Subscribe to Breaking NewsVanasco: I like John McCain
I like John McCain.
That’s what I came away with after his speech last night.
I disagree with him about energy policy, taxes, the role of government and most strongly over social justice issues.
And I was angry that he took a swipe at gays and lesbians by saying that he would support judges “who dispense justice impartially and don’t legislate from the bench.” That was clearly a reference to “activist judges,” which is what social conservatives cry every time we win back our rights in court.
I’m not going to vote for him.
But he seems to have learned the right lessons from being a prisoner of war – that people need other people, that America is an idea that is worth fighting for; he seems to believe many things I do – that all people are created equal, that because we are so blessed to live in this country, it is our obligation to “fight for the rights of the oppressed,” that social justice is crucial to a free society.
Of course, with the choice of the very anti-gay Sarah Palin, he isn’t giving signals that he believes that those same rights, that same fight, applies to gays and lesbians. And Republican delegates are 93 percent white, so it’s not so clear other oppressed people are on board.
Even so. He gave a stem-winder of a speech. His honest exploration of his time as a prisoner, his humbleness and regret, was moving. His words about reaching out to all Americans, about committing to service, about the American ability to work hard and solve our nations challenges, about education being the “civil rights challenge of this century,” all these were good words.
That’s the America I believe in, too.
John McCain and I disagree on important issues. But he is a good candidate. He’s not my candidate, but a worthwhile challenger to Barack Obama.
Someone tell me why the Repubs are so determined to attack Obama’s inexperience while Bush, who has/had a great deal of experience, has had this country in termoid for eight long years! I haven’t seen the Dems making a point of this!
Good grief, the editor of a gay website says he likes John McCain. You ned your head read. Take a look at his running mate for heavens sake – he chose her!!. You cannot get any more anti gay than the republican party right now in America. But I am sure the republican party will be very happy to have such charitable comments from a group of people they actively discriminate against.
The republican party have never liked gay people, and John McCain will deliver exactly the same policies on gay equality that Bush did, that is, none.
As for McCain being a war hero?? Come on. Many, many people have fought long and suffered in the two world wars and Vietnam, and in more recent confilcts, and they have shown more bravery in the face of conflict that he ever did. Too much is made of his time killing civilians in the unnecessary vietnam war.
John McCain war hero?? I don’t think so.
Yeah y’all seem to have it. MCCAIN is evil, he’s so transparent, phony. And don’t get me started on Falwell. I hated him more than anyone at the time he was relevant, which wasn’t too long. I’m glad he’s dead. But this is America and you can vote as you please. Any intelligent person though will vote for OBAMA. At least with him we have a good chance of getting a start on equal rights. Peace
‘Like McPain’? Yikes, lest we forget, Ms Editor-in-chief, lots of folks ‘liked’ and yes, even voted for, both Hitler and Mussolini!
You will please forgive me if I, and apparently quite a few others, strongly disagree and forgive us if we question your sympathies!
This evil, little man has suffered torture – and then endorses the practice on others. He has taken so many hypocritical stands on issues; he has publicly stated he is against ‘Gay rights’; he publicly states his support of the neo-fascists on the Supreme Court.
I guess that I must be missing something here? If Mr McPain is running on the ’straight-talk’ platform, then why on earth should we not believe him when he speaks?
No, I don’t listen to pundits, I listen to the man himself – and his words are clear: there is nothing to respect. He is not only a hypocrite, he takes American values and spits on them.
How dare he wrap himself up in our flag and then support enshrining discrimination in law, support torture, support the bottom-feeding religious wing-nuts, voodo-economics…shall I continue?
Many good men and women have suffered and died for our country in battle. However, the valour of military service does NOT automatically qualify anyone for President.
Does anyone else remember the ‘Keating 5′? Oh yeah, I guess McPain is not so clean-cut after all.
And don’t get me started on ‘family values’ either – dumping his first wife for a very rich beauty queen! Those are some awesome family values…
Some folk need to do some research before actually posting some statements.
First, I’m really unsure how anyone could not respect McCain’s record and history. He is a war hero. As a prisoner of war, I’m hard pressed to think of anyone that has gone through as much. He willingly passed in being released early so that the prisoners could be released in order of capture. Being that he was tortured every day, I can’t imagine many that would be willing to say, “keep me and release someone else.”
In the past, he has certainly been a man of principal and has certainly not been an enemy of the gay portion of society. (Remember, not too long ago that social conservatives were trumpeting that he was not one of them and could not endorse him.) I would agree that he seems to be pandering more to the further right portion of the Republican party than he had in the past. That is something that you can pin on the man.
It’s no secret that he is willing to cross party lines in order to move issues and legislation. It’s refreshing to see someone do that. Now I’m not saying that Obama would not act the same… he just hasn’t. But then Obama has not sponsored or been a part of any legislation. (My thought is that it would have interrupted his run for office if he had to take part in the job he was elected to do.)
And on a side note, you’ve lost the argument when you bring up comparisons to Hitler.
Oh Trace,
You poor misguided thing. Who has put those ideas and notions in your head. Since when is killing people in a war make you a war hero. Throughout history it seems all mankind has done is make war on other tribes. I’m sorry but I do not endorse the very idea of war. MCCAINS acceptance speech at one point threatened what peace talks and nukes disarmament we have with Russia. Another cold war? Is that what you want for president” A man who is so bitter and egotistical as to possibly be the one to push the button? The only ones to profit are the defense contractors. Think about what they have done already. Iwonder just how many millions they’ve made. Now its been reported that the joe ordinaries who work for the big whigs making trillions of dollars, they want to be guaranteed a great retirement benefit package. Imagine working at making a product that will kill everyone including their own families and grandchildren and they are concerned with retirement benefits. Sweet Jesus the irony. I think you’d better listen a bit harder to what this man says and with mom, apple pies and chevy’s on stage with him. Peace is possible, but only with the right person in charge.
I do not consider a war prisoner to be a Hero, in fact the Vietnam war was not even necessary in the first place. There was no victory, and the country quickly fell into Communists hands.
Unfortunately there are gays, women and blacks who gloss over his voting record in an effort to feel his pain. In fact he has voted against all of us.
I do not see maverick in his political maneuverings as much as pandering to the entrenched lobbying groups like AIPAC, which uses the Arab Israeli conflict as a foil to access oil reserves, and with the Palin pick, to the extreme fundimentalist “cool” christians who are embarrased by their futile efforts to solidify marriage and criminalize abortion.
The fact remains that 50% of all marriage ends in divorce, and to criminalize abortion would galvanize democratic votes enough to sweep republicans from every office.
Obama does not have a plan for marriage, but does have a webpage on his site dedicated to our concerns and will no doubt move in the direction of equal rights for all families.
For him to promise anything to us now would obscure his path to the White House, and get the electorate scared of gays again.
All we can do is trust that Barack is of the age and mindset to make this country function again by including our aspirations in a way that fits the melting pot image we have all grown up with.
If Mr. Obama had chosen Mrs. Clinton as his running mate, we would not be in this crisis.
The editor of 365gay.com writes this aberrantly self contradictory piece? How can a thinking, ethical person write that she “likes him”-(McCain), that he learned lessons as a result of being prisoner of war; and then go on to clarify that he doesn’t support “activist judges”. Gay Americans are prisoners of war. we deserve our rights.
Poor Misguided thing is what I think when I read many of these posts and stories.
It really boggles my mind that people honestly believe that Obama would follow through on anything that he has said.
What do you have to base this on? He’s done nothing but run for office? Are you going to lay it on Biden’s feet? A carrier politician than has been in office for over 3 decades?
WOW, the Democratic faithful are just as blinded as the Republican faithful.
If you can not see that both of the major candidates would say anything to be elected, you’re blind. The only difference is that McCain at least has some experience and that Palin can at least run a state.
tom=hillary made to many comments that sunk her vice-pres. chances.she kissed the right-wing on the war,abortion,gay marriage & other issues to numerous to list.bill’s sex,lies & stained dress got his law license in trouble & helped gore lose the electoral college in the close race of 2000(lots of republicans were fed up with clinton ethics & that kept many of them from crossing over & voting for gore and yes the nader betrayers didn’t help matters either). good riddence to the clintons. we will have a clinton-free white house for either 4 or 8 more years(hooray!).hillary overplanned her pres. bid. palin was a dumb choice & i don’t know anyone around me who thinks she’s oval office ready.biden should be able to chew her up & spit her out in the debate. if hillary was chosen more undecided voters would have leaned toward palin because she doesn’t come across as cold/calculating like hrc does. the dems have a better ticket than ‘04 (kerry/edwards anyone?)
Isn’t compassionate coservativism beautiful? Love the sinner hate the sin, meanwhile make his or her life impossible. Finally, a “new” way to be accepted by the fundies is here.
trace=is that the only difference you can see is that mccain has experience & palin has run a state? bush had 6 years of governor experience & look where it has got us.cheney had over 2 decades experience & look what he is. a sneaky low-down lying weasel who doesn’t care what a majority of us think about the war. palin has less experience as a governor than bush had.based on your argument,would you recommend repealing the amendment that prevents him from running for a third term? it’s the right kind of experience that matters! the kind that saves you money,not costs you money.the experince that saves lives not endangers them.mccain wants troops in georgia & iran when our safety is in even threatened. the experience that upholds the constitution & doesn’t trash it.mccain supports wiretaps,pork king stevens & can’t admit that “all men are created equal” applies to gay men & lbt’s. he would amend this part of the constit. if gay marriage was allowed by the courts in years to come. i’ve heard his supporters talk more of his p.o.w years than his “upholding the constitution years”(which sadly there are more of). the dems are right on the war,abortion,freedom loving judges & civil unions(which will later pave the way for marriage).also mccain has been a career politician almost as long as biden so why are you admiring his over-elected ass?the dems are the only option for us again.
Trace – you are the only poor misguided “thing” on here. Just because you can’t see the forest from teh tress, doesn’t mean everyone else is so ignorant.
Can you please title your articles in a manner that reflects the information presented. For Pete’s sake, this is supposed to be gay news. Your article accurately reflects the anti-gay McCain-Palin-Bush-Republican Party, but your title is so misleading. “I like John McCain” is not a good title when referring to an anti-gay candidate on a gay blog. How about “McCain Takes Swipe at Gays and Lesbians?” That’s actually in your article. I am so tired of the media trying to sound unbiased. This is a freaking gay blog. Don’t title an article like you’d read on CNN. Make it relevant to us! You KNOW that few people read past the headline. Please title your articles so that it doesn’t look like 365gay.com actually approves of John McCain. Thank you.