Letters to the Editor
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@sonofloud
You write:
"as a gay man it takes more than obama's pretty words to buy me off. talk to me when he marches in gay pride like hillary did in nyc."
I don't wish to diminish her walking in the NYC parade. It was an important symbol. However, I would not put it on par with Obama's statements in support of gay rights in front of antagonistic crowds, particularly conservative black churches, as he did in Beaumont Texas before the TX primaries: http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0208/Selling_gay_rights.html
Furthermore, not only does HRC lag behind Obama in support of gay rights (not to mention the other, former Democratic primary contenders, particularly Bill Richardson), there's a history here that's not limited to DOMA and Don't-Ask-Don't-Tell.
Perhaps you need to remind yourself: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/3/11/231551/005/983/464805
Clinton-Gore Spokesman Says Anti-Gay Ad Will Continue to Run As-Is
(WASHINGTON) Despite rumors among gay Democratic activists that
the Clinton-Gore campaign would soon alter, pull or repudiate an anti-gay radio ad running on Christian radio stations, a campaign spokesman defended the ad and confirmed that it would continue running unaltered.
In an article in today's Washington Times, entitled "For Christian Radio, Clinton Changes Tune on Gays, Abortion," it was reported that the Clinton-Gore campaign "shrugged off" angry calls to shelve the radio ad. The article cited reports from gay and lesbian groups that the campaign might delete the portion of the ad which boasts of Clinton signing the anti-gay Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), but "Clinton campaign spokesman Joe Lockhart said there are no plans to alter the radio ads, which will run for 'a few more days.'"
After boasting about Clinton signing the anti-gay DOMA, the ad concludes with the line: "President Clinton has fought for our values and America is better for it."
"After flip-flopping on gay issues for four years, President Clinton seems to have made up his mind in the last days of the campaign to go anti-gay," said Richard Tafel, executive director of Log Cabin Republicans. "These ads reveal exactly where gays and lesbians stand in his vision of America -- we're completely expendable."
Given the he-said/he-said nature of the following kerfuffle - where Clinton supposedly advised the Kerry campaign as reported by NEWSWEEK "to find a way to support the state bans [on gay marriage]" - I'll let you make of it what you will: http://www.americablog.com/2007/06/bill-clinton-reportedly-told-john-kerry.html
To Senator Clinton's credit, she has somewhat moderated her position on DOMA. However, she remains the most conservative Democrat on gay issues who ran in this year's primaries, and certainly more conservative than Senator Obama.