John Edwards came very close to being the Democratic Nominee in 2004, and once more he is donning the gloves to duke it out for the chance to run for President in 2008. My question is why? Why should he, or Hilary, or even Obama, have even a snowball chance in hell of perhaps running?
Odd isn’t it to think that on the Republican side you have people like McCain who adamantly oppose same sex marriage, while those on the Democrat side can’t quite decide which makes for better politicing, oppose same sex marriage but support civil union, or evolve as time goes on. Yet really it is this type of politics that has me totally pissed off.
John Edwards is still using the same bullshit he used before. Unsure if he can make a bridge between doing what is right, and doing what is politically expedient. Least that is my take. And frankly it sucks big time.
“Civil unions? Yes. Partnership benefits? Yes,” he said. “But it’s a jump for me to get to gay marriage. I haven’t yet got across that bridge.” (story)
The question is supposedly going to be asked of all candidates for President, by this GLBT group but you know, they are asking the wrong question. Civil Unions be damned, Same Sex Marriage as well. See this is about a simple thing. Should all, and I mean ALL citizens be entitled to same civil rights as any other group? It really is that simple. Anything less is just Racism.
If Harry can marry Sally, and receive perks like filing a joint tax return, having status in making decisions for each other, and if Asian Hal wants to marry Latino Britney, and get those rights, then if Stan wants to marry Alan they too should be entitled to the same benefits. It is not about gender, but about EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL. You can’t pick and choose and while 2008 is a long ways off, perhaps it is time to get our own heads out of the sand and start hitting the campaign trail.
See, this upcoming election has to be about that, about equality, about basic rights. If a Candidate can’t see that, then they need to be discarded now while there is a chance of getting someone who does see it. If something is equal, the same as something else, you don’t give it a different name, you didn’t give it a different law. A Man is A Man, you don’t alter that. Woman is Woman. I mean family leave for when a women is pregnant, isn’t defined by separate laws for African American Women, for Baptist Women, or for Asian Women. It is for Women who give birth, ALL Women.
Why then do I or any other Gay man/woman need a separate law for what others have? If we are equal like these politicians say, then excuse me, enforce the law and let us marry, grant us the same protection, the same access to the laws as any other person. If you can’t see that, get out of the running.
As it stands now, people like Hilary, Obama, and Edwards need to step aside for those people who get it. They need to stop thinking of their own glory, of what is going to get them votes, and stand up if they truly believe they should be President. After all, isn’t part of the oath to preserve, protect, and defend some piece of paper called the Consititution? Does that aged piece of paper say that all Citizens, not some, but ALL are entitled to EQUAL PROTECTION?
So either they stand up or anyone who is Gay, Lesbian, or simply a believer of Equality, should take their vote to someone who understands, you cannot be equal but separate. That is racism, and was the same crap argument used to deny Black Americans entry to white schools, to sit with whites at the front of the bus, or to drink from the same water fountains. Is that truly what you want? If so then accept the bullshit about Civil Unions, if on the other hand, you believe in Equality, then start voicing your opposition to second best.
Raise the Standards, DEMAND IT NOW, before it is too late and once more you have to settle for second best, or worse, a second George Bush clone.
Choice is yours? What will it be?
