John McCain's daughter on Gay Marriage..

[Justforfun000]

Looks like his daughter would make a better politican than her father. What a tasteful way to not only support the freedom of marriage as a freedom FROM religion point of view, but also list the actual reasons why they deserve the same consideration and how it benefits society to realize this by strengthening their unions. I'm impressed.

http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/200 ... riage.html

An Open Letter to New York Republicans:

As I read the news about the recent advances of marriage equality across our country, I think it is easy for many to get distracted by the politics and rhetoric on this issue and lose sight of what is really at its heart: the equality of freedom.

No matter how politically charged the discussions about marriage equality may get, the question is really a simple one: Do the rights and privileges we offer citizens include everyone in our country, or only some of us?

I believe that allowing gays and lesbians the freedom to marry is an idea whose time has come. Though my opinion is no doubt influenced by my family's public role in political life, I still approach this from personal experience, as I think most people do. For me, this is about treating all of my friends, and all of our brothers, sisters, children and grandchildren the same as I want to be treated. Equality under the law and personal freedoms are what make America the greatest country in the world, and they are core values that I hold as a Republican.

As I recently wrote after speaking at the Log Cabin Republican convention: "People may always have a difference of opinion . . . but championing a position that wants to treat people unequally isn't just un-Republican. At its fundamental core, it's un-American." I believe most Americans want our nation to succeed. Marriage equality moves us to a place where more of us can do a better job of taking care of our families.

Gays and lesbians are a vital part of our communities. They are doctors, teachers, firefighters, emergency personnel and neighbors. In this way, marriage equality is also about supporting good citizens and strengthening our communities. When a committed gay couple seeks to declare their love for one another and get married, the whole community benefits from the added stability and strength of that family. On top of that, we don't give up anything by sharing responsibilities and protections with those whom we love.

That's why I support marriage equality. It is the best and fairest way to grant gay and lesbian neighbors and family members the protections and responsibilities that they need to provide for their family and give back to their community.

As Republicans, we understand the importance of strong communities. Last week, the New York Assembly passed the marriage bill with the support of five Republican Assembly members. Now, the bill goes before the state Senate, where Republican senators will make the difference on whether the bill becomes law or dies. Once again, New York has the opportunity to make a statement about Republican values and fairness by passing the marriage bill.

I believe marriage equality will soon come to New York. My hope is that Republican senators will offer their support and make the difference to pass the marriage bill.

By voting for the marriage bill, they will make a strong statement about supporting New York families, strengthening New York communities and demonstrating that equality and fairness are fundamental values of New York Republicans. It will leave a legacy that will make us all proud.

McCain, daughter of Sen. John McCain, blogs at McCainBlogette.com.

Read more: "Why the New York GOP should embrace gay marriage" - http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/200 ... GHoZb0JJ&A

[Crossroads Inc.]

What A wonderfully Progressive and forward thinking letter, perfectly displaying how important community and including gays into an inclusive society. SO, will anyone count how long before FoxNews, Limbaugh and the others cast her out as an evil Liberal?

[Patrick Degan]

What A wonderfully Progressive and forward thinking letter, perfectly displaying how important community and including gays into an inclusive society. SO, will anyone count how long before FoxNews, Limbaugh and the others cast her out as an evil Liberal?

I would say ten seconds after the publication of that letter.

[Tanasinn]

She spoke similarly on the Colbert Report recently.

[ray245]

She spoke similarly on the Colbert Report recently.

Well, it will be weird if all of a sudden, Republicans tries to be even more liberal than the democrats to win votes.

Although that s unlikely to happen.

[Shroom Man 777]

This is great. It turns out the children of prominent conservatives (McCain, Cheney) are actually very liberal. Does that mean that eventually, the conservative mindset will go the way of the dinosaur? I certainly hope so.

[Tolya]

My own internal cynic-o-tron tells me that it's not necessarily the case of "children being more progressive than parents". The keyword here is douchebaggery - it's entirely possible that McCain or Cheney could have written a letter like that themselves, because it's just a game about pleasing the voter base.

I can't be sure, but I've learned that most hardass scumbag douchebag politicians are just what they are... douchebags. They don't personally hate jews/democrats/liberals/fox hunters but they are obliged to display such views because that's how they build their political capital.

But that's just me, evidenced by the fact that most people still take whatever politicians say seriously.

Of course that doesn't change the fact that I really liked what McCain's daughter did. It was really a pleasant and refreshing read. Hopefully she will continue to speak herself in the future.

[Big Phil]

What A wonderfully Progressive and forward thinking letter, perfectly displaying how important community and including gays into an inclusive society. SO, will anyone count how long before FoxNews, Limbaugh and the others cast her out as an evil Liberal?

They already did, after her criticism of Man Coulter a few months back. Someone even called her fat! :GASP: The GOP has reduced themselves to the level of playground insults...

[chitoryu12]

She spoke similarly on the Colbert Report recently.

Well, it will be weird if all of a sudden, Republicans tries to be even more liberal than the democrats to win votes.

Although that s unlikely to happen.

Make that EXTRAORDINARILY unlikely, if the GOP's current "We must be as conservative as can be and bring down Obama through any means necessary!" attitude is any indicator.

[Rogue 9]

What A wonderfully Progressive and forward thinking letter, perfectly displaying how important community and including gays into an inclusive society. SO, will anyone count how long before FoxNews, Limbaugh and the others cast her out as an evil Liberal?

They already did, after her criticism of Man Coulter a few months back. Someone even called her fat! :GASP: The GOP has reduced themselves to the level of playground insults...

That would be Laura Ingraham, as parodied here. Recall that the far right doesn't like her father very much either; turning on her isn't exactly a huge step for them.

[Mayabird]

Not just her. McCain's campaign manager has also been saying this.

McCain campaign manager: GOP should back same-sex marriage

From Dana Bash
CNN Senior Congressional Correspondent


WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A key architect of Republican Sen. John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign has urged conservatives to drop their opposition to same-sex marriage.

In a speech Friday to Log Cabin Republicans, a conservative gay rights group, Steve Schmidt said allowing same-sex marriage is in line with the conservative credo of keeping government out of people's private lives.

"There is a sound conservative argument to be made for same-sex marriage," Schmidt, who was McCain's campaign manager, told the group. "I believe conservatives, more than liberals, insist that rights come with responsibilities. No other exercise of one's liberty comes with greater responsibilities than marriage. In a marriage, two people are completely responsible to and for each other."

He added: "If you are not willing to accept and faithfully discharge those responsibilities, you shouldn't enter the state of matrimony, and it doesn't make a damn bit of difference if you're straight or gay. It is a responsibility like no other, which can and should make marriage an association between two human beings more fulfilling than any other."

Schmidt told CNN that the GOP must become more open if it wants to reverse a shrinking coalition, especially among younger, more accepting voters.

"People are turned off in large measure by what they see as intolerance coming out of the party," he said.

Schmidt says he knows his is a minority view. In the presidential campaign, McCain ran against same-sex marriage.

"I don't honestly expect our party will reverse in the very near term its opposition to same sex marriage. Nor do I yet see support for it from a strong majority of the general public," Schmidt told the Log Cabin Republicans. "And, I do believe that such a highly charged political question such as this should be settled by the freely expressed will of the people, and not by the courts."

So what will change Republicans' mindset?

"One of the things that has definitely impacted my views on these issues and an evolution of thought over time is having a gay sibling," Schmidt told CNN. "As Americans get to know gay couples and or have gay family members, or work associates ... they come to understand that these relationships are deep and worth being respect and being protected."

Log Cabin Republicans say they hope other party leaders now realize that election losses prove the GOP catered too much to social conservatives.

"It's great that the Republican Party is going through this soul-searching at this moment right now," said Charles Moran, president of the Los Angeles chapter of the Log Cabin Republicans. "Republicans are thinking outside the box."

These days, their grassroots organization is reaching out to sympathetic Republicans in states debating same-sex marriage initiatives, such as New Hampshire.

Recently, Iowa and Vermont approved same-sex marriages. In April, the District of Columbia Council voted to allow same-sex marriages from around the country to be recognized there, though the measure still needs to be debated in Congress. All legislation in the district must pass congressional muster.

And just Thursday, New York Gov. David Paterson, a Democrat, said he plans to introduce a bill in the state Assembly to legalize same-sex marriage.

And this week, another Republican group -- GOProud -- formed to push a broader agenda, advocating traditional conservative issues such as low taxes and smaller government.

"There's this misconception that if you're gay, you're liberal ... just like there's a misconception that if you're conservative, you're a bigot," said Jimmy LaSalvia of GOProud.

Gay Republicans say they often get asked a basic question: Why are you Republican? Most argue that they believe in the principle of limited government.

In fact, nearly 3 in 10 self-identified gays and lesbians voted Republican in the last presidential election, according to exit polling.

But while Schmidt admitted that it will be a tough challenge for the party to accept same-sex marriage, there could be hope down the road.

"I'm confident American public opinion will continue to move on the question toward majority support, and sooner or later the Republican Party will catch up to it," he told the gathering. "And I believe the nation's acceptance of same sex unions as lawful marriage would provide a far more secure guarantee that the change made to this profoundly important social institution will be permanent than would judicial fiat."

This is a CNN link.

[Patrick Degan]

Steve Schmidt —architect of a house of cards candidacy which failed for "not being Conservative enough". Do you think the GOP will be taking any advice from this man on anything, much less the subject of gay marriage?

[Edi]

I especially like the part about "should be decided by the will of the people at large and not by the courts". Standard apologist shit for a status quo where there is no pressure put on bigots to change their ways or suffer any negative consequences for their bigotry.

He probably doesn't even realize it.