Gene Robinson urges fellow gays to vote for Obama
By Rev. Gene Robinson
Okay, it’s time to get serious. As LGBT voters, it’s time to put our differences and disappointments aside, and get behind the one candidate who has our interests at heart.
If you’re still stinging over the unsuccessful bid for nomination by Hillary Clinton, it’s time to look forward, even if the disappointment still hurts. We are faced with the most stark choice in recent memory, with ramifications for our community like no other. If nothing else convinces you to vote for Barack Obama, surely the likelihood of the next president appointing one, two, or possibly even three Supreme Court justices should do it.
With John McCain, we will see the conservative near-majority on the Court shift to a solid majority – with devastating results when the “full faith and credit clause” of the Constitution is challenged in the recognition of gay marriages. With Barack Obama, we have someone who is utterly sympathetic to our full and equal rights as citizens. I know, he won’t say he’s for equal marriage rights (neither did Hillary), but he still is the most LGBT-friendly president we will have ever had. I know from my own private conversations with him that he is totally in our court. I believe him, and I trust him, not to throw us under the bus when the election is over.
With last night’s speech by Governor Palin, preceded by attack dog presentations by other Republicans, we have seen the official re-igniting of the culture wars. And along with attacking the media, Eastern liberals, and the intellectual “elite,” you and I know that gay-bashing is not far behind.
The reason I was initially drawn to Senator Obama’s candidacy was his vision for a different kind of politics. We are seeing the old politics of division and polarization trumpeted at the Republican Convention. It may be an effective strategy for election (it has worked before, so why shouldn’t they try it again?), but it is a full-stop when it comes to governing and getting problems solved. We know about the gridlock such polarization produces. Once you win, based on dividing us, one against another, how do you govern ALL the people, much less pull together a majority who can move our nation forward – domestically and overseas?
full article
Okay, it’s time to get serious. As LGBT voters, it’s time to put our differences and disappointments aside, and get behind the one candidate who has our interests at heart.
If you’re still stinging over the unsuccessful bid for nomination by Hillary Clinton, it’s time to look forward, even if the disappointment still hurts. We are faced with the most stark choice in recent memory, with ramifications for our community like no other. If nothing else convinces you to vote for Barack Obama, surely the likelihood of the next president appointing one, two, or possibly even three Supreme Court justices should do it.
With John McCain, we will see the conservative near-majority on the Court shift to a solid majority – with devastating results when the “full faith and credit clause” of the Constitution is challenged in the recognition of gay marriages. With Barack Obama, we have someone who is utterly sympathetic to our full and equal rights as citizens. I know, he won’t say he’s for equal marriage rights (neither did Hillary), but he still is the most LGBT-friendly president we will have ever had. I know from my own private conversations with him that he is totally in our court. I believe him, and I trust him, not to throw us under the bus when the election is over.
With last night’s speech by Governor Palin, preceded by attack dog presentations by other Republicans, we have seen the official re-igniting of the culture wars. And along with attacking the media, Eastern liberals, and the intellectual “elite,” you and I know that gay-bashing is not far behind.
The reason I was initially drawn to Senator Obama’s candidacy was his vision for a different kind of politics. We are seeing the old politics of division and polarization trumpeted at the Republican Convention. It may be an effective strategy for election (it has worked before, so why shouldn’t they try it again?), but it is a full-stop when it comes to governing and getting problems solved. We know about the gridlock such polarization produces. Once you win, based on dividing us, one against another, how do you govern ALL the people, much less pull together a majority who can move our nation forward – domestically and overseas?
full article
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