"I think of being on an airplane. The flight attendant comes down the aisle with her food cart and, eventually, parks it beside my seat. “Can I interest you in the chicken?” she asks. “Or would you prefer the platter of shit with bits of broken glass in it?”
Funny, right? The choice between McCain/Palin and Obama/Biden seems just that simple, doesn't it?
But then I was reading this article today and had to re-read sections to fully understand. Its confusing! This made me a bit more sympathetic to undecided voters if they are voting on specific issues rather than on the candidate's overall message.
In the article on the candidates' and VP candidates' view on gay marriage, we find:
- McCain opposes gay marriage but would oppose a federal constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, but supports state level amendments to ban gay marriage
- Palin opposes gay marriage, would support a federal constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, and supports state level amendments to ban gay marriage, but vetoed a bill that would deny benefits to partners of gay state employees in Alaska
- Obama opposes gay marriage, but would oppose a federal constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, but supports civil unions that provide all the same benefits as marriage
- Biden opposes gay marriage, but would appose a federal constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, but openly opposes Prop 8 in CA, and supports civil unions that provide all the same benefits as marriage
I don't feel embarrassed to say that most of this doesn't make sense to me.
Why would Palin want to ban gay marriage yet veto a bill to deny benefits to partners of gay state employees? Doesn't banning gay marriage effectively deny gay people these benefits?
Why would Biden be against gay marriage, but oppose Prop 8 which would invalidate the gay marriages that have already taken place in CA?
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Equal rights are most often fought for, not given freely. If you are a GLBT person and are not involved in the fight for equal rights yet, its not too late. Call, write, or email your representatives and tell them you want equal protection under the law. Tell them it is unfair to pay the same taxes as married people but not receive the same protections and benefits as married people. Tell them it is unfair to be unable to marry the person you love. Tell them it is unfair that you are vulnerable to discrimination (loss of employment, housing, etc.) based on your sexual orientation.
Remember the old adage: The squeaky wheel gets the grease. If you don't tell them, they won't know. Don't let your silence speak louder than your words.
Crush du Jour: Adam Baldwin
2 comments:
You're so right about the whole Gay Marriage issue being SO confusing with all the candidates. But that David Sedaris quote - - that's wickedly funny!!!
The reason it's so confusing is because every single one of them is pandering.
Unfortunately that's politics.
Bill Clinton really disappointed me though. He had two terms to do us right and during both he tossed us aside.
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