If you have to vote for a Republican in the rapidly-approaching primaries, make it John McCain or Fred Thompson. These two presidential hopefuls stand apart from their political peers. While most of the GOP candidates have called for a federal ban on gay marriage – and Rudy pussyfoots around domestic partnerships – McCain and Thompson tacitly support state-endorsed gay nuptials.
In a well-publicized discussion last week, former Tennessee Senator Thompson told voters that he would back any state legislature that votes for gay marriage. “So be it” became the most popular headline for the accompanying video, on which Thompson says: “If a state chose to recognize [same-sex marriage] and the governor signed off and signed it into legislation, ‘so be it.'”
McCain, meanwhile, says that while he’d elect judges who will protect “traditional” family, he can’t argue with state’s rights. His campaign’s “Human Dignity” section reads:
As president, John McCain would nominate judges who understand that the role of the Court is not to subvert the rights of the people by legislating from the bench. Critical to Constitutional balance is ensuring that, where state and local governments do act to preserve the traditional family, the Courts must not overstep their authority and thwart the Constitutional right of the people to decide this question.
The family represents the foundation of Western Civilization and civil society and John McCain believes the institution of marriage is a union between one man and one woman.
…
As with most issues vital to the preservation and health of civil society, the basic responsibility for preserving and strengthening the family should reside at the level of government closest to the people. In their wisdom, the Founding Fathers reserved for the States the authority and responsibility to protect and strengthen the vital institutions of our civil society.
Neither John McCain and Fred Thompson believe gays deserve the right to marry. They do, however, uphold one of conservatism’s cornerstones: federalism.
For the last four decades or so, the American conservative has used federalism as a way to curb centralized government. The Republicans and their ideological colleagues believe a big government can only lead to trouble. In supporting an inherently unequal federalism, McCain and Thompson admit that at least some gay Americans deserve equal rights. It’s for this reason that they’re the most gay-friendly Republican presidential candidates. These men’s concept of gay rights, however, depends largely on geographical location.
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McCain and Thompson will only support equal rights if a state legislature thinks their citizens deserve it. That’s certainly not the type of president we would want sitting in the White House. A true American – politicians or pedestrian – supports universal, national marriage rights. Anything less is, well, unAmerican. It’s for that reason that McCain and Thompson do not deserve your vote. Of course, they’re hardly gunning for it. Their “soft” stance on gay marriage isn’t for gay marriage at all, but for federalism. They believe supporting state rights will give them the conservative votes they need to win the White House.
Unfortunately for them – and the rest of the Republicans – the conservative base crumbled long ago.
ProfessorVP
I assure you that neither John McCain nor Fred Thompson even remotely cares if there is same-sex marriage, so it’s not really accurate to say that neither “believes” in it. What they say is to get rubes to vote for them. In that way they aren’t substantially different from Hillary Clinton. The reason not to vote for McCain is that he is absolutely insane moonbat crazy on Iraq.
Jason
A true American – politicians or pedestrian – supports universal, national marriage rights. Anything less is, well, unAmerican.
Of course, none of the Democrats support gay marriage, either. Except Gravel and that short guy with the hot wife.
DavidDust
Why would any decent, thinking, human being HAVE to vote for ANY Republican?
Charles
Dennis Kucinich is the hot guy with the hot wife. He is the only candidate who heartily supports full gay rights and trans rights. He is also the only one who fully supports a universal, single payer healthcare system.
LindaJS
I’m with David on this one.
Alexa
I’m with David, too. No glbt person should be voting Republican right now. If you can’t bring yourself to vote for a Democrat because you’re a lifelong Republican, abstain, or vote for a third party candidate.
el polacko
thompson’s a states-righter in this instance because he believes that no legislature and governor will ever agree to allow equal marriage rights.. and meanwhile, he supports a constitutional amendment that would ban the judiciary from making any further decisions regarding marriage. he only means “so be it” because he’s convinced he’s got us cornered and it ain’t ever gonna happen anyway so why not play the issue as a faux moderate ?
CT
I guess Queerty doesn’t think much of Ron Paul to even throw him a mention.
Ron Paul is a HUGE defender or federalism. Like McCain, he voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment in 2004. Paul may not be personally in favor of same-sex marriage, but at least he respects the rights of states to decide the issue on their own.
And unlike McCain, Paul is opposed to the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.
So I’d make the case that Ron Paul – not McCain or Thompson – is the most “LBGT friendly” candidate. He’s consistent and promotes individualism, not merely resorting to whoring himself out to the political faction with the most votes.
ProfessorVP
Nope, CT, Paul is not opposed to DADT:
http://www.americablog.com/2007/08/ron-paul-on-homosexuality-sin-and-dont.html
Based on what he said, to me, he is like everyone who frets about the showers… he thinks he doesn’t know any gay people, or more probably, tells rubes what they want to hear.
commeca
WTF?!?! John McCain endorsed and supported a “Defense of Marriage” state constitutional amendment in Arizona in 2006 that was so punitive and mean-spirited that it FREAKIN’ LOST! It not only banned same sex marriage, it would have forbidden cities and counties to extend benefits to same sex partners and forced those that had extended any kind of benefits to revoke them. Ditto hospital visits, etcetera etcetera etcetera!
I sent McCain money in 2000. The only thing I’d send him now is a ticket back to the Hanoi Hilton.
ProfessorVP
Put a lightbulb in John McCain’s mouth, and presto: Uncle Fester. And just as crazy. I’d predict 4 more years of war under Hillary, endless war under McCain. Wonderful choices we have!
CT
Ron Paul would bring them home “as soon as possible.” I’m willing to bet that’d be before Hilary could.
(And I had a lengthy reply to your other post but I wasn’t fast enough and Queerty refreshed. But Ron Paul is in favor of reform for “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” that would allow gay and lesbians to openly serve in the military: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCM_wQy4YVg)
ProfessorVP
No, CT. On the YouTube video, he says that the “enforcement” needs to be improved, not the policy scrapped. Here’s where Paul is a Texas rube: he speaks of “disruptive sexual behavior” and says that both hetero and homo sex should be addressed equally. That is impossible under DADT. Merely saying you are straight doesn’t get you kicked out. Men not hiding their naked girl pix doesn’t get them kicked out. Getting caught in a Hooters or straight pick-up bar doesn’t get them kicked out. Rumors of straight sexuality doesn’t get anyone kicked out. Ron Paul is acting like DADT should be enforced to apply to everyone across the board. Either he doesn’t understand DADT, doesn’t understand the military, or, more probably, is very insulated from gays and lesbians, perhaps thinking he doesn’t know any. Bottom line: Paul sees no need to end DADT and let everyone, straight and gay, be themselves and concentrate on their work.
dfrw
Vote for a Republican? Yeah, right. I’ll do that on my way back into the closet. NOT.
Alan
Former Senator Fred Thompson is the only candidate that gets it. He makes decisions based on principles. Principles don’t change. You have to stand for something and not change who you are based on the polls. That is what Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani have done and all of the Democrats do it. Give me a leader that will stand by his principles anyday versus someone that stands for everything.
I know many Republicans and conservatives that will stay home if Rudy Giuliani is the candidate. He does not represent our values as conservatives, and never will. Mitt Romney is a Republican-in-name-only (RINO ) that simply has everything else and nothing to do. “I guess I’ll just try to buy the presidencyâ€. The White House isn’t for sale! Conservatives will simply stay home and the Democrats will pick up additional seats in the House and probably get the 60 seats in the Senate they need to completely destroy our Country. Nice picture huh?
However, I think Fred can bring America back together, if that’s even possible. America needs a rebirth of patriotism and honor. Republicans also need a rebirth. President Reagan was our last rebirth and he can never be duplicated. Fred Thompson will bring his own down-to-earth common sense to this country.. A little of the good old days of faith, federalism and family would do well for this country. If a conservative runs as a conservative, he will win!
Think of it this way: Eight years of another Clinton White House? Now if that is not a sufficient enough reason to pull together as a nation, and fight this socialist liberal takeover of our government, what is?
Folks, we are in for the fight of our lives, just as our young men and women are fighting for our freedoms in Iraq and Afghanistan, we must fight for our nation right here and now! I truly believe Fred Thompson is the one man who can pull this nation back together! Rudy Giuliani will just tear us apart.
Contribute to Fred Thompson: https://www.fred08.com/contribute.aspx?RefererID=c637caaa-315c-4b4c-9967-08d864cd0791
Rob
I live in Arizona and I just to well remember the Prop 107 (gay marriage ban ) adds that featured John McCain endorsing marriage inequality. Luckily Prop 107 got defeated despite John McCain taking a very visible stand against gays.
Anyway – I don’t think he personally is anti-gay, bu if he helps him with his base and getting elected he will turn on us faster than we can muster the feeling of surprise .
ProfessorVP
Eat your ketchup, Alan. Under Reagan, it was a vegetable, you know. At least he taught us deficits don’t matter. And then the little matter of Reagan letting the HIV-infected die while he farted away years nickel and diming funding. But give him credit: fewer but better Americans!