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Loading ...Biden says gay relationships are protected by the Constitution
10.02.2008 11:11pm EDT
(St. Louis, Missouri) Sen. Joe Biden made a strong statement for gay relationship equality during the only vice presidential debate, held Thursday evening in St. Louis.
When asked by moderator Gewn Ifill, “Do you support, as they do in Alaska, granting same-sex benefits to couples?”Biden replied, “Absolutely. . . . Look, in an Obama-Biden administration, there will be absolutely no distinction from a constitutional standpoint or a legal standpoint between a same-sex and a heterosexual couple.”
He added: “The fact of the matter is that under the Constitution we should be granted – same-sex couples should be able to have visitation rights in the hospitals, joint ownership of property, life insurance policies, et cetera. That’s only fair. It’s what the Constitution calls for. And so we do support it.”
“We do support making sure that committed couples in a same-sex marriage are guaranteed the same constitutional benefits as it relates to their property rights, their rights of visitation, their rights to insurance, their rights of ownership as heterosexual couples do,” he added.
But when the question was put to Republican Sarah Palin, the Alaska governor skated around the question.
“Well, not if it goes closer and closer towards redefining the traditional definition of marriage between one man and one woman. And unfortunately that’s sometimes where those steps lead,” Palin said.
“But I also want to clarify, if there’s any kind of suggestion at all from my answer that I would be anything but tolerant of adults in America choosing their partners, choosing relationships that they deem best for themselves, you know, I am tolerant and I have a very diverse family and group of friends and even within that group you would see some who may not agree with me on this issue, some very dear friends who don’t agree with me on this issue.
“But in that tolerance also, no one would ever propose, not in a McCain-Palin administration, to do anything to prohibit, say, visitations in a hospital or contracts being signed, negotiated between parties.
“But I will tell Americans straight up that I don’t support defining marriage as anything but between one man and one woman, and I think through nuances we can go round and round about what that actually means.
“But I’m being as straight up with Americans as I can in my non- support for anything but a traditional definition of marriage.”
Palin has previously stated that she believes that homosexuality is a choice.
When Biden was asked about gay marriage he said he was opposed, as is Sen. Obama.
On Iraq, Palin accused Barack Obama of voting against funding for U.S. troops in combat and chastised his Democratic running mate, Joe Biden, for defending the move, “especially with your son in the National Guard” and headed for Iraq.
“John McCain voted against funding for the troops,” as well, Biden countered, adding that the Republican presidential candidate had been “dead wrong on the fundamental issues relating to the conduct of the war.”
Biden did not immediately reply to Palin’s mention of his son, Beau, the Delaware attorney general, who is scheduled to fly to Iraq with his National Guard unit on Friday.
Palin has a young son who is in Iraq with the Alaska National Guard, although she did not refer to it.
Biden was scathing in his criticism of McCain’s position on the Iraq war, calling him the “odd man out” for his refusal to accept a timeline for the withdrawal of U.S. troops.
But Palin countered that a timetable was tantamount to “a white flag of surrender in Iraq,” and at a moment when victory was “within sight.”
On the economy Palin said Obama had voted to raise taxes 94 times – an allegation that Biden disputed and then countered. By the same reckoning, he said, McCain voted “477 times to raise taxes.”
Palin, who has been governor of her state less than two years, was under intense pressure to demonstrate a strong grasp of the issues as she stepped onto the stage. Polls show the public has become increasingly skeptical of her readiness for high public office.
She made only one obvious stumble, when she twice referred to the top U.S. general in Afghanistan as “Gen. McClellan.” In fact, his name is David McKiernan.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report)
OMG, you ROCK, Joe Biden. and yes Peter, you sound like you have your head screwed on right. Nut maybe it’s just our age (I being 16 years older than you, that gives us the memories of NOT being able to say the word “GAY” in public, much less have any political candidate say we are “EQUAL’ !!
Come on fellow gay voters. Regardless of the winner, it is not going to change our life. As far as marriage. Over the years, I have found that most gay people stay together, about as long as the life of summer flowers.By the way, my lover and I, have been together 30 years. The divorce courts would have to add a ton of new employees, just to handle the gay divorces. As to the canidates, Obama and his wife are the perfect example of racism in America. His wife has never apoligized for her past comments, only a poor cover-up. His upbringing, and friends say enough about him. The only bill he has ever introduced, was an 85 million dollar package to African countries, for the improvement of their lifestyle. Look at our liberal run, failed big city school systems, and how we rate, compared to other developed countries. As for last nights debate. You say you want change. Sarah showed herself to be the average American, and not the stale blood currently in Washington. Don’t be fooled by Obama, who takes the gay vote for granted, and you will pay more taxes as a single American. Many of us are self-employed, and doing well. McCain is not Bush, so think about what you will pay for fuel, while the ten year plan goes into effect. Do you want government intervention into your healthcare. Look at Great Britain, Canada, and Australia. Do you want more failed programs, such as busing, and lack of discipline in our schools. I wanted to vote democrat, but not Obama Hussein.
Obama to Launch Another Faith Tour That Includes Rabid Anti-gay Supporter of Prop. 8 Which Would Ban Marriage Equality for Same-sex Couples in California…
Yep, Obama is fighting for our equality all right. In case you haven’t heard the latest, Obama just invited the most rabid anti-marriage homophobic swine in California to join his new so-called “Faith and Values” tour on the West Coast.
According to the major GLBT publication, the Advocate:
“Sen. Barack Obama’s campaign is reportedly launching a “Faith, Family, and Values Tour” next week in California that will include Catholic legal scholar Douglas Kmiec as one of the campaign’s surrogates.
Kmiec wrote an op-ed for the San Francisco Chronicle this summer in which he urged SUPPORT for passing California’s marriage ban, Proposition 8.”
http://www.advocate.com/exclusive_detail_ektid61930.asp
(From the Sept. issue of the Advocate — Check it out!)
Douglas Kmiec wrote, in his attack on marriage equality: “In a depopulating world, the claim that there is a universal right to marry regardless of gender becomes a frightening ally of a claimed universal right to access to genetically engineered children. People should reject this claim by returning traditional marriage to its rightful place.”
This guy, Obama’s new friend, is a dangerous loon. He believes same-sex marriage will lead to the end of civilization because same-sex couples may someday make cloning more popular than the old fashion way of reproduction.
And “in a depopulating world”? What? Straights will always be fornicating like rabbits and keeping the population growing (unfortunately, with horrific consequences, for some third world countries with limited resources).
So again, I ask: what the F**k ???!!! Obama, oh my god! Not another anti-gay friend of yours. Are you a closeted basher for some reason? Why does Obama wear these bigots like a badge of honor around his neck? Or are they beards for some other nefarious reason?
Well, we should all be worried. We should be worried about a guy running for president who brings into the fold some of our worst enemies. Apparently, the gay community’s objection to the last “Obama Gospel Tour”, which featured the “ex-homo” Donnie “Pray the Gay Away” McClurkin, made very little impact on Obama and his campaign organizers.
Now, Obama brings in the equivalent of an “anti-gay-nazi-hunter“; arch-homophobe, Douglas Kmiec.
This nutcase, and disciple of Clinton “Monica-gate” prosecutor Ken Starr, spews hateful nonsense about gay people in the future becoming Nazi-like human-cloners (shades of “The Boys from Brazil“ and Josef Mengele) who will be bent on destroying the entire human race by genetically engineering “designer gay children”. Straights will stop copulating and little gay Ken doll human replicants will party on until the last one leaves the planet and turns off the lights. Hence, the end of human life on Earth. Ta da!
What a way to go. Not with a bang…not with a whimper…but with a song in your heart dancing down the road to extinction.
Well, put me down for an advance order. I want a couple of “Brad Pitts” (I can de-straight him later) and maybe a few GQ models thrown in for good measure.
Furthermore, Prof. Kmiec claims:
“The push for artificial wombs and the genetic manipulation of intelligence already peppers scientific literature – a push that would no doubt grow, accommodating even the minimal same-sex desire for simulating natural child birth – claimed to be of interest for 20-30 percent of same-sex couples.”
….Yep, I always knew it. I can’t wait to get an artificial womb so that I can start destroying the the Earth with it. Oooooooo!!!! SCARY!!!!! Can I get tiny laser-guns shooting death rays implanted in my nipples too?
Oh, thank you, Barrack. Can we invite the KKK to your next rally? You don’t mind “diversity” in bringing hate-mongers into the fold when it comes to the GLBT community. So what about some fashionable sheet-wearing “good ol’ boy” democratic supporters (for diversity’s sake) in the White Supremacist movement to entertain everybody on the “Faith and Values Tour“? The burning crosses would brighten up the place.
So, Obama, please, tell me what is the difference?
Geez…what a thoughtless bastard! He really know how to pick his friends, doesn‘t he? ….At our expense, of course.
I sure am looking forward to Obama putting some of these very same crazies on the board of his new Commission on Civil Rights — for the sake of diversity, that is.
I envision a “god squad” of Fundamentalist Pastors rounding us “sodomites” up (the marrying kind anyway); then holding us down, kicking and screaming, as Professor Kmiec removes our artificial wombs while Donnie McClurkin sings gospel hymns to “pray our gay away” as Barrack Obama holds our hands to comfort us, and tell us: “You asked too much.”
Ahhhh…good times. …I can’t wait!
Shouldn’t we be judged by the company we keep anymore? But maybe that doesn’t apply to Barrack Obama with his Anti-gay Cloning Gospel Tour.
WOW!!! ….Have we been had or what???!!!!
~ Bud Evans
You could’nt say it better. I get so frustrated with McCain, and his lack of going after Obama Hussein. White American is so scared to be accused of racism, it make me sick. Obama, and his family are the definition of racism,in America. His following just shows what the liberal controlled, failed education system in America, is bringing to the Whitehouse. What a SHAME!!!
THANK you Peter, to the rest of you who are refusing to vote for Obama/Biden, shame on you. Wake up and smell the compromise coffee, get off your high horse
I honestly could not watch more than a portion of this debate. It almost made me physically ill that this is a race between Obama and McCain. A Socialist that does not believe in equality and a good man that has allowed himself to be controlled by the radicals in his party!
How, oh How did we get to a point that we deserve these candidates?
No one seems to be getting the obvious about Barack Obama: He is the Democratic nominee largely because of the black church. What in Heaven’s name makes LGBT people think Obama is going to be able to do anything progressive for gays or people with HIV when Obama is owned lock, stock and barrel by Jeremiah Wright and the massive networked flock Wright symbolizes?
You’re kidding yourselves, as usual.
Maybe just once in our lifetime we don’t have to vote based on gay issues because the four major party Presidential and Vice-Presidential nominees are very clear about their disdain for gay people.
I remain undecided.
Thank you…it has to be done this way.
For your sake and mine I hope its enough to win.
I understand your dissatisfaction but I take the position that one has a better shot at a goal If your arguing from a place more tolerant to your belief about an issue rather than less. While continuing to express your feelings about where the progress with your position stands.
Come on people! Joe Biden made the most open and positive statement from a presidential candidate (with any real possibility of winning the election) regarding gay rights in my 52 years. I have heard your complaints that he said that he does not support “gay marriage”. But he DID say that we should have complete equal rights of heterosexual couples. Get over yourselves; change takes years. Yeah I want my California marriage to be legal throughout the country, but I am still in awe that I even have a legal marriage at all! So relax; and vote for the person who will best edge us towards our real objectives.
My objective is that my marriage be a legal US marriage before I die. A vote for John McCain will definitely not get me closer to my goal. Due to the current state of our election process a vote for Ralph Nader or Ron Paul will just be one less vote for Obama. That means that the only option (which I happen to believe is also the best option) is a vote for Barack Obama. He will get the United States closer to recognition of my marriage.
So continue to fight for our rights, but accept that steps are a necessary process
Colin is 100% right.
By golly, I have to be straight up . . . I hate her, I really hate her, gosh darn it. I can’t believe that Geraldine Ferrara said that Palin is a good role model for her granddaughters. My girls would have to dumb down X 5 to have Palin as a role model.
Thank you for your comment below Tom. That is how I felt as well. I don’t think the article above accurately reports what happened at the debate. We knew Palin’s feelings…Biden’s (and Obama’s were finally disclosed). It was clear as can be. Obama will say anything to get elected and will disavow anyone as well for the same reason as was just proven.
In my haste to get out my post, I wrote in the first line, “…in the debate between Obama and Biden…” My bad, I meant to write, “…in the debate tonight between Palin and Biden…”
Greg, regarding the repeal of DADT, Obama did not say what you attribute to him. Obama said said he wants to work with military leaders to build a consensus on removing the ban on openly gay service members in the armed forces. He said that wouldn’t be accomplished by attaching a signing statement to a military spending bill, a process that President Bush has used to set other military policies.
Obama said, “I want to make sure that when we revert ‘don’t ask, don’t tell,’ it’s gone through a process and we’ve built a consensus or at least a clarity of what my expectations are so that it works.
Obama wants to repeal DADT. He wants to do it by buliding a consensus to do it, as that is his governing style. And now is the time when this can finally be accomplished.