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I would welcome the thoughts of other group members on the 08 presidential election and the role our community’s issues will play in this campaign. Please feel free to send your thoughts to me at ericjstern@gmail. com.

“Thank you, Eric, for reactivating this list serve. It’s especially appreciated by me, since I
don’t seem to be getting anything from the DNC anymore. I hope you’re well and happy.

I wasn’t a fan of John Edwards when I first met him in Jan 2003, but over the course of
the last campaign, he impressed me more and more. I personally think that the issue of
two Americas, poverty and economic justice is at the heart of ALL of our problems–from corporate immorality to education and health care to civil rights. It’s a values issue that the R’s have no chance of winning.

There were signs calling for marriage equality as far back as the first Stonewall/Pride
march in 1970. It’s not a new issue. But I’ve had the hardest time with our party’s response since 1995. That’s when many of us BEGGED the Clinton people to let Bill oppose marriage, but refuse to support DOMA. He championed it instead. “Don’t ask” was a sloppy mistake, but DOMA was a forewarned and conscious act.

I was a Bradley delegate in the 2000 race, one reason being his willingness to address our issues. And I thought Gore came around after some of Bradley’s prodding.

I got behind Dean in late 2002, largely because of his stand on equality. His signing of the civil union bill wasn’t particularly courageous, but his defense of it afterwards became stronger and fiercer even as he began his run for president.

At first I was apprehensive but open to Kerry, afterall he voted AGAINST DOMA, and he
opposed a federal constitutional amendment. But when he gratuitously stated that he
would support a state constitutional ban in Massachusetts, I felt deceived and angry.

For me there is a very important distinction between being unable to support full marriage equality and support for constitutional bans on it. In listening to Edwards’ statements, I get the strong impression that he is acknowledging the rightness of marriage equality even as he admits his inability so far to get there. He even seems to be saying that he hasn’t given up trying to fully accept it.

As long as he decries constitutional bans, I can accept his position. It feels respectful, and it probably very close to where the majority of voters are right now. We need someone who can speak to them and convince them to follow Arizona and oppose any more bans.

I don’t feel anywhere near as safe with Hillary. I don’t blame her for being so apprehensive about taking unpopular or groundbreaking stands, she and Bill have been bashed so many times that it’s understandable. But I am fed up with being a “managed issue” and relegated to the nonessential.

Underneath all his beauty, intelligence and charisma, Barak Obama’s words are all about
pragmatism and his church values. No matter how progressive he is, that’s not very
reassuring. He’s still very much an unknown quotient. And even after what happened the last two times we chose a presidential candidate “who could win,” I still can’t help thinking it would be a very steep uphill battle to get Barak into the White House.

That’s my 50 cents on the subject, I’d love to hear what others think.”

Dave Garrity
posted by Eric Stern on PrideAtThePolls@yahoogroups.com