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News and commentary about the anti-gay lobby“Now you must raise your children up in a world where that union of man and box turtle is on the same legal footing as man and wife…”
News and commentary about the anti-gay lobbyMarch 24th, 2009
There were a lot of voices which remained silent in 2008 concerning same-sex marriage, voices we could have used. But I suppose it would be too much to expect John McCain’s daughter to say something like this during the height of the presidential campaign. But still…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMr8z-lsf84If she had said this during the campaign, I would have called her statement courageous. But right now, I’m not so sure that description fits when there’s nothing on the line to lose. But what this does mean that when the issue comes back up (and I’m sure it will), hers will be one more of the many voices joining our side while the opposition continues to shrink. This is what the available polling tells us. This is also the lesson we take when we compare the results of Prop 8 to the results of Prop 22 in 2000. In those nine years the yes vote shrank from 61% to 52%. And it will continue to shrink.
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Pomo
March 24th, 2009
“If she had said this during the campaign, I would have called her statement courageous. But right now, I’m not so sure that description fits when there’s nothing on the line to lose.”
Thats not a fair statement Jim and one I believe spoken from ignorance of not knowing the other side. She’s the daughter of a former GOP presidential candidate. And she supports our side. In the current political climate that always means there is something to lose. It might not be as much as when her dad was running for president but can you blame her? I wouldn’t have done anything to critisize my family if they were running for office either.
No doubt there are lots of people thinking less of her and saying mean things because she was willing to come out in support of us. We should applaud it and not complain that it wasn’t done at a time that would have cost them more.
geesh.
Timothy Kincaid
March 24th, 2009
I commend Meghan McCain for her courageous stand for equality. Meghan is using the access given to her because of her father’s status to speak out for change in the Republican Party. She is seeking not only to change the Party’s position on gay issues, but to change the Party itself to one that is more responsive to the needs and perspectives of younger Americans. And she has chosen the fight for marriage equality as a symbol of that deeply needed change.
Meghan could be sitting back and enjoying the considerable advantages that she has inherited. Her family’s considerable wealth and influence means that Meghan could spend her days competing with Paris Hilton and the other Hollywood heirlets for the title of Most Vapid.
Or if she chose to get involved in politics, she could have taken the safe route that so many Republicans AND Democrats have taken – token support for civil unions and lesser structures, but only as a reaction and when asked.
Instead she is proactively championing the full equal rights of gay Americans. And, incidentally, doing so before Barrack Obama, Hillary Clinton, or Harry Reid.
Yes it might have given more media stir had she spoke up during the election. But considering that her father wasn’t running on the issue at all and tried to avoid discussing marriage equality at all costs, it would have been little more than a blip in the presidential election. And she could have spoken against Proposition 8, but the No on 8 Campaign wasn’t interested in the views of Meghan McCain.
So I have no criticism for Meghan. I’ll leave that to Laura Ingraham and Ann Coulter and the others on the right who have been attacking her.
And if we think that the timing is not important, let us recall that today the Vermont legislature will be voting on marriage equality. And should it pass, it will be considered by a Republican governor.
And New Hampshire will be voting later this week or next. And Maine will be voting soon. And probably before the year is out, New Jersey and New York will consider the issue.
I think that it is of immense value to have someone of McCain’s name value and connections saying, “the future of the Republican Party is with marriage equality”. It may sway Republican votes and shame those Democrats who vote against us.
Jim Burroway
March 24th, 2009
I’m trying to look at this from a glass half-empty/half-full kind of thing.
When I think of an example that might be called courageous, I think of Dick and Lynn Cheney’s statements in support of their daughter, and their walking a fine line by voicing their personal opposition to a marriage amendment while refusing also to be drawn in to open opposition to Dick’s running mate (hence the fine line). They could have said that they supported their daughter but on this point disagreed with her. That’s the answer the far right wanted to hear. But it’s not the answer they gave. Instead, they cited this as an example where they disagreed with Bush’s support for the FMA.
From our standpoint, of course, their statements weren’t nearly enough, but they caught a lot of hell from the far right for even addressing the issue the in the mild way that they did (to our ears anyway — after all, they didn’t support same-sex marriage). It was a risky move, but one that they weathered. I think Meghan could have done something similar. Hence, the glass is half empty.
However, it is also half-full, because, as I said, she represents very clearly that the tide is shifting in this country, and that includes, tentatively, within some quarters of the GOP.
Pomo
March 24th, 2009
I love this blog and the work you guys due. But in order to reach the most people we need to applaud the “other side” when they do something worthwhile. Critisizing them saying its not enough doesn’t win friends, it only makes enemies.
I remember reading this blog when i was still exgay and I couldn’t handle half of the things postes because they were so one-sided on unkind to “my side.” I’ve obviously changed and now am a faithful reader but there are lots of people out there who are like I used to be. And anything that can be done to not drive them away may just help them to see the truth behind the things you are saying. Thats how we win hearts and minds and begin to change even the ::gasp:: Republicans.
Pender
March 24th, 2009
Our own Democratic President thinks I shouldn’t have the right to marry. Meghan McCain is going out on a limb for us and deserves our gratitude. Maybe she should have come to this position sooner, but she got there a lot faster than a lot of other supposed allies. Dick Cheney only admitted that he supported gay people after the press pinned him to the wall on it. If you’re looking for the appropriate glass half full / half empty comparison, I think that’s more revealing than Cheney.
Also, it’s spelled “lesson.”
RainbowPhoenix
March 24th, 2009
This would be a lot better if she hadn’t destroyed her credibility by saying things like her blog could have gotten her dad elected and no one knows war like her family.
Swampfox
March 24th, 2009
I didn’t know Ms. McCain existed during the campaign. Her positions on issues would have had no impact upon my choice of candidates in 2008. I glad that she is now adding her voice to the political dialogue in this country.
Swampfox
March 24th, 2009
Does anyone have any idea Laura Ingraham’s stand on gay marriage? She does have a gay brother. Sometimes I just don’t think that Ann Coulter’s has family (sarc).
Andrew
March 25th, 2009
Meghan is all of 24 years old and she’s doing the Larry King show, where she’s announcing some views that are definitely NOT popular within her party — including some people with some pretty extreme reactions to these issues. Could we have used her last fall? Maybe – I think the message would have been lost to spin and strategy. Is it welcome now? Yes. 1) it’s welcome, period, but 2) post-2008, in the aftermath of the crushing GOP defeat, the party is trying to find its bearing. Meghan has the potential to speak for an entire, new generation. Her words are having a LOT more impact now than they would have 6 months ago, because now they matter more.
Maurice
March 25th, 2009
Wow. She laid it out there. Good for her and yet scary. People might actually start liking the Republicans again! :)
Timothy Kincaid
March 25th, 2009
Swampfox,
According to a Salon article,
I don’t know if that is actually true but if so I think we can safely assume that she doesn’t support marriage equality.
Timothy Kincaid
March 25th, 2009
Rory O’Connor repeats the story but reports “In 1997, more than a decade later, she wrote an article in the Washington Post detailing how she had changed her views in light of her brother Curtis’ coming out as gay.”
However, I’ve not seen a great deal of improvement. She was harshly critical of the Lawrence v. Texas decision and was a cheerleader for Bush’s efforts on the FMA.
From a July 7, 2003 eblast:
Swampfox
March 26th, 2009
Timothy, I did know of her escapades while she was at Dartmouth and her so-called subsequent change of heart when her brother came out. I did not know that she was harshly critical of the Lawrence v Texas decision.
kmorrison
April 12th, 2009
As a McCain supporter it’s fun to see Meagan McCain show that same spark that her father has in a new and fresh way.
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