Am I getting this right? Did Richardson vote for DOMA

[LittleClarkie]

as a Congressperson, but now says he has an exemplary record on gay/lesbian issues?

Was there a noticable conversion at some point, as some from NM have said that Richardson has been moving away from the DLC since 2004?

Dennis was given room to go from pro-life to pro-choice, so I'm all for someone changing their mind. But I'd like to make sure that he's not just running away from former stances for the sake of the election.

[BlooInBloo]

1. But Dennis is GOD. Rather different rules apply.

[AnotherGreenWorld]

14. The difference is Kucinich is genuine, and

says he would make Roe v. Wade a litmus test for judges he would appoint.

[Beelzebud]

16. We should follow him around and yell "Flip Flopper"!

That would be so funny!

God forbid a person change his or her mind about something...

[DemocratSinceBirth]

2. Paul Wellstone Voted For DOMA May He Rest In Peace

I think seventeen Democratic senators voted for it...

I can't find the link...

[LittleClarkie]

3. But Richardson is quoted as saying he's the best candidate for gay/lesbian issues

Just wondering if there was a transformation of sorts.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

4. Don't They All Basically Say That...

Hillary Clinton said DOMA was passed to head off an amendment to prohibit gay marriage which would be much harder to overturn...

That's an interesting argument...


Despite his gaffes Richardson doesn't seem like a bigot and seems like a nice enough guy... I just don't think he has the proverbial "snowball's chance in Hell" of getting the nomination...

Here's the actual vote... Some of the yeas are surprising (and) disappointing...

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=104&session=2&vote=00280

[LittleClarkie]

6. Thanks for the link. Yeah, that is surprising. Good for Kerry.

I'm just trying to decide who do go with in the primaries. Richardson looks really good on paper, qualified as all hell. But I agree he probably doesn't have much of a chance. A shame.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

8. Bill Richardson Strikes Me As "Earnest" And "Real"

He lacks the guile that some really successful politicians have... That's why his turn on a dime position change on Iraq was interesting...He's just not good at those things...

I like all our candidates* but obviously I think some of them would be better general election candidates than others and that's who I want to see win...


*I don't like Mike Gravel's demeanor...He hollers at and patronizes his opponents...Not nice...

[karynnj]

17. Hillary's excuse doesn't hold water

It is extremely hard to change the constitution. Even in the mid Bush years when the right had as much power as ever, they could not get an amendment. Clinton signed it for political reasons.

[DJKDJKDJK]

11. I'm sure he regretted it. n/t

[DemocratSinceBirth]

15. He Admitted He Regretted It...

I am disappointed my senator at the time (Bob Graham) voted for it... He was willing to buck his constituents on some Supreme Court justice votes but I guess he felt the benefit of opposing DOMA was greatly outweighed by the gain of supporting it...

[sandnsea]

5. Didn't Biden and Dodd too?

They didn't even show up for the forum, isn't that right?

Of course, Senator Kerry voted aginst DOMA, and he wasn't a friend to gays either, so the story went. :crazy:

One of these days people will know what they lost by buying into all the Kerry bashing.

[Tesha]

7. A'yup. Biden and Dodd too. And Hillary's Husband, of course. (NT)

[Katherine Brengle]

21. To be fair, she shouldn't

necessary be held accountable for his decisions.

She should be held accountable for her own.

[Tesha]

22. Which is why I phrased it as I did. (NT)

[karynnj]

18. Yep, and he called it what it was -

I can't remember the actual words used, but they were something like "mean spirited" and gay bashing.

[HeraldSquare212]

25. then took out ads boasting about signing it

took out ads in small-market christian radio stations boasting of signing DOMA until he got caught and was pressured to remove the ads.

[karynnj]

26. Could you provide a link?

That is not true - in the first place Senators don't "sign" DOMA they vote for it. Kerry never said he voted for it. The only one who "signs" anything is the President.

[blm]

19. The Kerry bashing was set up by established RW agitators and planted in the left

just as they've been doing for decades.

The DC powerstructure needed Kerry taken down to stop any advancement of the anti-corruption, open government movement in the Democratic party.

The only welcome Democrat in DC is a Bush-protecting Democrat. http://www.consortiumnews.com/2006/111106.html

[Heidi]

9. I don't understand why Richardson hedges on "gay marriage."

In recovery mode after saying that he believes homosexuality is a choice, Richardson told The Advocate last week that he supports civil unions with full marriage rights. So why not just support marriage with full rights for all adults who want it and make the approval marriage contracts a function solely of government?

From Richardson's interview with The Advocate
The Advocate: As a purely hypothetical question, if the legislature handed you a marriage bill, would you sign it?

Richardson: I'm going to answer it hypothetically: It's not going to happen. What I want to emphasize is that I would be a president who recognizes that the country is on a path to full inclusion, and I think what we need to concentrate on is what is doable now. What is doable now is the following: First, repealing , which I said I would do. Secondly, repealing "don't ask, don't tell." I voted to do that in the Congress when I was the chief deputy whip. I felt that was a vote of conscience. Third, repeal No Child Left Behind, which has some diversity provisions that basically discriminate against gay kids.

What I would also do is a full civil unions bill with full marriage rights. I think that is achievable with a combination of Republicans and Democrats. A hate crimes law. I think the country today needs to be brought along on a whole range of these issues.

My message is that I should be judged by my action and not by a word that I misunderstood.

The full interview: http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid47982.asp

[DemocratSinceBirth]

10. The Same Reason All The Other Candidates Beside DK and MG Hedge...

The term "marriage" as it is currently defined has become sacrosanct... Most national politicians are loathe to tamper with it to preserve their political viability...I seriously doubt any of the candidates personally oppose gay marriage...It's the abortion debate stood on its head...Instead of most Democratic candidates being personally opposed to abortion but legally in favor of it, with gay marriage you have most Democratic candidates personally in favor of gay marriage but legally against it...

It is what it is...

[Heidi]

12. But _why_ do you suppose gay marriage is opposed by candidates?

In my view, it's a human rights issue and, as far as I'm concerned, marriage becomes an even better and stronger institution when it's available to all adults who want to make that commitment.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

13. I Believe To A One They All Personally Favor It

I just think some of the candidates are afraid they will lose more votes than they will gain if they come out in favor of legalization... Maybe it's not pretty, Maybe it's not right...Maybe it's craven but that's the way it is...

Personally, if two folks love one another and want to make that commitment permanent through the law I could not be more in favor of them doing so but I am not trying to get elected president of the United States...

[mwb970]

20. They are intimidated by right-wing wackos.

The bullies have taken over the playground.

[Heidi]

23. That's the way I see it.

I don't understand how my husband and I are any more entitled to a legal marital contract under the way than our gay friends. Seems to me that it would make all marriages stronger if marriage were a just institution.

And for the asshats who believe exending marital contracts to gay folks would make the institution weaker, maybe they need to realize (if human rights aren't a strong enough argument) that "gay marriage" also would make the insurance pool larger and likely drive down their health insurance rates. If they can't look into their own hearts, maybe they can look into their wallets for the answer.

[LittleClarkie]

24. For the same reason most of them did in 2004 I suppose

I suppose they're trying to keep the religious aspect out of it so as to offend the least amount of people.

[peacebaby3]

27. I took the "on the issues" test and Richardson ranked the lowest for all the

Dem candidates for me. I was surprised by his voting record. He has a rather conservative (for a Dem candidate) voting history on many issues.