Senator Chris Dodd cleared time this morning to answer questions posed at last week’s gay forum, which the presidential hopeful missed because of “scheduling conflicts”.
Dodd covers a lot of ground in his replies, including his positive stance on the decidedly negative Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell:
Q: Would you repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell?
CD: Yes. I believe that “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” prevents people like Marine Staff Sgt. Eric Alva, the first American wounded in the war in Iraq, from being recognized as they should for their heroic acts in defense of our country.
Groovy! We love when people want to say “fuck all” to DADT. Follow-up question: did you know Eric Alva’s name before the forums, when Hillary also used him to pump up her message? If your answer’s “yes,” Hillary Wins. If not, it’s a tie. Either way, Alva wins for becoming a symbol of America’s anti-gay discrimination. (We’d say “he loses” for getting manipulated by politicians, but he offered himself to the Congressional altar.)
The Senator from Connecticut mimics nearly ever other politician – Democrat or otherwise – by skirting questions by highlighting his own history:
Q: Why should the gay community believe that Democrats will fight for us, after allowing us to be used by the Republicans as a scare tactic in 2004 and after the Clinton administration failed to follow through with campaign promises to us?
CD: I have been a supporter of the GLBT community throughout my career, and in the White House I will be able to do even more to advance issues important to this community. My record shows consistent commitment to the advancement of GLBT issues. I am proud to have fought long and hard to pass the Family and Medical Leave Act, and I will fight again to extend this legislation to cover same-sex couples. I have supported legislation to expand the definition of hate crimes to include gender, sexual orientation, and disability. I cosponsored the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. I have supported and continue to support equal rights for domestic partnerships. I was an original co-sponsor of the Ryan White CARE Act and believe in working to restore this bill to its original purpose of promoting HIV/AIDS prevention.
Dodd must have been feeling self-absorbed, because the question’s about the Democrats. Still, we’re glad Dodd reminded us of his good deeds. Honestly, we sort of forgot about them – and him.
Who could forget Bill Richardson’s big mistake: the now infamous “choice” comment. Old Doddy certainly remembered. A round of applause for his concise, very clear reply:
Q: Do you think homosexuality is a choice or is biological?
CD: I believe that it is biological.
Speaking of biological, the 63-year old politico pulls his daughters – who are five and two (go gramps!*) – into the gay marriage ring, which he supports via civil unions:
I have two young daughters, 2 and 5 years old, I would want them to have access to all the benefits their mother and I have had. They should be able to have the jobs of their choice, build homes, and take care of the people they love. I want these things for my children regardless of their sexual orientation. Every American ought to want that.
Wouldn’t it have been awesome if Dodd then said, “Anyone who disagrees will be stripped of their citizenship and launched into the sun?
Read what else Chris Dodd wrote over at the Senator’s website!
Did you know Dodd dated Bianca Jagger? She’s by far the coolest of Mick’s ex-wives. That piece of trivia’s almost enough to get our vote, which, currently we plan on casting for ourselves.
Craig Browning
Give me a break… he didn’t show up for two reasons; a.) “Stigma” and b.) so he could see what the reactions would be towards the others and thus, plan out his responses… in other words, he didn’t want to have to think on his feet and work in a less controlled forum such as this one was.