'08 Election - Gay Debate

[Carson_Kitt]

Presidential Candidates In First Ever Gay Debate
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff

Posted: July 10, 2007 - 1:00 pm ET

(Los Angeles, California) For the first time the leading candidates for the presidency will hold a televised debate devoted solely to LGBT issues.

The one-hour event will be held on August 9 and broadcast on gay network LOGO at 9:00 pm ET (6:00 pm ET) and through live streaming video at LOGOonline.com.

Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards have confirmed they will participate. Several other Democratic candidates also may join the debate.

The debate will be conducted with a live audience in Los Angeles. On the panel questioning the two Democrats will be Human Rights Campaign president Joe Solmonese and singer Melissa Etheridge.

The debate was put together by LOGO and HRC.

"In the 2008 presidential election, issues of concern to the LGBT community have already been at the forefront of the national conversation,” said Solmonese.

"From the repeal of “Don’t ask, Don’t Tell” to the recent signing of a civil unions bill in New Hampshire, there is no doubt that voters will demand answers to important questions affecting our community."

The panelists in a statement said they plan to cover a range of issues including relationship recognition, marriage equality, workplace fairness, the military, hate crimes, HIV/AIDS and other important issues.

The LGBT vote is considered a decisive electoral force and according to exit poll data make up approximately 4 percent of the voting population.

Los Angeles was chosen as the site for the event because of the state’s early primary election, on February 5th, 2008.

"We're honored to give the presidential candidates an historic opportunity to share their views directly with the LGBT audience," Brian Graden, President, Entertainment, MTV Networks Music Group, and President, LOGO said in a statement.

"This forum continues MTV Networks’ tradition of engaging vital niche audiences with voting and the electoral process."

In addition to questioning by Solmonese and Etheridge people will be able to pose their own questions through LOGOonline.com and HRC.org.

From: http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/07/071007debate.htm

[Head_Monkey]

It's a good thing that these issues are being discussed about by future leaders of the country. However, it's also sad that the politicians will be using these topics as platforms for their own agendas, and not as they are intended: equal rights for all.

I don't thin this will accomplish anything, and is merely a PR exercise for each political party.

Me personally, a debate means nothing. Action means something.

[Carson_Kitt]

True - alot of talk that people want to hear and then nothing will happen.

Similar to the "Poverty Tour" with Edwards.

[Xray]

True - alot of talk that people want to hear and then nothing will happen.
Similar to the "Poverty Tour" with Edwards.

That's politics for you.

The question is: Why only Democrats? We know their stance is pro-gay. I'd like to see what the Republicans have to say. I generally vote Republican usually, but their stance on gays is very backward, makes us look bad. And I'm straight too.

[Head_Monkey]

I know nothing about demoracts or republicans or whatever the groups are. But what I do know is that even if the pro-gay people get elected, you really think they will follow thru on anything raised / promised?

Call me cynical, but 99% of what is said in election campaigns is just talk to get votes. And half the time if they do do anything, it takes them forever cause they have to undo what the last governement put in place.

[Donnhw]

I know nothing about demoracts or republicans or whatever the groups are. But what I do know is that even if the pro-gay people get elected, you really think they will follow thru on anything raised / promised?

Call me cynical, but 99% of what is said in election campaigns is just talk to get votes. And half the time if they do do anything, it takes them forever cause they have to undo what the last governement put in place.

Not cynical if it's the truth! Well said & I agree! Campaining = Pandering to get votes, SADLY

[walmspalms]

This story...isn't so funny. I'm a little disappointed.

I get tired of all the empty pandering to members of the gay community on both sides, too. None of their promises ever yield any results after election. This American Life ran a great special on a Log Cabin Republican who joined a local group after being told that the "anti-gay" stance of the GOP was just a facade...and yet every single gay rights initiative he suggested was quickly voted down. But then, republicans also have the religious right to pander to, a much bigger constituency.

I recently read about Unity08, a group that wants to (I'm not kidding) create an open online primary and then vote one republican and one democrat on to a ticket. It's wild, but I wonder if the combination of the two would accomplish anything...

[computer2slow]

I wonder if the combination of the two would accomplish anything...

Yes a early election because they would kill each other.

[Carson_Kitt]

Unfortunately, they are only saying what they think the majority want to hear - afterall the voting majority are how they get into power and get the office.

Once they are in, it's someone elses faulth that nothing happened and they tried their best.

It all comes down to double talk.

[Xray]

Unfortunately, they are only saying what they think the majority want to hear - afterall the voting majority are how they get into power and get the office.

Once they are in, it's someone elses faulth that nothing happened and they tried their best.

It all comes down to double talk.

Again, that's politics for you, no matter what party in any country where people vote.

[computer2slow]

Isn't it known to everyone all over the world politicians lie. It's the good ones that don't get caught.

[Carson_Kitt]

c2slow-

Very true many if not all of them do lie.

My question is this:

Do they start out as corrupt and self centered or do they enter politics and state that they want/will do the right thing (and actually mean it) and they get so sucked in by the power, kickbacks, etc that they can't or won't do the right thing?

Anyone care to chime in with their thoughts?

[Donnhw]

c2slow-

Very true many if not all of them do lie.

My question is this:

Do they start out as corrupt and self centered or do they enter politics and state that they want/will do the right thing (and actually mean it) and they get so sucked in by the power, kickbacks, etc that they can't or won't do the right thing?

Anyone care to chime in with their thoughts?

I've always believed that there is a lot of truth behind the Lord Acton saying, "Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely."

It's a sad & disturbing commentary on the fact that a person’s sense of morality lessens as their power increases. It's a universal human character flaw that we as a species have been unable to correct even though we know it's a huge problem.

Lord Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton (1834–1902), was a British historian of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

[Carson_Kitt]

Great response and an even better quote!

Will have to use that in the future.