Comments on: Ruby-Sachs: Gay Candidates on the Illinois Election Primary Day

By: DeGuyz

DeGuyz — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 04:57:37 +0000

…and bring down the deficit!

By: DeGuyz

DeGuyz — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 04:56:02 +0000

Word on the street is that only “we” could rock the white house like never before. “Pump up da jam”

By: Adam Dale Smolinski

Adam Dale Smolinski — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 02:58:55 +0000

As if fiscal conservatism weren’t a proven failure enough, even gays want it?

By: Tim Brough

Tim Brough — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 19:42:35 +0000

Emma, While Deb Mell is your obvious fave, you could have at least had the decency and courtesy of mentioning the openly gay man also in the race against her, Joe Liaconia, by name.

By: Jay

Jay — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 19:23:07 +0000

No wonder we are in such bad shape when gay people play down the importance of equality. Those people are just like those in most of the red states that vote against their best interests. They must really like being second-class citizens. What passes for conservatives these days are religious fanatics who want all sorts of “faith based” social programs, no taxes, and every weapons system anybody can think up. With the floodgates open to corporate spending, the government is already bought and paid for by special interests. Don’t expect any change any time soon. The country will soon collapse of its own weight, and will be owned by China, in any case.

By: MavsFan

MavsFan — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 18:58:06 +0000

DaveW, you just describe my dream candidate! Sadly, as much sense as the fiscally conservative/socially moderate political viewpoint makes to me, I think that that platform would be difficult to garner much support on either side of the aisle. It may be better suited for Independants, but it seems that kind of candidate would be hard-pressed to make it big in politics.

But, some day….just maybe we’ll see a true fiscal conservative/social moderate! I’ll be waiting.

By: Robert Carter

Robert Carter — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 17:43:45 +0000

For years I voted my ideology which was moderatly conservative. Untill the mid 90′s gay rights didn’t seem(to me) to break along party lines. DOMA ,the proposed constituional admendmet proposed by Bush and the fight for the Mathew shepard act changed my mind. These issues have a greater impact on my day to day life than any but the most radical fiscal or social policies. While greater exposure to liberal ideas has made me somewhat more liberal myself, I still vote for the most LGBT friendly person first and take other views second. While I do now have a problem with so called “log cabin republicans”, I have greater issues with the left that assumes because I’m gay I suport all liberal policies.

By: matt87

matt87 — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 17:34:12 +0000

It’s an imposing dilemma. As badly as we need leaders and support, I would vote for anybody who would be willing to lead LGBT legislation and/or strongly support it. Sometimes, that could even mean a heterosexual candidate instead of someone from the LGBT community.

By: DaBoyz

DaBoyz — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:30:30 +0000

I used to vote for the best candidate that could get our MUNICIPALITY/CITY/STATE/COUNTRY into better shape, this had always been my stance. But, it seems that all politicians lie to all of us to get into office. I have worked diligently on many campaigns and been a strong supporter of the candidates that I campaigned for. I have also seen those same candidates lie after we got them elected. I think we have to vote for progress, however that comes about. I will say that I am more inclined to vote for someone that is gay as I know that all of them are going to lie, so I will try to find an ally that lies.

By: DaveW

DaveW — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 15:59:32 +0000

Emma I agree with Victor somewhat. The fact that they run, are visible and get votes based on their ability is what we should celebrate. We should push gay candidacy. But to win my vote they need to hold more of my values than just equality.

And for me it is not about who has the best liberal bona fides as you lay it out. The best candidate would be a moderate who is for equality and for small government.

Some say “fiscal conservative/social liberal” but that is wrong for me. Social liberals do not as a rule get my support because of the way they want to go about helping others…with my money.

I would like a fiscal conservative/social moderate and if he/she is gay, all the better.

Fiscal conservative, not the current brand of republicans, who will work to curtail spending and unfair taxation (the death tax, a graduated income tax, too high capital gains tax, relying on payroll taxes vs. use taxes too much are all unfair forms of taxation in my book). I would really put first in my priorities a candidate who will fight the earmark and unneccessary spendning habits of both chambers of congress.

social moderate meaning a nod to the true right about the government staying out of our personal lives regarding who we choose to marry and when/if we choose to reproduce plus reasonable pot and alcohol laws (i.e. why can’t we buy wine at a movie, why do my favorite restaurants lose their license in the winter and why can’t my state government sell per plant licenses for marijuana production at home?) and a nod to the right regarding a fair and sensible social safety net that encourages education, self help, personal responsibility and handouts only as a last resort in an environment where we truly work to improve people’s abilities to care for themselves.

I have seen no such candidate unfortunately, and find the need for a moderate balance more important than a candidate being gay.