On Sunday’s episode of 60 Minutes Diana Fine Cantor, blushing bride to Republican Majority Leader Eric Cantor, revealed to Leslie Stahl that she’s in favor of same-sex marriage despite the fact that her husband has taken up the challenge of defending DOMA in court.
Today, Cindy McCain revealed her newest snaps from another photo shoot for “No H8,” the campaign attacking California’s Prop 8. Of course her husband,former GOP presidential candidate John McCain, is on record as saying “I do not believe gay marriage should be legal.”
These gals join a growing list of GOP wives—like Laura Bush and Lynne Cheney—who have come out in favor of marriage equality.
And with the exception of Cantor, they all waited till their hubbies were safely in the private sector to pipe up.
How about we take this to the next level?
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Is this some kind of conspiracy by the Republican Party to look progressive without alienating its bigoted base? Because a few nice words from the little lady means less than nothing.
At least Diana gets points for speaking up while her man is in office.
Look, we know its totally possible to have differing political beliefs from your significant other—our boyfriend keeps harping on this flat-tax nonsense—but when you’re talking about issues that speak to people’s basic freedoms, it’s hard to just say “live and let live.”
We think pro-gay Republican wives should withhold sex until their hubbies come around.
Maybe that’s what Linda Saland did to get her husband, State Senator Stephen Saland, to vote for marriage equality in New York State.
Actually, maybe Michelle Obama should give it a try. You know Barry would cave like a deck of cards.
Cinesnatch
I could be mistaken, but last time I checked, John McCain was not “safely in the private sector.” He’s an Arizonian senator. I think what you meant to say was, “Cindy McCain coming out for marriage equality would have meant more when her husband was the Republican nominee.”
And “it’s” has an apostrophe when you’re saying “it is.”
Shoddy, Shoddy. I’m willing to proofread for you guys. You need it. vatzjr at gmail.com.
Towleroad posted on this yesterday.
Jim
@Cinesnatch: True, but it seems very likely that he’ll be retiring after serving his term.
The Whopper
This is nothing new among Republican first ladies—Betty Ford publicly came out as pro-choice while her husband was in office. And let’s face it, most of these Republicans publicly state to be against same-sex marriage because they have to appease their religious backers, when many of them personally have no problem with it.
Jason
@The Whopper: Many of them personally have no problem with it, but they’ll pander to the lowest common denominator and thump the Bible as they sign away your rights. That makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
adam
i guess i’ll be the one to “go there”:
saying republican women should withhold sex from their husbands . . . presumes these happy duos are _having_ sex in the first place. have you looked at them lately?? no wonder we hear of some many congressional affairs . . .
~ ciao
Chuck
Just more evidence that conservatism is a mental disease. I have never seen a sadder group of people in my life than Republican political wives. They always have this sad but resigned loon in their eye that they know their husband is wrong, but as a conservative, he also sees her as ‘less than’ and all the credit cards and bank statements are in his name.
If only the wives had had more self respect earlier in life, they could have done more with their lives than majoring in an MRS. degree at college. The sad truth about conservativism is that it is sexist and keeps women down, and these wives know that only too well.
It was only through progressive ‘radicals’ that women got the vote and Republicans were 100% against it; just as they were 100% against Civil Rights for African Americans and the official Republican Party Platform is 100% against gay rights today. In light of all this, we need a law where no straight white males should be allowed to hold office for awhile. But then there would be no Republican party anymore. Surely a good thing.
Jim Hlavac
Maybe the Republican Second Wives Club could talk to the Republican First Wives Club and get their story, um, straight, what with all the divorce and philandering on that side of the asile. Though as for whom is pandering to whom, well, the Republican men are fairly vocal about pandering to their Religious Right — while the Democrat ladies and gents are far more quiet about what could be called the Religions Left — for you don’t see any elected Democrat anywhere wading into the Pro-gay marriage argument when they’re talking to their African-American and Latino supporters at divers churches and community centers. (let me know when Democrat Ruben Diaz goes pro-gay, OK? And keep in mind that the A-A’s vote some 95% Democrat, while the Latinos hover around 75% — so I’d say both sides really don’t give a damn about gay folks — mostly because there’s too few of us, we’re not counted correctly, and we’re too spread out to have clout — and frankly, both sides are screaming heteros who can barely tolerate the thought of us existing. Thus the idea that Dem = pro-gay while Rep = anti-gay is rather simplistic. And it’s time we gays come to that conclusion and perhaps move all together to the Libertarians where Gary Johnson is seeking that party’s nomination, which party is on all 50 state ballots, and he’s very pro-gay without the nonsense from his wife. And we’d get a tax cut too.
Chad
Republican wives witholding sex from their husbands will not work. The repug men will just go get it from a bathroom stall
chuck
I guess Eva Braun was pro-Jewish.
Chuck
@Jim Hlavac: I agree that African American churches are why Dems don’t completely come out in favor of gay rights. However, to the Democratic party’s credit, the official party platform IS in favor of equality for the LGBT community and says so. This is in marked contrast to the Republican party platform which is totally anti-gay with their ‘traditional family’ bull schmidt.
It is further unfair of you to say paint Dems with Repugs as people who can ‘barely stand the thought of us existing. Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi has a pro-gay rights record that goes back decades and is unimpeachable. It says a lot that she was the leader of the entire Democratic caucus. This is in stark contrast to Republican house speaker John Boner who stated during the Matthew Shepherd hearings that beating gay people is protected as freedom of speech and then went on to find $1 million (even though “we’re broke”!) to defend discrimination of DOMA.
The parties are not the same. Neither is perfect, but there is a clear choice for gay people. As Newt said, if you care about gay rights, vote for Obama.
B
No. 9 · chuck wrote, “I guess Eva Braun was pro-Jewish.” … if she was, she had enough sense to keep quiet when her mercurial boyfriend was in the room! His temper tantrums were legendary. Here’s a parody of one of his outbursts (realistic dialog from a movie with fake subtitles): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNmcf4Y3lGM&feature=player_embedded .
Seriously, though – who do you want to elect? Someone who tries to pass pro-LGBT legislation but doesn’t advertise it when talking to conservative voters or someone who actively pushes anti-LGBT legislation (if only when an election is coming up) in order to get those conservative votes?
Shannon1981
I think the fact that this many Republican wives support Equality shows that perhaps more people on the right do as well, but are afraid to say so.
michael
Wow, once again we take something positive and find some way to bitch about it.
Why is it 90% of the time when someone straight says something gay positive Queerty and some others find it impossible not to be the little whiny bitch making catty little comments about it?
Wait, what’s this? God just appeared and told everyone being gay is AOK with Him? I know, I know, what couldn’t this have been yesterday and couldn’t at least God have afforded a decent pair of shoes???? The nerve….
michael
Wow, once again we take something positive and find some way to bitch about it.
Why is it 90% of the time when someone straight says something gay positive Queerty and some others find it impossible not to be the little whiny bitch making catty little comments about it?
Wait, what’s this? God just appeared and told everyone being gay is AOK with Him? I know, I know, why couldn’t this have been yesterday and couldn’t at least God have afforded a decent pair of shoes???? The nerve….
C.J
I have to disagree. It’s good to see wives show they have a mind independent from their often-powerful husbands. Would you rather them stay silent and/or obediently in lockstep with whatever their husbands want to project onto them? It’s not a spectacular gesture, but if it shows Republican women (who stereotypically are more traditional) they don’t have to shadow their husbands on political issues, I see it as a positive thing regardless of it maybe being fairly inconsequential and safe.
Pete n SFO
“Is this some kind of conspiracy by the Republican Party to look progressive without alienating its bigoted base?”
Ummm, YESSSSSS!
Ultimately, it’s a positive, but in today’s climate, it’s also political calculation. As more people recognize daily; marriage equality is as American as Apple Pie. These ladies may believe in Marriage Equality (I do) but they are definitely ‘the trial balloon’ for Repubs trying to measure middle-America.
and btw… is anyone else OVER those d-bags that are first to post, always mistakenly thinking the topic is grammar & punctuation? If that’s the only way you can capture self-esteem, your life is f’n over already.
the crustybastard
Cindy McCain can suck a fart out of my ass.
She doesn’t do these these shoots on the principle of equality — she does them so she can have a pretty picture.
“I fully support the NOH8 campaign and all it stands for and am proud to be a part of it. But I stand by my husband’s stance on DADT.”
– Cindy McCain, tweeting November 2011
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/13/cindy-mccain-dont-ask-dont-tell_n_783146.html
Robert in NYC
Well, Eric Cantor can forget about grabbing John Boehner’s job. I expect this to be fodder for the rest of the campaign among right wing radical religious bigots and their Tea Party scumbags.
Alex, UK
I only come here for the pictures, gossip and bitchy comments but with this article Queerty has reached new depths…
Maybe you ought to change the subtitle of your blog to Democrats Only instead of the “Gay agenda”, which last time I checked does not proscribe political affiliation.
Chuck
@Alex, UK: Tell that to the Republican Party Platform which is totally anti-gay with their “traditional family values” bull shit. Even Newt says if you care about gay rights, then vote for Obama. If you are indeed from the UK, why would you care anyway? Until you have to suffer the right wing vitriol here in the US, STFU.
Alex, UK
Obviously there are serious problems but it’s important that the Republican party evolves from the inside out – such as by these women (and men) who seem to be increasing in numbers – rather than polarising and politicising our rights into a left/right issue. It should and will be a global issue rather than simply a Democrat or Republican issue.
All these bitchy comments just go to show how many armchair commentators there are floating around here – how many of you have ever actually been involved in queer activism ? ? ? Name calling is similarly incredibly mature, wow.
@20 – Wow what an incredibly articulate and thoughtful answer, let me think about what you’ve said before I post my reply 😀
Mike
I know first-hand that many Republican women take their cues from Republican political wives.
Love them, hate them, or ignore them … but the McCain, Cantor, Bush, Cheney, etc., wives are helping us and breaking down walls that only they can break down. Let’s hope we hear from more of them.
Larry Chandler
What a dumb post. The more people who speak out in favor of gay marriage the better.
Patrick Fitzmichael
I used to think that there was one candidate in the race who wasn’t a terrible judgmental bigot: Ron Paul. I was rooting for him. And then I found out more about him, and I think it’s safe to say that he may be the most BIGOTED of all.
http://twogaybullies.wordpress.com/2012/01/05/ron-paul-arguably-more-homophobic-than-fellow-gop-bigots-if-thats-possible/
Drake
This is a con by republicans to make the homophobe spouse officeholder look less asholeish, more electable. This is all prompted by the Republican National Committee. By the way, how did Cantor get those glazed Michele Bachman eyes ? He looks like the jerky high school fool who lived for Student Council.