MyDD :: Will Dems stand up for Civil Rights?

Will Dems stand up for Civil Rights?

by ann0nymous, Thu May 15, 2008 at 05:23:04 PM EST

Today the California court did what politicians have been running away from- giving equal marriage rights to the same-sex couples. Along with the Massachusetts decision, this is in my opinion a landmark decision on this issue. The most important question for Dems now is whether they will be bold enough to make this issue a centerpiece of the new civil rights that this country desperately needs.

In the weeks ahead I will look for which Dem leaders will take lead over this issue. I am especially looking forward to whether our ``presumptive'' nominee or the ``presumptive'' runner-up will lead the good fight over this issue. Afterall, both of them have benefitted from the civil rights fights of the past and would not be here without those fights. The question is whether they will stand up for civil rights of other groups? That more than anything else will tell me all about their character.

Let me expand on what I mean by ``character''. Sen. Clinton has been arguing for months that she is a``fighter'' and that she would stand up to the Republicans for several issues (healthcare comes to my mind). Sen. Obama has been campaigning for months on ``change we can believe in'' and that he will turn back the ``politics of the old''. Are these guys for real. Will Sen. Clinton really ``fight'' for human rights? Does Sen. Obama really want to effect any meaningful ``change''? Yes, this question goes right to the heart of the respective messages that these candidates have been pushing. Thus, it becomes a question of character. But really, I think the question is larger than either of the two candidates. The question is to the whole Dem leadership, whether or not they are running for President? It is more important for Presidential candidates to take a stand obviously, but the rest of them cannot brush this issue off. So what do I want the candidates/Dem leadership to do? Simple enough. The candidates should announce that they will sign a federal amendment that recognizes the right of same-sex couples to wed legally in every state. It is not that hard (this is what 14th amendment achieves for voting rights.) The Dem leadership should promise that come January, 2009 they will table the amendment in the Congress and table similar amendments in all states where they are in majority.

Tags: California ruling, Gay marriage (all tags)

Permalink :: 18 Comments :: Post a Comment

All three have said they will not support an ... (none / 0)

amendment.

by handsomegent on Thu May 15, 2008 at 05:37:32 PM EST

Re: Will Dems stand up for Civil Rights? (none / 0)

Amen!

by markjay on Thu May 15, 2008 at 05:40:00 PM EST

Re: Will Dems stand up for Civil Rights? (2.00 / 1)

As glorious as this day has been for me and mine, I do not expect Sen. Obama to lead on this issue. I am a native of red state America (Texas), and currently live in another part of red state America (Montana). I have no illusions about how this will play among cultural conservatives, who in fact outnumber we cultural liberals.

As angry as I was with Sen. Obama over some of his unforced errors in this area (McClurkin), I understand the reasoning behind them. Everyone remembers what happened to Bill Clinton's entire first term because he embraced the GLBT community a little too warmly for comfort. Fifteen years of legislative defeats for gay people followed.

Sen. Obama will repeat his position that this is a state issue that the federal government has no role in, and that will be the extent of his input. Sen. Clinton, however, who has nothing to lose at this point, can and should lead on this issue with her unqualified support.

No politician ever lost an election because he underestimated the intelligence of the American public. - PT Barnum, paraphrased...

by jarhead5536 on Thu May 15, 2008 at 05:40:20 PM EST

Hear! Hear! Excellent comment. I join (none / 0)

in calling for Senator Clinton to lead on this issue.

Sen. Clinton, however, who has nothing to lose at this point, can and should lead on this issue with her unqualified support.

Obama supporter working to defeat McCain.

by Rumarhazzit on Thu May 15, 2008 at 06:37:16 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Will Dems stand up for Civil Rights? (2.00 / 1)

I'm proud of my former abode of Massachusetts for leading on this issue. It't not a states' rights issue; it's a human('s) rights issue.

by ProgressiveDL on Thu May 15, 2008 at 05:42:34 PM EST

Re: Will Dems stand up for Civil Rights? (none / 0)

I wish they would, but I don't think either will. Both will come out against an amendment, however, Barack has a Presidential campaign to run, and getting friendly with the GLBT population hasn't been his forte, so I don't expect it right now, even though he has made some good steps recently. As for Hillary, even though she is out of it in terms of the nomination battle, she does have a political future in the NY Senate or a possible run for Majority Leader or NY Gov if Paterson doesn't work out, so I can't expect her to make a real strong stand either.

It's sad.

Hillary supporter for Barack Obama in 2008

by zcflint05 on Thu May 15, 2008 at 05:42:47 PM EST

All true Dems support civil rights! (none / 0)

Apparently, except if they're running for President. How sad is this?

by bobswern on Thu May 15, 2008 at 05:44:59 PM EST

Re: Will Dems stand up for Civil Rights? (2.00 / 1)

If Hillary or Barack said "I support Gay Marriage", would either lose in November because of this?

by devoted1 on Thu May 15, 2008 at 05:46:09 PM EST

Re: Will Dems stand up for Civil Rights? (2.00 / 1)

Short Answer, yes, especially in Hillary's case with quite a rural vote.

by Jaz on Thu May 15, 2008 at 05:47:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Will Dems stand up for Civil Rights? (2.00 / 1)

Yup. The rest of America is not nearly as evolved as we would like to think they are...

No politician ever lost an election because he underestimated the intelligence of the American public. - PT Barnum, paraphrased...

by jarhead5536 on Thu May 15, 2008 at 05:47:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Will Dems stand up for Civil Rights? (none / 0)

But sooner or later, we should give them the opportunity to prove us wrong. Perhaps Barack is right, and we really are "not as divided as our politics suggests."

by viewfromuk on Thu May 15, 2008 at 05:57:48 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Will Dems stand up for Civil Rights? (none / 0)

As a native Southerner, I can tell you that the change we seek will happen, but an entire generation, currently in leadership roles across rural America, will have to die, which is regrettable but necessary. Homophobia is more related to age than just about anything else I have found. Folks that are too young to remember clearly the cultural revolutions of the late 1960's have no problem with gay people.

No politician ever lost an election because he underestimated the intelligence of the American public. - PT Barnum, paraphrased...

by jarhead5536 on Thu May 15, 2008 at 06:03:34 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I say (none / 0)

make this an issue in 2009. Do you really want to feed the rightie rove machine with this?

Washington Woman
theocracywatch.org
EENR Blog

by kevin22262 on Thu May 15, 2008 at 05:53:36 PM EST

Re: Will Dems stand up for Civil Rights? (none / 0)

This is an issue that is best addressed (from an actual results perspective) between elections. I do think that leading on this issue, at this exact point in time, will not accomplish anything.

by rfahey22 on Thu May 15, 2008 at 06:16:08 PM EST

Obama will retract DOMA and DADT (none / 0)

Not sure what else you want.

I don't expect him to make a big deal of this unless McCain starts running his mouth about it. Dude's got a campaign to run.

In this avalanche, the pebbles get to vote.

by Dracomicron on Thu May 15, 2008 at 06:18:02 PM EST

I think this says it all (2.00 / 1)

title=

Rules are not necessarily sacred, principles are. - Franklin Delano Roosevelt

by anna belle on Thu May 15, 2008 at 06:28:03 PM EST

Re: Will Dems stand up for Civil Rights? (none / 0)

Hillary and Bill support Gay Rights and took a stand in the 1992 campaign and in Bill's presidency which cost them both politically, but it did a lot to lay the foundation for the movement in the 90's. Gay "marriage" is hard for many people to accept. I think civil unions have more public support and would be easier to accomplish. I know, I know, separate but equal is inherently unequal, but I'd settle for the federal/state rights of "marriage" in the form of a civil union for now.

by grlpatriot on Thu May 15, 2008 at 06:31:29 PM EST

Not sure about Clinton, but... (none / 0)

I know Obama's personal policy on marriage is just to force all couples, straight, gay, and other to get civil unions, essentially removing "marriage" altogether.

Let the churches decide who gets to use the term "married." The government should only care about legal rights. It was stupid that clergy was given the ability to bestow legal rights and obligations, anyway.

In this avalanche, the pebbles get to vote.

by Dracomicron on Thu May 15, 2008 at 06:50:02 PM EST
[ Parent ]

You are not logged in.

In order to post a comment, you must be logged in. If you have a member account, please log in to comment.

If not, you can make an account right here. It's quick and free.