Gay Republicans... does it matter in this election?

[Parks]

Posted: 10/15/08 at 2:04pm

With the final debate tonight being held at Hofstra, there are people supporting both sides walking around campus (more Obama, thank God). I walked out of our student center with my Obama sign and saw a GAY guy (an acquaintance of mine) who said hi to me, saw my Obama sign and then showed me his McCain/Palin sign. It was shocking to me at first. I said, "Seriously?" and he replied, "Come on! You're from Texas!" and I just walked away.

I text messaged my roommate and told him that this guy (who we both know) is a McCain supporter, and he responded, "Did you ask him about being a gay republican?" I asked, "Does it even matter in this election?"

Is there a difference between McCain and Obama when it comes to gay rights/issues?

[mejusthavingfun]

Posted: 10/15/08 at 2:14pm

While there's no telling what John McCain will say or do tomorrow he is currently aligned with an administration that openly discriminates against people based on their sexual orientation.

I also don't believe there has been ANY progress federally for homosexuals since George W. Bush took office in 2001. Bush actually tried push an unconstitutional amendment banning gay marriage.

So yea if your friend is interested in spending another 4 years waiting for the constitution to be upheld vote McCain.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 10/15/08 at 2:20pm

Put it this way: McCain didn't know what LGBT stood for...but then again your gay Republican friend might not either.

[blueroses]

Posted: 10/15/08 at 2:22pm

Bush probably said, "of course I am in strong support of that! I love bacon, lettuce and tomato!"

[mejusthavingfun]

Posted: 10/15/08 at 2:40pm

I think I read somewhere at one point McCain actually supported having gays serve openly in the military. Now as far as I can tell he is for DADT.

He also voted "NO" on prohibiting job discrimination based upon sexual orientation.

Obama and the Democratic party are behind equality and you can bet they will work to advance that agenda in the next 4 years.
John McCain being CLEAR on gay marriage.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 10/15/08 at 2:47pm

If LGBT issues are the most important to them, they are morons for voting for McCain/Palin.

If they feel that the other policies are the most important, then it makes sense.

The same is true of people of color who are Republican. It doesn't make sense if race issues, incl economy, education, etc) are the most important.

So why IS he voting for McCain/Palin is the question.

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 10/15/08 at 2:53pm

Do gay republicans ever matter? Thankfully, they aren't very influential on the GLBT community!

[ScottyDoesn'tKnow]

Posted: 10/15/08 at 2:56pm

I really think it matters because the Republican party as a whole has been condemning gay people for as long as I can remember. They courted the kind of people who run on racist and homophobic ideology for the sake of winning elections. Just because Palin says she'll tolerate gays or McCain seems tamer in comparison does not mean that the party's platform has changed much regarding this issue.

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 10/15/08 at 3:27pm

You can't tell thickheaded people what's good for them. At any rate, I don't think we really need to parse voters into groups like that. There are pro-choicers out there who vote Republican. There are black Republicans. There are lots of self-hating gay Republicans who probably don't think we should be able to get married or adopt children.

Besides, McPalin knows you can tell anyone anything at all if they are predisposed to believe you... better to look at their record and history of remarks and stated beliefs, not to look at what they say while they're running for office.

[tazber]

Posted: 10/15/08 at 3:33pm

No, it doesn't matter at all. both McCain and Obama are 100% supportive of gay rights.

[Parks]

Posted: 10/15/08 at 4:21pm

No, I didn't mean does it matter at all--I meant more like, is the idea of a gay republican as shocking in this election compared to elections in the past.

[mejusthavingfun]

Posted: 10/15/08 at 4:25pm

Well I would question most Republicans supporting McCain. The man hasn't found an issue he hasn't flip-flopped on and his own party despises him.

[WindyCityActor]

Posted: 10/15/08 at 4:37pm

The idea of a Gay Republican is shocking in any context.

Although I've heard the "hate sex" is fantastic.

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 10/15/08 at 6:34pm

I dunno. Gay rights hasn't been a big issue this election and in spite of the previous administration's bigotry, we've made a lot of progress at the state level. I can see why there would be those gays who find other reasons to vote Republican.

Not that I'm saying voting Republican is EVER a good idea.