McCain and LGB- I'm sorry- the gays.

[Tsukasa Buddha]

So what are McCain's position on gay rights?

Many seem to believe that he is for civil unions. This is a misconception propagated by his vague statements, like here:

STEPHANOPOULOS: You say you believe that marriage should be reserved for between a man --
McCAIN: Yes.

STEPHANOPOULOS: -- and a woman. You voted for an initiative in Arizona that went beyond that and actually denied any government benefits to civil unions or domestic partnerships. Are you against civil unions for gay couples?

McCAIN: No, I'm not. But the -- that initiative I think was misinterpreted. I think that initiative did allow for people to join in legal agreements such as power of attorney and others. I think there was a -- I think that there was a difference of opinion on the interpretation of that constitutional amendment in Arizona.

STEPHANOPOULOS: So you're for civil unions?

McCAIN: No. I am for ability of two -- I do not believe gay marriage should be legal. I do not believe gay marriage should be legal. But I do believe that people ought to be able to enter into contracts, exchange powers of attorney, other ways that people who have relationships can enter into.

Linky.

Try and figure out what his stance is . All I can figure out is he thinks gays should be able to make contracts, which is a great step forward towards equality .

And on gay adoption:

"I think that we've proven that both parents are important in the success of a family so, no, I don't believe in gay adoption," McCain replied.

McCain then remarked that he and his wife, Cindy, were proud to be adoptive parents of a daughter born in Bangladesh, and he encouraged others to adopt. Asked if those adopting should be a "traditional couple," McCain answered, "Yes."

...

"Sen. McCain's expressed his personal preference for children to be raised by a mother and a father wherever possible," the statement added. "However, as an adoptive father himself, McCain believes children deserve loving and caring home environments, and he recognizes that there are many abandoned children who have yet to find homes. John McCain believes that in those situations that caring parental figures are better for the child than the alternative."

Linky.

Again, where the Hell does he stand? He seems to give a not quite so ringing endorsement at the end. But he clearly states he is against gay adoption.

And look, I realize that he keeps saying these are State issues. I consider that to be his traditional cop out. I don't care whether any gay marriage or adoption bills will meet his desk. I care about what his beliefs are, as they will effect they laws that do get to his desk pertaining to the LGBTQ community. Whether he will listen to the scientific evidence and endorsements provided by The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Psychiatric Association and the National Association of Social Workers etc. or will stay with an ideological view against reality says a lot about a person.

And the HRC has compiled a decidedly negative list on him:

OPPOSED Ending Discrimination Against GLBT Americans in the Workplace. Senator McCain cast a deciding vote against the federal Employment Non Discrimination Act.

OPPOSED Protecting GLBT Americans from Hate Crimes. Senator McCain voted three times against expanding the federal hate crimes law to include sexual orientation.

PROPONENT of Discriminatory Military Policy. Senator McCain supports Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and does not believe that gays should serve in the military.

OPPONENT of Equal Benefits for Same-Sex Couples. Senator McCain voted for the Defense of Marriage Act which prohibits same-sex couples from receiving federal rights and benefits in any state.

ACTIVELY SUPPORTED State Ban on Domestic Partnerships. Senator McCain campaigned for a ban on same-sex relationship recognition in his home state of Arizona – even appearing in a campaign television ad.

SUPPORTED the Confirmation of Anti-GLBT Equality Judges. Senator McCain voted to confirm President Bush’s judicial nominees who had taken anti-GLBT positions. He has pointed to Justice Samuel Alito as a role model for future Supreme Court appointments.

SUPPORTED a Discriminatory HIV/AIDS Policy. Senator McCain supported a Jesse Helms strategy to cut off funding for prevention efforts aimed at the gay community and voted to prohibit foreign nationals with HIV from immigrating to the United States.

Linky.

The link for the full report is there as well.

Now, I know Obama is against gay marriage as well, but he at least states that he is for fully equal civil unions, against DOMA, against DADT, and is nearly the complete foil of McCain.

 

[mrbaracuda]

You and your gays!

 

[Undesired Walrus]

Is there anything you can get in the conventional form of marriage that you cannot get in civil partnerships? I mean, is there a large desire to be able to call each other their husband and wife in the gay community?

If there are legal rights you can get in marriage that you cannot get in a legal partnership, then I can't imagine why gay folks cannot get hitched for any other reason than bigotry.

However, If it is a wish to have it expanded to churches, I cannot understand how they expect the government to get involved..

 

[WildCat]

Is there anything you can get in the conventional form of marriage that you cannot get in civil partnerships?

Yes.

If there are legal rights you can get in marriage that you cannot get in a legal partnership, then I can't imagine why gay folks cannot get hitched for any other reason than bigotry.

Bingo! Give that man a Kewpie doll!

However, If it is a wish to have it expanded to churches, I cannot understand how they expect the government to get involved..

No one is suggesting forcing churches to perform gay mrriages.

 

[Brainster]

Is there anything you can get in the conventional form of marriage that you cannot get in civil partnerships? I mean, is there a large desire to be able to call each other their husband and wife in the gay community?

I think there's more of a desire to call each other husband and husband.

 

[applecorped]

Originally Posted by Undesired Walrus
Is there anything you can get in the conventional form of marriage that you cannot get in civil partnerships?

Yes.

What?

 

[corplinx]

McCain should pull a 180 on the issue and do it in McCain style.

"If you don't like gay marriages, don't get one"

The chances of that happening are about the same as Obama switching sides and voting for telecom immunity.

 

[Sunni Man]

If McCain is against homo marriage. I would vote for him.

 

[cgallaga]

It is a source of great national embarassment to me that I and my partner are legally married in Canada (where neither of us is a national), but that our union is not recognized in the alleged land of the free home of the brave(where I was born and raised among good hard working god fearing Americans). McCain has had 7000 (ok maybe hyperbole) years to do something about it, in this issue it is time to give someone else a try.

 

[Complexity]

McCain can go to his hell and rot.

 

[Darat]

Folk please lets keep to the subject of this thread. This is in the "2008 USA Presidential Elections" section not "Social issues....".

Replying to this modbox in thread will be off topic  Posted By: Darat