Kerry Criticizes Mass. Democrats for Gay Marriage Support

[Meeker Morgan]

The Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/president/kerry/articles/2005/05/06/kerry_criticizes_mass_democrats_for_gay_marriage_support/

U.S. Sen. John Kerry, visiting Louisiana for a forum on children's health care, criticized the Massachusetts Democratic Party for its expected approval of a statement in the party platform in support of same-sex marriage.

"I think it's a mistake," Kerry said. "I think it's the wrong thing, and I'm not sure it reflects the broad view of the Democratic Party in our state."

Kerry made the comments to The Boston Globe after hosting the event on his proposed KidsFirst Act, which would bring health care to uninsured children.

Kerry's opposition to gay marriage puts him at odds with the chairman of the Massachusetts Democrats, Philip W. Johnston, who said that the senator's stance will not change the expected approval of the language at next weekend's party meeting in Lowell.

"I have great affection and respect for John, but I disagree on this issue," Johnston said. "It is important that the state Democratic Party support civil rights. We need to take a stand." ...

If gay marriage is too hot even for Massachusetts ...

Shame on you John! :mad:

[LittleClarkie]

1. What? He has always supported civil unions

but neither he nor Kennedy ever supported gay marriage. Kerry said in debate #3 (and Edwards too for that matter) that he doesn't believe in it, but he and Edwards both understood the underlying issues involved, and supported partner rights.

I got the impression from listening to Kennedy that one of the main issues with gay marriage as opposed to civil unions is the rights of churches not to perform such rites if they're not so inclined.

Even so, don't forget that this is the same man who outright refused to take Clinton's advice and come out in favor of DOMA.

He's just being Catholic. Whatcha gonna do. He was expressing his opinion, but unlike Bush, he's never insisted on legislating those beliefs to the population at large.

What's so bad about that?

Howdy btw. Just reactiong to the new tread from the main page. Hope that's cool.

[Meeker Morgan]

2. Churches don't have to perform ...

... marriages they don't believe in. Discrimination laws don't apply.

For example the Catholic Church does not perform marriages for non-Catholics, Orthodox Rabbis do not perform mixed marriages, etc.

Shame on John, anyway.

[Dr Ron]

22. Clinton's advice

Unless it is too different pieces of advice which we are thinking of, you have the specifics wrong on Clinton's advice. It is worth mentioning as it refutes the nonsense posted here about Kerry taking this position to go after votes.

During the 2004 campaign Clinton advised Kerry (who was already on record as opposing the Defense of Marriage Act) to endorse anti-gay marriage proposals in the states where they were on the ballot, suggesting this would help him win those states. Kerry was not willing to compromise his principles in this manner.

It should also be mentioned that in his support for civil unions as opposed to gay marriage, Kerry has also stipulated that civil unions must include all the legal benefits now provided to married people.

As you point out, this has been his position all along, so it is curious that people are bashing Kerry for this now. Of course I note that many of the people now bashing Kerry admit they did not vote for him. As they are people who therefore helped return George Bush to power, the opinions of such people in a Democratic forum are rather irrelevant.

[renaissanceguy]

23. Well, I voted for Kerry

and I respected him highly for NOT following Clinton's advice.

Now, that respect is gone. He's selling out an important constituency. THE GAY COMMUNITY is a very politically active community, and we are important to win, especially in a primary.

Without us, JK has NO HOPE of winning the Dem nomination. We'll work harder toward getting someone else nominated.

[Brian_Expat]

25. Not strictly true. . .

During the 2004 campaign Clinton advised Kerry (who was already on record as opposing the Defense of Marriage Act) to endorse anti-gay marriage proposals in the states where they were on the ballot, suggesting this would help him win those states. Kerry was not willing to compromise his principles in this manner.

Kerry ended up endorsing the anti-gay marriage amendment in Missouri (which also banned civil unions) and, of course, also backed the anti-gay amendment in Massachusetts -- which revoked people's marriages and gave them "civil unions" instead.

Kerry didn't endorse ALL the anti-gay amendments en masse the way Clinton wanted him to, but he did endorse two of the most odious ones.

[benevolent dictator]

26. I voted for Kerry,

and you know what? If it came down to a vote between him and another Bush-like repuke, I'd vote for him again. But you can bet I wouldn't spend literally days out walking my neighborhood in support of him again. You can bet I wouldn't spend time trying to convince people of why they should actually like him and not just vote for him because he's not Bush. He'd get my vote, but not my support. I'm sick of the Democrats selling us out to try to get a few extra votes.

[ladeuxiemevoiture]

3. Wimpy, wimpy, wimpy.

eom

[frankly_fedup2]

13. I'll never vote for him again. He did not stand up to those idiots,

he didn't fight to make sure the truth was out there, he seemed like a pussy to me too. I think Edwards could have done better with Dean as his VP.

I'm hoping Hillary runs against Guilianii. That man was hated just like Bush until 9/11. Yeah, he did a good job as Mayor . . . just like any other Mayor would have done. He is an adulterer who is now married to the mistress he wanted to move into the Governor's mansion before he and his wife were divorced. I'm really interested in how the Religious Right spin this to get him elected. Also, I saw an interview with Pat Robertson. He is supporting Gulianii and loudly stated that he would NEVER support John McCain. This from the man who owns land in Africa that he has practically slaves digging up his gold for him.

[Lisaben2619]

4. John Kerry is a bigot--plain and simple.

Civil unions are separate and unequal. I don't care is John "Crow" Kerry voted against DOMA; past behavior does not excuse his homophobia now.

[davidinalameda]

5. just waiting for the Kerry apologists to come bursting out of the woodwork

on this one

BIGOT!

I'm so glad I didn't vote for him in 2004


Also, I'm recommending this for greatest thread

It's very important that people see what kind of person Kerry truly is

[Not Me]

6. John, I am really disappointed in you.

n/t

[renaissanceguy]

7. I'm more pissed off at people on here and

Dems out there who blame us for the 2004 election, who say "now is not the time, keep sitting in the back of the bus."

I guess people just take their rights for granted. They have no idea what it's like to be demonized every day, and have fewer rights as a human being.

[davidinalameda]

9. cowards

each and every last one of them

fucking no good pieces of shit cowards

I want Kerry to get the nomination in 2008 so I can vote against his ass AGAIN!

[frankly_fedup2]

14. What rights? Oh yeah we can vote, but after 2000, are you so sure

that your vote is being counted. That proved we had "Taxation WITHOUT representation." They want to take away all of our privacy through identity cards. It's going to pass and then in 2008, to get a driver's license, we are going to have to produce seven documents that prove who we are. Also, they plan to keep that information for seven years. ID cards, just like Hitler! Religion being stuffed down our throats. Just like Hitler! Many think he was an agnostic or atheist; however, that man was a Catholic (no disrespects toward any of my catholic friends on here), and he used his religion, and His Pope, Pope Pius, to commit the horrors like the world had never seen. Of course, Pope Pius was a Christian in his public life, but behind closed doors, he worshiped a Pagan God(s).

Just goes to show that what you see might not always be what you are told you are seeing.

[Liberal Veteran]

8. I wrote him a scathing letter about his cowardice.

And told him not to come begging me for money again.

[xchrom]

10. note to kerry.

i am equal.

[Ian David]

11. Task Force:Senator Kerry's Remarks on Marriage Equality Wrong &Mistake

I'll cross-post this in the Mass. forum

**************************************************************
NATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN TASK FORCE
MEDIA RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT:
Roberta Sklar, Director of Communications
[phone]
[e-mail]
http://www.TheTaskForce.org

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

May 6, 2005

National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Calls Senator John Kerry's
Remarks on Marriage Equality "Wrong" and "a Mistake"

"While speaking at a children's health care forum in Louisiana,
Senator Kerry criticized the Massachusetts Democratic Party for
its plans to include a plank in its platform supporting same-sex
marriage, saying 'I think it's a mistake. I think it's the wrong
thing, and I'm not sure it reflects the broad view of the
Democratic Party in our state.'

"In fact, it is Senator Kerry's statements that are wrong, a
mistake, and surely do not reflect the views of Massachussetts
Democrats.

"Nearly 5,400 same-sex couples have married since last May 17,
when Massachusetts extended the freedom to marry to all its
citizens. Since then, public opinion polls have shown that a
majority of Massachusetts voters support our freedom to marry.

"And, contrary to Sen. Kerry's assertion, support is particulary
high among Democrats, with a Boston Globe poll in March finding
that 71 percent of Democrats surveyed statewide said they
believed same-sex marriage should be allowed. Moreover, not a
single Democrat in the state legislature who supported marriage
equality and voted against a proposed anti-marriage
constitutional amendment lost his or her seat in the 2004
elections. The Democratic Party adding a platform plank
supporting marriage equality is just a logical extension of last
year's resolution by the Democratic State Committee supporting
the state's Supreme Judicial Court decision finding a
consitutional right of same-sex couples to marry.

"On this subject, Philip W. Johnston, chair of the state party,
said, 'It is important that the state Democratic Party support
civil rights. We need to take a stand.' We couldn't agree more."

Matt Foreman
Executive Director

------------------------------
Visit http://www.thetaskforce.org/kerryglobe to read "Kerry
criticizes Mass. Democrats for gay marriage support" from the
Boston Globe.

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

Founded in 1973, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
Foundation (the Task Force) was the first national lesbian, gay,
bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights and advocacy
organization and remains the movement's leading voice for
freedom, justice, and equality. We work to build the grassroots
political strength of our community by training state and local
activists and leaders, working to strengthen the infrastructure
of state and local allies, and organizing broad-based campaigns
to build public support for complete equality for LGBT people.
Our Policy Institute, the community's premiere think tank,
provides research and policy analysis to support the struggle
for complete equality. As part of a broader social justice
movement, we work to create a world that respects and makes
visible the diversity of human expression and identity where all
people may fully participate in society. Headquartered in
Washington, DC, we also have offices in New York City, Los
Angeles, Cambridge, and Miami. The Task Force is a 501(c)(3)
corporation incorporated in Washington, DC. Contributions to the
Task Force are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law.


Copyright 2005 National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
Creating Change (TM) is a trademark of the National Gay and
Lesbian Task Force. All other trademarks mentioned herein belong
to their respective owners. The Task Force Foundation is a
non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Tax ID #52-1624852.
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[davidinalameda]

15. they're letting him off easy

mistake is an understatement

[Bluebear]

12. He voted for gay marriage before he voted against it.

For this I donated my hard earned money and a lot of time.

Thanks for piping in, John, and fuck you.

[benevolent dictator]

16. Fuck John Kerry

How could he say that?? He's not even RUNNING for president anymore, and if he ever runs again, I refuse to vote for him. WTF. Thanks for stabbing us in the back, John.

[thrift_store_angel]

18. Kerry and the presidency.

He is still running for president, I think he fully expects to be the 2008 nominee......Much like the last campaign where he couldn't figure out what it was he believed in and stand up and defend it, he is doing it again going with the "republican-lite" stance. He is just starting two years earlier. This just gives him two extra years to see how much of his core constituency he can alienate. :eyes:

[benevolent dictator]

19. Hopefully people won't be stupid enough

to vote for him in the primaries. What a joke that would be. He fucked up the 04 campaign and I have no faith that he would do any better in 08, especially if he keeps making comments like these...

[sundog]

17. major let down

:(

[mandyky]

20. Take a trip to hades, mr kerry

don't sell out our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters.

[Anarcho-Socialist]

21. He's selling-out peoples' civil rights for votes

from people who are never going to vote for him anyway. I thought Senator Kerry was a principled man, I must have been mistaken.

[Bluebear]

24. "You're just afraid he is going to overshadow your candidate"

So, has Kerry lost some support? here? I tried to tell this poster as much....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1449246&mesg_id=1453128