North Carolinian Jim Neal headed north to New York last night for a DL21C-sponsored event. The openly gay Senatorial candidate greeted well wishers and do-gooders at a lovely little joint called Retreat, which we enjoyed for all the hard wood.
We snapped some shots of the happenings. Neal’s speech covered much of what he told us in part one and part two of our exclusive interview. Our editor did raised two questions, one privately and one publicly. The first question: “What do you think about John Edwards dropping out of the race?” Neal said he was sorry to see Edwards go, particularly because the former Senator used his platform to highlight the ravages of poverty. Belonsky said that was true, but added that perhaps the White House wouldn’t be the most effective place for him. Edwards should, instead, start a non-profit a la Bill Clinton and/or Al Gore.
The next question, which came after Neal’s speech, concerned the candidate’s ideas on American inclusion. Neal told the audience that “American democracy doesn’t belong to the politicians, but to the people”. All of these people live in America, said Neal, and should thus have an equal say in policy matters – or at least be brought to the table.
Belonsky asked Neal how he would approach extremist, fundamentalist groups such as the KKK and the Westboro Baptist Church. Neal replied that such “fringe” groups are motivated by emotion-based logic, rather than reason and, thus, aren’t prepared to fight fair. He also said that the secular and spiritual must remain distinct, but later referred to “the man upstairs,” a monotheistic god. It’s queer, isn’t it, that so many politicians insist on dividing religion and the state – which is right, rather than Right – yet favor the Western concept of the G-man. Just a thought.
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Charley
He’s from North Carolina. “Man upstairs” is common in conversation down south. It doesn’t mean he is religious and believes that there is an actual man in the sky called God. If he does, then I supported the wrong candidate.
MAVERICK69
I’m a New Yorker who does not believe in organized religion but use the phrase “Man upstairs” too.
John Ellis
“If he does, then I supported the wrong candidate.” What does that even mean? If he believes in God, you wouldnt support him? I thought we in the progressive movement were aiming to keep religion out of the public square, not punish people who think freely. I guess I was misinformed.
Charley
John Ellis,
I don’t expect national leaders to rely on mythological dieties telling them what to do, such as Bush pointing up at his “real father”. It borders on mental illness and is dangerous for the world.
I don’t think Jim Neal is one of these people. “Man upstairs” is a common expression in the south. I am sure he is a freethinker and his thoughts and actions are based on reason and the sound science of Darwin’s theory of evolution.
Charley
John Ellis wrote
“I thought we in the progressive movement were aiming to keep religion out of the public square, not punish people who think freely. I guess I was misinformed.”
Supernatural belief in God is not progressive, but it is primitive, going back to the dark ages, Spanish Inquisition and the Salem Witch Trials. “Faith Based” candidates should explain their beliefs in the supernatural in order to avoid what Huckabee is trying to do.
i.e. to make Biblical law the law of the land.
That means queers get stoned to death as in biblical law.
Matt
Um…if I was running in North Carolina, wouldn’t I campaign in North Carolina and not NYC?
Sorry. Sorry. I know I shouldn’t comment b/c I don’t vote. My bad.
Charley
Matt,
He is running for U.S. Senate and his Senate decisions would effect all citizens in every state. When Harvey Gantt was running for senator against Jesse Helms, most of his support came from outside the state, and he campaigned vigorously in other states besides North Carolina. Jim Neal is doing the right thing by reaching out nationally to LGBT’s.
Annissa
Matt: Neal’s opponent, Liddy Dole, is one of the best-funded GOP Senators in the country (she’s the former head of the RSCC). Her $ come from everywhere – and most of her “donors” represent corporate interests rather than individual support. She doesn’t even live in North Carolina, but “moved in” with her mother in order to campaign for the Senate position Helms was vacating in 2002.
So, long story short, as a real, live, honest-to-Man-Upstairs North Carolinian, I gots no problem at all with Mr. Neal raising some dollars in NY. In fact, I’m all for it. Give him some dollars, y’all. Don’t make us take our gay candidates and secede from your faux progressive union.
It could happen.