National LGBT Leaders Endorse John Edwards For President

interesting (0.00 / 0)

and troubling that LGBT leaders would endorse a candidate who is opposed to marriage equality.

NH Kucinich Campaign

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by: susanb @ Thu Jun 07, 2007 at 09:07:52 AM CDT

This I believe (0.00 / 0)

John Edwards strongly supports equal rights for all, and applauded Lynch's signing of the Civil Unions bill.
I agree with him that to let the government tell religious institutions what constitutes marriage is wrong. That is not the purview of Government. My synagogue encourages gay couples to join,and to Marry, but that's our choice. We are an inclusive congregation. Others may not in accordance with their faith tradition. I may not agree, but last time I looked this country was founded on the principle of Freedom Of Religion. Here for the record is the set of Resolutions from our national governing body, that cover it.

http://www.beliefnet...
(This is partial list...go to link for all with history)

Text of the Reform Judaism Gay Marriage Resolution

...
RESOLUTION WHEREAS, justice and human dignity are cherished Jewish values, and

WHEREAS, in March of 1999 the Women's Rabbinic Network passed a resolution urging the Central Conference of American Rabbis to bring the issue of honoring ceremonies between two Jews of the same gender to the floor of the convention plenum, and

WHEREAS, the institutions of Reform Judaism have a long history of support for civil and equal rights for gays and lesbians, and

WHEREAS, North American organizations of the Reform Movement have passed resolutions in support of civil marriage for gays and lesbians, therefore

WE DO HEREBY RESOLVE, that the relationship of a Jewish, same gender couple is worthy of affirmation through appropriate Jewish ritual, and

FURTHER RESOLVED, that we recognize the diversity of opinions within our ranks on this issue. We support the decision of those who choose to officiate at rituals of union for same-gender couples, and we support the decision of those who do not, and

FURTHER RESOLVED, that we call upon the CCAR to support all colleagues in their choices in this matter, and

FURTHER RESOLVED, that we also call upon the CCAR to develop both educational and liturgical resources in this area.


Next time, there may be no next time.

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by: Jon Bresler @ Thu Jun 07, 2007 at 17:25:59 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

SusanB (4.00 / 1)

I heard you were working for Kucinich. To be fair, I may have heard wrong. You should reveal that if it's true. Keep your eyes on the prize. Don't let the perfect drive out the good. No one has been as vitriolic in general against Edward's message in my view than your fellow supporters. I don't why. The candidates developed a real friendship in '04, and Dennis released his delegates to Edwards in the Iowa Caucuses..

Next time, there may be no next time.

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by: Jon Bresler @ Thu Jun 07, 2007 at 17:27:12 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

instead of making this be about me (0.00 / 0)

why don't you explain how I'm incorrect?

John Edwards has said he's against same gender marriage. I find that troubling. Attacking the messanger doesn't make it less troubling.

NH Kucinich Campaign

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by: susanb @ Fri Jun 08, 2007 at 08:52:14 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

SusanB (0.00 / 0)

I never said you were wrong. I support Edwards, and so restated what he said to the best of my ability, and why I support his position. You have been consistent at every step in demeaning him, from the outset, and it was of interest to me when Chuckster mentioned you were working for Dennis. JimC said its about disclosure, and I agree. By the way, I am not paid, and but I hope you are well compensated for your advocacy.

Next time, there may be no next time.

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by: Jon Bresler @ Fri Jun 08, 2007 at 09:59:03 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

this is the PERFECT (0.00 / 0)

example of why I've waited to speak about my job. I've lived in NH for 25 years, worked on a variety of issues and campaigns - even run for office myself.  I've been writing about NH politics for years - but because I work for a candidate - suddenly everything I say is meaningless, because it's all about my job. 

Thanks so much, NHTimes2 - for reducing me and my views to a paycheck. I hope I'm not alone in seeing the irony of this coming from someone who uses an anonymous pseudonym.

If anyone else is interested, or slightly more open minded, I'm working on a diary about this.


NH Kucinich Campaign

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by: susanb @ Fri Jun 08, 2007 at 09:26:19 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

That's a bit unfair (0.00 / 0)

Asking you to disclose that you're working for a candidate, particularly when you're knocking another candidate, is not "reducing you to a paycheck."

We all know campaigns pay terribly, it's not about the money. It's about disclosure.

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by: JimC @ Fri Jun 08, 2007 at 09:32:08 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

It's not unfair (0.00 / 0)

Before I took this job, I testified twice before the NH House on the civil marriage bill. I was a voice for full equality long before I began to recieve a paycheck.

Stating an opposing view is not the same as "knocking a candidate" - though I can see now that views I've held for decades will be conflated with a paycheck.

I should think people would be able to understand why I'm a little annoyed about it.


NH Kucinich Campaign

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by: susanb @ Fri Jun 08, 2007 at 11:08:06 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Well (0.00 / 0)

I think saying support of another candidate is "troubling" constitutes a knock. And just because Kucinich is left of Edwards doesn't mean he owns the left on every issue.

Now, obviously, you've done work on this, and your opinion counts more than mine (damn flatlander that I am). But that doesn't mean you can compare presidential candidacies objectively when you've joined a campaign, paycheck or no paycheck.

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by: JimC @ Fri Jun 08, 2007 at 11:42:17 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

In BlogWorld it is customary (4.00 / 1)

to disclose (a sig line is a good spot) if you are working for a campaign.  That way you are safe from accusations of astroturfing.  To me at least, it does not diminish one bit any of your personal views or political history.

From "Getting Started":

Full Disclosure
Paid campaign staffers, workers, and elected politicians' staffers are very much invited to join the conversation here with comments and diaries, but are asked to provide full disclosure.  A good place to do this is in your Comment Signature line which can be updated in the Profile section of your user page.  If you post a diary with no intent to comment, then provide disclosure somewhere in the text of the diary.

People here, e.g., know I'm currently leaning towards Marchand.  But if I were his campaign employee and didn't disclose it, the credibility of everything I've written, and much of this site, would crumble into dust in a matter of seconds.

birch, finch, beech

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by: Dean Barker @ Fri Jun 08, 2007 at 15:12:30 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Edwards & the LGBT Vote (0.00 / 0)

...no, just realistic.

This list was released April 10th, but I've seen it posted in several places as new info. 

Edwards & Dodd both have "rainbow" campaign bumper stickers for sale on their websites.  I haven't checked every candidate, but those are the only 2 I've seen.  Is anyone else actively seeking LGBT voters or endorsements?

Paula M. DiNardo
Dover NH

A Blue Hampster since 2007!

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by: pdinardo @ Thu Jun 07, 2007 at 10:30:56 AM CDT

I must be blind (0.00 / 0)

I didn't notice the release was from two months ago! Was this posted yesterday because of the publicity around Shrum writing in his book that Edwards was uncomfortable with gays and lesbians?

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by: Moxie @ Thu Jun 07, 2007 at 23:00:39 PM CDT

No...I am not that smart (0.00 / 0)

I first saw it as a bulletin on a social networking site, the day I posted it, and was happy to repost it here. I had not known about it. Tisk tisk, bad activist, me.

No ulteriors except feeling good, like Raymond said, that we are all on board with Civil Unions...and SusanB is not wrong to keep pushing, I just felt she was being strident and a little too personal and that asking her status on another campaign was relevant.

Thanks for all the comments, Blue Hamsters.
I will redouble my effortst to be fair as well. Testifying
in favor of an agenda one belives in, and working for social justice is a life long committment. The political process is less about morals and justice and values, than it is about power and trade-offs to keep same. Everything gets ground up at the sausage factory.

Next time, there may be no next time.

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by: Jon Bresler @ Fri Jun 08, 2007 at 17:53:24 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

House Party (0.00 / 0)

that's my guess (reason for rerelease).

I'll be seing JRE at the House Party today in Rochester...if I get a chance to ask a question, maybe I'll ask about that!

Paula M. DiNardo
Dover NH

A Blue Hampster since 2007!

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by: pdinardo @ Fri Jun 08, 2007 at 08:03:11 AM CDT

Amazing (4.00 / 2)

If someone had told when I was a teenage Democratic activist that someday people would be fighting in a public forum over which presidential candidate is more pro-gay and has more gay supporters I would have looked at them as if they were crazy. What wonderful progress. Fantastic!

Have you written a letter to the editor today? Have you donated today? Have you put up signs? Have you made calls? Have you talked to your neighbors?

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by: Ray Buckley @ Fri Jun 08, 2007 at 12:04:16 PM CDT

I wonder... (0.00 / 0)

what will it be like when I'm a... seasoned... democratic activist?

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by: Nicholas Gunn @ Fri Jun 08, 2007 at 13:22:37 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Satellite Chair (4.00 / 1)

I'll be County Chair of the recently colonized Moon

Next time, there may be no next time.

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by: Jon Bresler @ Fri Jun 08, 2007 at 17:54:38 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

On disclosure (0.00 / 0)

My two cents: it is unfair to suggest that the reason susanb feels strongly about gay marriage is that she is working on kucinich's campaign. Ordinarily I'd feel otherwise, but given that she posts under real name and most everyone else does not, it's holding her to a higher standard than the rest of us must meet. For example, nhtimes2 makes comments critical of the labor stands of some Democratic presidential candidates - but what do we know about nhtimes2 in real life? For example, it would be interesting to know if nhtimes2 had ever owned a business, and whether the workers at that business were unionized.

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by: Moxie @ Fri Jun 08, 2007 at 13:22:47 PM CDT

Please elucidate (0.00 / 0)

For example, nhtimes2 makes comments critical of the labor stands of some Democratic presidential candidates

I am not sure to what comments you refer. I will respond to particluars when you do.

Next time, there may be no next time.

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by: Jon Bresler @ Fri Jun 08, 2007 at 17:09:49 PM CDT

[ Parent ]