from Shiavo?

Gee, Mike, got any more of those bumper sticker thoughts to share? Pro-life? I say anti-choice? How about dragging out 'sanctity of marriage'? That one surely will be coming up also. Sorry, sounds to me like a regressive-lite.

[Debi]

9. Remember that the republican controlled legislature tried to make

getting married and divorced more difficult in Iowa. Blouin has yet to address that issue (Catholics obviously don't believe in divorce, ask Joe Kennedy what he thinks about the church's stance on that one!).

If Blouin is so tied to his religion on choice today, when he has no authority or responsibility with regard to the law, how can he state that he'd ignore his religion and life-long beliefs when a bill is set on his desk when he's Governor? He'll just say, "forget the Catholic Church and all their beliefs"? pretty hypocritical, and not very believable.

[IA_Seth]

5. What the heck?

I am so confused.

I am this, but I am that....I feel that, but I wouldn't do that...I think more people think of this than that....and this is a little this-ish but more that-ish than the other.

uh...ok.

You asked him about his stance on gay rights and he says he "likes gays" and has a gay staff member...so what?!

To me gay marriage should be a non-issue. Why should the state care who or who isn't married? If two citizens want to join in a partnership to reap the same benefits as a man-woman marriage, I really don't see how that will cause the end of the world. What is a good LEGAL, RATIONAL, reason to be against it? The only excuses I have heard are faith-based and they have no place in law.

It will be interesting to see if a Deacon of the Catholic Church can reconcile the Church's stance on a lot of issues with the way the majority of Democrats feel. Divorce, Abortion, Stem Cell, Gay Rights...all big issues that the Church tends to sit on the other side of the table on.

[rurallib]

7. Little known fact about marriage laws -

States didn't start making marriage laws, nor were they involved in marriage at all - until after the Civil War when southern states wanted to stop interracial relations. See any parallels to today?

[Debi]

10. Blouin's tag line will be

there are so many more issues that define what a Democrat is......what, like giving away tax revenues to big business????

Talking out of both sides of his mouth....:eyes:

[ISUGRADIA]

6. "has no different beliefs than John Kerry"

gee, the guy supported several pieces of radical anti-choice legislation while in Congress 75-79. I don't think Kerry ever has.

Blouin needs to make that statement starting with "I will veto.." before I can take him seriously.

[Debi]

11. But can you take that seriously?

Here's a guy who has a life-long belief, who is in a position of authority in the Catholic Church, who has (in his past legislative life) voted against women's rights to make their own health care choices. BUT NOW he promises to do the EXACT OPPOSITE of what he's done all his life?

Let's say RvW is overturned, let's say the Iowa Legislature passes a bill to make abortion illegal and that bill sits on Governor Blouin's desk. He's getting calls from the Arch Bishop, Cardinals, hell what about the Pope? He's being told by the Church that he is a Deacon in (and that is no small honor - serving as a Deacon in the Catholic Church) that he'd better make the RIGHT CHOICE.

Is he going to ignore a lifetime of beliefs because he made a campaign promise in order to get elected? Is that the gamble we want to take?

I think he'd sign it, and what does that do for women in Iowa?

Sure, this is only one issue. There are many more issues to dissect in this primary. I think we're getting sold a load of bull in order to camouflage Blouin's true position. I don't think he's taking Democratic voters seriously.

[ISUGRADIA]

12. I agree with what you are saying totally

(my last post may have been unclear). I don't trust Blouin, and I don't think he is willing to come out with a clear statement on abortion that is in the mainstream of Democratic primary voters. Through obfuscation and dwelling on other issues he hopes this will go away. It won't.

Tom Miller was the front runner in 1990 until abortion became _the_ issue in the race. 2006 is shaping up to be the same.

I'll do a promo for a blog I read regularly with a heavy serving of Iowa politics: http://jdeeth.blogspot.com/ . John Deeth has had some very good entries about Blouin and the issue of choice.

[Debi]

13. Thanks for the link! n/t