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http://www.gaywired.com/article.cfm?section=66&id=18013
Right Side of the Wrong Bed
GayWired Media Republican Endorsement: Ron Paul
Article Date: 01/31/2008
One candidate called our mere existence in the military an 'intolerable risk'. Another equated gay marriage to the 'collapse of family'. And a third likened gay sex to bestiality. As an LGBT media company, finding a Republican to confidently support for office proved an arduous task—in fact, several members of our staff argued supporting anyone from the Republican party would be irresponsible.
Yet a percentage of the LGBT community are registered Republican and Independent and support conservative issues, so the research began.
At first glance, none of the candidates for president on the Republican side express anything resembling a strong commitment to LGBT rights. In fact, many express the opposite. But one holds a strong commitment to state’s rights—a commitment that, thus far, has protected LGBT rights at the federal level while discouraging any amendment to the constitution that would prohibit same sex marriage. Coupled with his commitment to ending the war in Iraq and putting an immediate end to this costly and misleading charade, Ron Paul may look like the dark horse to lead America beginning in January, 2009, but he’s far better suited for the role than many of his fellow party members would have you believe.
Ron Paul is that rare politician who has gone out on a limb—the only Republican nominee to have voted against the Iraq War Resolution, he says the war in Iraq was sold to Americans with false information and if elected president, he would begin yanking troops out of the Middle East immediately—no disrespect to the issue of gay marriage, but as far as we’re concerned, ending the war is the most important issue at stake this election.
Though Paul isn’t known to be an avid supporter of gay rights, he opposes all federal efforts to redefine marriage, has said “don’t ask, don’t tell” fails because it doesn’t take into account heterosexual behavior that is disruptive to service and has said he has no interest in interfering with two individuals in a social, sexual or religious sense. That said, he was an outspoken critic of the Supreme Court’s decision on Lawrence v. Texas which deemed sodomy laws unconstitutional under the fourteenth amendment. Though he called the law ridiculous, his support of states rights, he argued, gives the State of Texas the right to regulate sex using local standards.
A consistency that, while bizarre, is almost refreshing. His view on the rights of the individual and of the state have defined his entire career. Better the devil you know or the devil who shape shifts depending on how he’s doing in the polls?
Introducing Mitt Romney: Flip-flopper.
As Governor of Massachusetts, the first and only state in America to pass legislation in support of gay marriage, Romney has since come out against our right to marry—and against civil unions as well.
Not that John McCain is any better. The most avidly pro-war candidate was quoted last year as saying “…open homosexuality within the military presents an intolerable risk…” in reference to “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”. In Arizona, he supported a measure to ban not only gay marriage but any government benefits to unmarried couples. And only this week his campaign used “robo-calls” during the Florida primary to point out Romney’s former record on LGBT issues, effectively using our community to smear his competitor and, in the process, anoint himself the more intolerant candidate.
Rudy Giuliani actually had a long history of supporting LGBT issues, but much like his failed presidential bid, that support dwindled . During his tenure as mayor of NYC, he supported domestic partnerships, anti-hate crimes legislation and appointed LGBT individuals to key roles in his administration. He even dressed in drag on more than one occasion. But the Giuliani who ran for president couldn’t throw us under the bus fast enough—when talks turned to his record on LGBT issues, he backed away from his past and pandered to the right.
And Mike Huckabee’s record on LGBT issues is so bad, it warrants its own column—an anti endorsement for president.
In the end, it comes down to the issues—if Iraq is a sticking point, the vote goes to Ron Paul. On LGBT issues, Paul won’t go out on a limb for our community, but as a Libertarian whose legacy will show he fought to stay out of American’s personal lives, he won’t be digging around for ways to limit our civil liberties.
Read More on this Topic:
>> GayWired Media Democratic Endorsement: Hillary Clinton
>> GayWired Media Anti-Endorsement: Mike Huckabee
Right Side of the Wrong Bed
GayWired Media Republican Endorsement: Ron Paul
Article Date: 01/31/2008
One candidate called our mere existence in the military an 'intolerable risk'. Another equated gay marriage to the 'collapse of family'. And a third likened gay sex to bestiality. As an LGBT media company, finding a Republican to confidently support for office proved an arduous task—in fact, several members of our staff argued supporting anyone from the Republican party would be irresponsible.
Yet a percentage of the LGBT community are registered Republican and Independent and support conservative issues, so the research began.
At first glance, none of the candidates for president on the Republican side express anything resembling a strong commitment to LGBT rights. In fact, many express the opposite. But one holds a strong commitment to state’s rights—a commitment that, thus far, has protected LGBT rights at the federal level while discouraging any amendment to the constitution that would prohibit same sex marriage. Coupled with his commitment to ending the war in Iraq and putting an immediate end to this costly and misleading charade, Ron Paul may look like the dark horse to lead America beginning in January, 2009, but he’s far better suited for the role than many of his fellow party members would have you believe.
Ron Paul is that rare politician who has gone out on a limb—the only Republican nominee to have voted against the Iraq War Resolution, he says the war in Iraq was sold to Americans with false information and if elected president, he would begin yanking troops out of the Middle East immediately—no disrespect to the issue of gay marriage, but as far as we’re concerned, ending the war is the most important issue at stake this election.
Though Paul isn’t known to be an avid supporter of gay rights, he opposes all federal efforts to redefine marriage, has said “don’t ask, don’t tell” fails because it doesn’t take into account heterosexual behavior that is disruptive to service and has said he has no interest in interfering with two individuals in a social, sexual or religious sense. That said, he was an outspoken critic of the Supreme Court’s decision on Lawrence v. Texas which deemed sodomy laws unconstitutional under the fourteenth amendment. Though he called the law ridiculous, his support of states rights, he argued, gives the State of Texas the right to regulate sex using local standards.
A consistency that, while bizarre, is almost refreshing. His view on the rights of the individual and of the state have defined his entire career. Better the devil you know or the devil who shape shifts depending on how he’s doing in the polls?
Introducing Mitt Romney: Flip-flopper.
As Governor of Massachusetts, the first and only state in America to pass legislation in support of gay marriage, Romney has since come out against our right to marry—and against civil unions as well.
Not that John McCain is any better. The most avidly pro-war candidate was quoted last year as saying “…open homosexuality within the military presents an intolerable risk…” in reference to “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”. In Arizona, he supported a measure to ban not only gay marriage but any government benefits to unmarried couples. And only this week his campaign used “robo-calls” during the Florida primary to point out Romney’s former record on LGBT issues, effectively using our community to smear his competitor and, in the process, anoint himself the more intolerant candidate.
Rudy Giuliani actually had a long history of supporting LGBT issues, but much like his failed presidential bid, that support dwindled . During his tenure as mayor of NYC, he supported domestic partnerships, anti-hate crimes legislation and appointed LGBT individuals to key roles in his administration. He even dressed in drag on more than one occasion. But the Giuliani who ran for president couldn’t throw us under the bus fast enough—when talks turned to his record on LGBT issues, he backed away from his past and pandered to the right.
And Mike Huckabee’s record on LGBT issues is so bad, it warrants its own column—an anti endorsement for president.
In the end, it comes down to the issues—if Iraq is a sticking point, the vote goes to Ron Paul. On LGBT issues, Paul won’t go out on a limb for our community, but as a Libertarian whose legacy will show he fought to stay out of American’s personal lives, he won’t be digging around for ways to limit our civil liberties.
Read More on this Topic:
>> GayWired Media Democratic Endorsement: Hillary Clinton
>> GayWired Media Anti-Endorsement: Mike Huckabee
