About
Learn More about our progressive online community for the Granite State.

Create an account today (it's free and easy) and get started!
Menu

Make a New Account

Username:

Password:



Forget your username or password?


Search




Advanced Search


The Masthead
Managing Editors


Jennifer Daler

Contributing Writers
elwood
Mike Hoefer
 susanthe
ActBlue Hampshire

The Roll, Etc.
Prog Blogs, Orgs & Alumni
Betsy Devine
Blue News Tribune (MA)
Democracy for NH
Live Free or Die
Mike Caulfield
Granite State Progress
Seacoast for Change
Susan the Bruce

Politicos & Punditry
Krauss
Landrigan
Lawson
Pindell
Primary Monitor
Scala
Schoenberg
Spiliotes
Welch

Campaigns, Et Alia.
Paul Hodes
Carol Shea-Porter
John DeJoie
Ann McLane Kuster
ActBlue Hampshire
NHDP
DCCC
DSCC
DNC

National
Balloon Juice
billmon
Congress Matters
DailyKos
Digby
Hold Fast
Eschaton
FiveThirtyEight
MyDD
The Next Hurrah
Open Left
Senate Guru
Swing State Project
Talking Points Memo

50 State Blog Network
Alabama
Arizona
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin

HRC / Logo Debate Thread

by: Nicholas Gunn

Thu Aug 09, 2007 at 21:10:31 PM EDT
Debate Week Continues...

Playing now, from 9-11pm on LOGO (time warner cable channel 161) is a presidential forum on GLBT issues.

Join me below for some discussion.

Web Video available HERE.

Participating Candidates:
Barack Obama
John Edwards
Dennis Kucinich
Mike Gravel
Bill Richardson
Hillary Clinton
Nicholas Gunn :: HRC / Logo Debate Thread
Tags: , (All Tags)
Print Friendly View Send As Email
HRC / Logo Debate Thread | 63 comments
Interesting format... (0.00 / 0)
taking the candidates one at a time.

First up is Barack Obama.

Really getting into the Gay Marriage thing (0.00 / 0)
asking Obama to really defend his stance on Civil Unions.
Obama (0.00 / 0)
Compared it to alws against inter racial marriages in the 60's, saying his parents wouldn't have been able to be married in all 50 state.
[ Parent ]
Thanks for this, Nick. (4.00 / 1)
I just wish we were Ajaxified in our comments already, but soapblox is working out some bugs on it, I think.

btw, this was in my inbox today, by way of explanation of why Dodd is missing:

"I am sorry that I cannot attend today's forum - the GLBT community is a very important voice in our national discourse. While I am unable to attend this forum, today's discussion represents an important and historic step for the nation because addressing equal rights and responsibilities for the GLBT community is fundamental to fulfilling America's promise. The process of building a more just society begins with ending discrimination in our laws, our workplaces and our armed services.

"While I will not be able to attend the debate in person, I will post my responses to the questions posed in tonight's debate on my website www.chrisdodd.com."


Obama: (0.00 / 0)
I don't just talk about gay marriage before HRC.

That may be true, but it wasn't brought up in the hour and a half Obama forum I went to.

Not exactly a topic he's excited to talk about...

They won't let go on same-sex marriage. (4.00 / 1)
This is going to be interesting.
It will be interesting to see (0.00 / 0)
how this plays out in the rest of the media.

Faux News: Democrats Love Gays

[ Parent ]
Long, wonkish answer from Obama (0.00 / 0)
on comparing civil rights movement in LGBT.

I think I would have answered, "yes."

I like this format (0.00 / 0)
About fifteen minutes to each candidate.

I'm a bit concerned with that will happen with 15 minutes of Gravel, however.

Nice transition from Etheridge (0.00 / 0)
from health care to spousal rights for Edwards.
Edwards: (0.00 / 0)
Tells a story about meeting a group of young people who are homeless because they were kicked out of their home because they are gay.

Reminds me of a certain dairy on our front page, actually...

Liking Edwards forthright, rapid answers. n/t (0.00 / 0)

Question for Edwards: (4.00 / 1)
The right wing used gays and lesbians as a scare tactic in 04, you didn't defend us then, will you really defend us in '06?
'08** (0.00 / 0)
(I'd like to be able to edit my comments...)
[ Parent ]
You pre-answer (0.00 / 0)
... to the Ron Paul question posed below.
[ Parent ]
YOUR pre-answer, not you (0.00 / 0)
I told you I was tired ...
[ Parent ]
Edwards does liken LGBT to civil rights (4.00 / 1)
movement in his closing statement.
Kucinich "mainstream America" right here. (4.00 / 2)
fantastic first line.
Kucinich Question (4.00 / 1)
I've looked at your HRC Survey Results, and you seem to support everything.  Is there anything the GLBT community is working for that you don't support?
Posture. (4.00 / 1)
Has anyone else noticed that both here and at the yKos forum, that Kucinich has great sitting posture?

I'm not nit-picking here; effective posture an important quality when promoting oneself.  He's also unfailing in his ability to smile at the right moments.

I think the Rep. would be an incredible public speaking teacher.

Sorry, this is apropos of nothing, but I keep noticing this about Kucinich.

Kucinich (0.00 / 0)
is talking about the power of love... the gift we give to each other...

medical marijuana? (0.00 / 0)
I thought this was a GLBT forum.
Kucinich (4.00 / 2)
"Being president of the united states means you have to get things right the first time..."

Wouldn't it be great if that were true?

Kucinich very different to me (0.00 / 0)
when he has the podium to himself, as opposed to a debate.
how so? (0.00 / 0)

[ Parent ]
He's more expansive (0.00 / 0)
in his phrasing, almost like a preacher.

Talk of love and unity and connection.

"I love all of you," he finishes with.

[ Parent ]
All Repubs declined. (4.00 / 1)
So much for phony libertarian Ron Paul.
Are you suprised? (4.00 / 1)
Just one more step in ensuring that another demographic will always vote solidly for the Democratic Party.
[ Parent ]
How on earth can you (4.00 / 1)
represent a political philosophy that wants gov't out of the bedroom, and blow off this constituency?

I echo elwood's bon mot: Ron Paul is a phony lib.

[ Parent ]
Mike Gravel... (0.00 / 0)
20 minutes alone w/ him...

This should be entertaining.

He starts out (4.00 / 1)
by thanking the GLBT activists who fought Joe Solomonese to ensure that he could be there.

Joe Solomonese is the President of HRC, and he's sitting on the panel.

[ Parent ]
BMG is on it (0.00 / 0)
http://www.bluemassg...

Though far less humorously.

[ Parent ]
Gravel: "the gay issue" (0.00 / 0)
Yet he supports same sex marriage, and others don't.
I saw him speak at NH Pride '06 (0.00 / 0)
(an interesting experience to say the least)

He struk me there as someone who supports GLBT equality but isn't exactly up with the language of the debate.

Being out of public life for a few decades will do that.

[ Parent ]
language (0.00 / 0)
he stressed he needed people to not be afraid to come out of the closet.  Meant well, but a bit dated considering the audience.
[ Parent ]
right (0.00 / 0)
I distinctly remember a lot of middle aged homos in chaps.

and... they need to be told to not be afraid to come out?

[ Parent ]
More love talk. n/t (4.00 / 1)

Joe Solomonese asks: (0.00 / 0)
what is the thing that you've done to advance gay rights that you're most proud of?

Gravel brings up his legislation in the AK legislature establishing a human rights commission, which he sponsored as a freshman legislator.

Keep it up guys (4.00 / 2)
I'm tired, but this thread is highly entertaining. I'll look for it in the morning.
Wish I could, but I need some sleep... (0.00 / 0)
don't know how long I'll last.

Not enough love in me, I guess.

[ Parent ]
aaaawe, dean... (0.00 / 0)
I need to talk to someone...

we can make fun of Hillary together!

[ Parent ]
Richardson (4.00 / 2)
lets see how he brings up tax cuts tonight...
Richardson on DOMA (0.00 / 0)
He was in congress at the time.

I think he's trying to say that they introduced and passed it to prevent a 'we hate gays' amendment.

I'll need to rewind it on my tivo later...

Richardson (0.00 / 0)
look at my record...

passed hate crimes law and non descrimination including gender identity...

cool.

Joe Solomonese asks: (0.00 / 0)
If the New Mexico legislature puts a bill on your desk passing same sex marriage would you sign it?

Richardaon is clearly caught off guard.  Pauses for a moment.  And says it wouldn't happen... says he's working on what's achievable. 

is homosexuality a choice? (0.00 / 0)
Richardson says it is...

he really needs to brush up on how to talk to a GLBT audience.

Melissa (0.00 / 0)
"I'm not sure you understood the question"...

still does not answer the question and implies that homosexualaity is a choice

[ Parent ]
another questioner tries to explain the issue to him (0.00 / 0)
One of the tactics opponents of GLBT equality use as justification is to say that homosexuality is a choice.  What would he say to them...

he still doesn't get it.

[ Parent ]
Have they asked each candidate (0.00 / 0)
about DOMA repeal?

I think every Dem candidate would sign it, but I haven't heard them say so...

think so (0.00 / 0)
Richardson just stressed 6 states don't have it and NM is one
[ Parent ]
I wrote a diary (4.00 / 1)
linking to the HRC questionnaire.

every democratic candidate says they would support a repeal of the clause in DOMA that prevents federal recognition of same sex couples.

http://www.bluehamps...

[ Parent ]
Bartbeetles (0.00 / 0)
are still a problem in NM according to Richarson, whether they are gay or straight.
Hillary: (0.00 / 0)
you've been on the armed services committee, and you say your for repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell.  Why haven't you introduced a bill to do that?

Her answer:  It would never have passed.

Hillary: (0.00 / 0)
"I'm for civil unions with full equality."

bot... civil unions, by their very nature, aren't full equality.

"i believe very strongly that marriage is and should be an issue for the states"

so... I believe in civil unions, as long as I don't have to do anything about them.

hillary... (0.00 / 0)
reminding Joe Solomonese that she plotted strategy with him to defeat the 'we hate gays' amendment.
thrown under the bus (0.00 / 0)
Melissa tells Hillary of her disappointment and sadness over the failed legacy of the Clinton adm. on gay issues
Melissa Etheridge (0.00 / 0)
your husband threw us under the bus after the '92 elections.  What are you going to do differently now?

Hillary: I don't see it that way.

Logo (0.00 / 0)
has never hosted live programming before.

Their CBS / LOGO anchor looks like he's having a hard time doing live tv for the first time.

Thanks guys. (0.00 / 0)
Enjoyed catching up on the real news.
Nice work guys (0.00 / 0)
Two points -- If no one has already, let's give credit to all our candidates for either showing up or explaining their absence.

Re: "phony libertarian Ron Paul," that label was applied because he supported "don't ask don't tell." Now, we all agree that DADT has to go, but it seems to me that one could make a libertarian defense of it, if one chose -- government non-interference. Not that I'm here to defend Ron Paul, and I agree with Susan (I think it was Susan), who noted that his record will make him unravel, but calling him a phony libertarian based on one issue doesn't seem fair to me. Yes, it's a big issue, but still. I mean, the guy wants to eliminate the IRS. He's a libertarian.

And that said, he should have showed up. Where was Rudy, anyway?


Good points. (0.00 / 0)
Remember, Rudy's into transvestism issues, not transgender ones.


[ Parent ]
where were (0.00 / 0)
Biden and Dodd?

NH Kucinich Campaign
I'm such a lame blogger (0.00 / 0)
I watched the whole thing but didn't live blog.

It was quite odd wasn't it? Logo needed to pay for some experience in the following:

1) Set Design. What was up with that chair? Everyone's pants  rode up.. you could see Edward's leg above his sock. Bad choice...
2) Moderator. I don't know who that was, but she was not very fluid.
3) Commentators. That Logo guy attempting to interview people was just embarrassing.

I had fun spotting 'gay stars' in the audience... anyone catch Alec Mapa? Or Neil Patrick Harris?

Anyway, I guess I was expecting more. All in all, I'm left wondering why I'm not a Kucinich guy, as he really does have everything I'm interested in, yet I'm a solid Hillary guy. Perhaps it's the 5 minutes of gigantic grins coupled with 'Love' speak. Then there was the 'Text peace' stuff from the YouTube debates that was just odd. I dunno, maybe he would be taken more seriously if he laid off that stuff. I wish honestly he was more 'in the running,' I like him a lot.

I was very disappointed with Richards in this forum. He genuinely seemed annoyed with the questions; as though he were not told ahead of time this was a GAY ISSUES forum.

Hillary again proved her experience, and well thought out nature of her stances. To me anyway, she has fully explained how DOMA and DADT came into being. While I 100% expect gay marriage to come into play as soon as possible, I also understand it will be a series of victories and it will take time. I also understand that it's easy for Gravel and Kucinich to be for it: they have nothing to lose. You could see Edwards' thinking 'I wish I could just say I was for gay marriage, but I would lose votes in the general election...' It's the big wink wink, nudge nudge of the Democratic Party, that they're all for gay marriage, but not until it's more than 50% acceptable.

All in all, I'm left where I was: Supporting Hillary. Obama impressed me far more than he usually does, but the biggest change for me was Richardson.... his performance here was just sad... which is too bad as he does have a gay supportive record.

I do hope this happens again each election cycle, but I'd rather it had a bigger budget, and more experienced people running it.

HRC / Logo Debate Thread | 63 comments
Connect with BH
     
Blue Hampshire Blog on Facebook
Powered by: SoapBlox