SOUNDBITES — “That statute is not worded the way it should be. I said I regretted the vote later because it included things like cross-dressing, and a variety of other people involved in behaviors that weren’t based on sexual orientation, just a preference for the way they dressed and behaved. So it was overly broad. So if you are a third-grade teacher and you are a man and you show up on Monday as Mr. Johnson and you show up on Tuesday as Mrs. Johnson, that is a little confusing to the kids. So I don’t like that.” —Tim Pawlenty, governor of Minnesota and possible GOP president, on somewhat regretting for a 1993 “overbaked” bill that prohibited sexual orientation discrimination in public accommodations [Newsweek]
tim pawlenty
‘I said I regretted the vote later because it included things like cross-dressing, and a variety of other people involved in behaviors that weren’t based on sexual orientation, just a preference for the way they dressed and behaved’
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Josh NYC
B A P T I S T
Ivars
He is a jesus freak who goes to one of those big box jesus churches here in the Twin Cities.
Alex
Jesus, Tim, have you been hanging out with Michele Bachmann a bit much? Makes me glad I live on the other side of the border. I earn my money in Minnesota and bring it over to Wisconsin, where people are religious, sure, but they sure don’t care about meaningless crap like this. Not nearly as much as in Michele Bachmann’s psychotic district.
Robert, NYC
Pawlenty as a presidential GOP candidate? NOT!
JakeH
@Robert, NYC:
Really? That’s probably the reason behind a bit of the turnaround. You can’t get very far in the GOP of you are seen as being fair or respectful to gay couples.
Robert, NYC
No. 5 JakeH, the only way the GOP can win with a landslide is to quit being so against equality. If it wants to attract the younger generation of voters, it needs to lighten up and be all inclusive. That big tent the GOPers like to talk about, doesn’t exist, at least if you’re gay and demanding your equal rights. Its not that smart to realize that courting the gay vote by supporting full equality would give the Democrats a run for its money. I’m sure there are many like-minded conservatives of the Laura Bush ilk in the party. The problem is, they don’t or won’t stick their necks out to make a real change. They turn too many people off, especially independents, with their unwillingness to embrace equality and really make a change and difference. Instead, they kow-tow to religious wackos and other pyscho talkers like Bachman, Palin, Coulter, Limbaugh, Beck et al. When did you last hear a republican speak to equality during their campaigns and importantly, at their conventions? Not one! Until that changes, expect NOTHING from them. A vote for them is a vote for NO change.