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what_do_we_know

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May 16, 2005 10:50

Sen. John Kerry yesterday called the decision of the Massachusetts Democratic Party adding support to its platform for same-sex marriage equality "a mistake."

Not that this is a big surprise, given his stance during the '04 elections. So, okay. I'm beginning to understand why people voted for Nader.

Comments 4

He is Catholic and all... jg26 May 16 2005, 15:36:05 UTC

... but I don't think he's saying that its a mistake morally, but a mistake politically. Personally, I feel my anger on this to be more directed toward the american public (who vote fairly strongly in AGAINST gay rights), than toward a politician who's recognizing the reality of the landscape.

I've got to say, sticking your neck out for a very controversial and somewhat unpopular stance isn't going to win back seats from the religious right. Also, just because you don't make it a public platform doesn't mean that you're going to vote against it, or even that you're not unified on the issue. It just means, "we want to get elected". Sad, but true.

In these days of complete partisan divide, just getting democrats elected, whatever they say, is a step in the right direction. What they campaign on is irrelevant.

(cynical much?)

Re: He is Catholic and all... bluechromis May 17 2005, 13:24:30 UTC

I think you're right that that statement specifically pertained to the political realities. However, Kerry IS against gay marriage. He's also for civil unions.

Re: He is Catholic and all... jg26 May 17 2005, 14:11:26 UTC

Ok, but as I said before, I'm all for civil unions too... as long we just change the term 'marriage' to be religious, so that all of the rights currently associated with marriage fall under the term 'civil unions' equally for gay and straight couples.

Truth is, everyone is SO friggin' vague on what they actually mean (because it is political suicide to be openly liberal these days) that I have no idea what the democrats mean. This is perhaps what what_do_we_know was referring to below. I only know that whatever the hell they DO mean, I agree with it more than the republicans. And thus, I subscribe to the lesser of 2 evils. YAY!!! :/

what_do_we_know May 16 2005, 20:36:05 UTC

Good points, all. And I agree that Kerry meant that the move was a mistake politically.

My beef is: weren't people (even Democrats) pissed at Kerry and just generally at the Democratic party because they were namby-pamby on "the issues?" Guess he didn't learn his lesson. It seems to me that the more the Dems elaborate on their general party stance, the less the Republicans will be able to point at the candidate and say, "vote for our guy - at least you know where he stands!"... because I think that was a major selling point for our dear dubyah.

Sorry that wasn't very lucid logic -- it's the end of a long day.....