Ellen DeGeneres tested her debate skills while hosting Republican John McCain on her talk show.
As we all know, Ellen’s planning on partaking in California’s gay marriage, which pits her against the Republican presidential hopeful, who’s staunchly against same-sex nuptials.
Describing their opposing positions as a “respectful disagreement,” McCain stresses that he’s totally for state-based arrangements allowing insurance rights and the such, but cannot and will not support gay marriage. Because, you know, that’s for men and women.
Ellen, meanwhile, attempts to appeal to McCain’s human side, but to no avail:
“We are all the same people, all of us. You’re no different than I am. Our love is the same,” she said. “When someone says, ‘You can have a contract, and you’ll still have insurance, and you’ll get all that,’ it sounds to me like saying, ‘Well, you can sit there, you just can’t sit there.’
“It feels like we are not, you know, we aren’t owed the same things and the same wording,” DeGeneres said.
McCain said he’s heard her “articulate that position in a very eloquent fashion. We just have a disagreement. And I, along with many, many others, wish you every happiness.”
It’s at this point that DeGeneres gives in, turning the interview, which airs today, to other matters. She does, however, offer one last word: “So, you’ll walk me down the aisle? Is that what you’re saying?” McCain laughs, but we’re sure he’s slowly simmering…
How about we take this to the next level?
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Charley
Just saw clips on Morning Joe. Thank g for Ellen.
She does more good for gay rights in one program than all the LGBT fundraising organizations do in ten years.
Jamie Holts
Nice site. There’s some good information on here. I’ll be checking back regularly.
BillieXX
Oh Charley, please. So groups like Lambda Legal or SLDN do nothing for gay rights? Sure let’s be critical of groups that drop the ball but to dismiss the hard work lots of groups are involved in on a daily basis is to be short-sighted.
Jamie Holts
I found your site on technorati and read a few of your other posts. Keep up the good work. I just added your RSS feed to my Google News Reader. Looking forward to reading more from you down the road!
todd
She played that old bastard for what he is – an out of touch BIGOT!
Mike Doherty
Yes, it’s nice that Ellen is bringing the discussion to the forefront, but let’s not forget she (or the network) is providing a PR op to promote a candidate who clearly doesn’t get that separate is not equal . . .
At best these were softballs, versus a true debate.
David
Yes, but she brings the discussion into the homes of MIDDLE AMERICAN HOUSEWIVES, in a manner that they will listen to, if not immediately agree, and every time they hear it, it becomes a little less “fringe” of an idea to them. Ellen is fantastic. (Fabulous too! 😉
ILOVEZ
If a thieve,rapist or sicko is hetereo,he gets the equal rights. If u are gay, you are not getting a shit!. What is wrong with these people? I don’t get this!Good for Ellen!
http://www.ilovezeren.com
June23
Mike, I agree they were softball questions, but they were brilliantly worded softballs that appealed to the individual human element behind this debate, something sorely needed within all of the irrational screaming about gay marriage that’s occured on television in recent days.
As far as it being a mistake to invite McCain on the show, I worked in radio for several years and remember there is a little-known FCC statute that requires networks and radio stations to give “equal play” to all political candidates. Basically, it states that if a show on public airwaves allows one candidate for public office to appear, then all other candidates for that same office must be given an opportunity to appear. Because her production company invited the other candidates on, I assume they were required to extend an invite to him.
Kenster999
June23: The “fairness doctrine” was eliminated in 1987 (thanks, Ronnie!).
June23
Ouch…that shows my age, doesn’t it?
Anyway, there has been some controversy recently over other statues of FCC law that closely resemble the fairness doctrine in practice, if not name (although thanks for the terminology … I guess that Law and Broadcasting class I took centuries ago has not stuck with me).
This was the case a few years ago, when legal wrangling and controversy about The Late Show’s showcasing of certain presidential candidates led to a segment in which every presidential hopeful — mostly obscure third-party candidates — appeared on the show at once and was allowed to shout their platforms simultaneously.
In any case, I think it’s only responsible that major media outlets give all candidates a chance to appear, regardless of how awful the producers, hosts and writers of the program find the candidate. That is basically how DeGeneres introduced this segment of her show. And anyway, McCain’s arguments against gay marriage were greeted with cold silence from a usually boisterous audience, so there’s some comfort in that.
June23
Should note — The Late Show was acting on its own in response to this criticism, not because it faced any official FCC sanctions. But it still made for an excellent segment.
Kenster999
Heh, me too. I was doing college radio back then. 🙂
I agree that it seems fair to be fair. 🙂 But I don’t think Fox News agrees.
Geek-ish
JUne, I remember that incident, it was in 2000 or 2004. But I think it was Leno, not Letterman (or maybe Conan. But it’s all the same.) I think the network told them they had to be more even in who they let on the show during the election, and so the writers decided to make fun of it. The show itself wasn’t really “acting on its own,” at least from how I remember it. But I do agree that its right to give everyone a chance to appear, it keeps people from issuing the standard “left wing media” or “biased gays” line at least.
Andy
I’m more and more impressed by Ellen all the time, especially within the last few months. What a fantastic time to be unemployed and able to watch t.v. during the day! Sigh.
I actually have to disagree with the people above who called her questions “softball”. I think, for the first time, McCain had to answer a hard question about gay marriage. Not an agressive, impersonal “Why do you think it’s constitutional to deny a hypothetical gay couple their hypothetical equal rights under the law?”, but “Why do you want to deny me and my partner and millions of others, who are actual people with actual feelings and actual things at stake, our right to marry?” And in response, McCain sort of looked away and mumbled something inane. He was totally disarmed, and he knew it was coming! It’s hard to look someone in the eye and tell them they’re inferior, I guess.