Presidential Candidates In First Ever Gay Debate - what do you think of this?

Question

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/07/071007debate.htm

(Los Angeles, California) For the first time the leading candidates for the presidency will hold a televised debate devoted solely to LGBT issues.

The one-hour event will be held on August 9 and broadcast on gay network LOGO at 9:00 pm ET (6:00 pm ET) and through live streaming video at LOGOonline.com.

Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards have confirmed they will participate. Several other Democratic candidates also may join the debate.

The debate will be conducted with a live audience in Los Angeles. On the panel questioning the two Democrats will be Human Rights Campaign president Joe Solmonese and singer Melissa Etheridge.

Answer 1

Oh really . This should be a real circus side-show . While the crowd swoons for 'Clean, Articulate Obama' and " I Love My Hair Edwards' , . . . . .. Hillary will steal the show as she unveils her newest dialect 'Gayese' . Yes folks that's right , Hill-Bill is rumored to be practicing her Gayese to alternate between talkin like a dike , to saying things like 'Thstop it you silly goose' !!!
Ooooooooh the humanity !!!
I can hardly wait .

Answer 2

I think that the Democrats who show up to talk at the event ought to say something like, ....

"We do not, as politicians, ever have to stand up for equal rights for gay people, because what we Democrats are going to do is appoint liberals to the Supreme Court and have the Court do our work for us."

I HOPE that some Democrat says to the gay audience, ....

"No, the Court should not do our work for us. The legislative body is supposed to make new laws which guarantee equal rights. The job of the Courts are to interpret the laws correctly, and our appointees to the Court will not interpret the U.S. Constitution in such a way as to infere that gays and lesbians already had equal rights and nobody has done anything about it until now."

Answer 3

Oooh! I hope it turns into a slap-fight!!!

Seriously though, like it or not homosexuals make up a large demographic of active voters. Therefore it only makes sense that candidates start to cater their ideas towards this group. I couldn't help noticing no one from the GOP will be attending. Big mistake guys.

Decades ago when blacks started to vote people didn't want to cater to them either. In the end it played a large part in Kennedy's victory over Nixon in 1960. The Republican candidates need to wake up and smell the lubricant. Gays are voting in large numbers now and their numbers could make the difference in states like California, which ordinarily vote Republican and which in turn could swing the election towards the Democrats if the state suddenly turns blue.

We need to realize these people play an active part in our society and most of them aren't voting for the conservative candidates. It's time to change the way we campaign folks.

Answer 4

awesome... I hope some candidates (from either side) will come to chicago at the new LGBT center. I'd try to go there personally.

this can only bring about good things
other groups get people to come and talk about their issues, its time for the LGBT community to get some attention.

I really wonder what will be asked and what the answers will be. some candidates are still playing the 'no straight answer' card (no puns intended).
it would be nice is all debates had a yes or no answer mandate- they can explain why they choose their answer but they should have to give a clear answer.

Answer 5

they are in basic terms going to talk approximately marriage. The LGBT community is a one-concern concern to them, regrettably. The Republicans will act like they help us as long as we don't call for any rights and shop quiet. The Democrats will attempt to compromise with civil unions because of the fact helping gay marriage could be political suicide for them in 08. with a bit of luck this usa ameliorations past to later.

Answer 6

I don't really care; it doesn't bother me or anything though.

You know, I've heard that gays are people too. I think they're even allowed to vote (gasp!).

Gays getting equal rights is a major political issue right now; they have a right to find out where the candidates stand on marriage vs. civil union, benefits, etc. There's going to be about 500 debates before the primaries anyway; and the Dems just did one in front of a predominately black audience where they discussed racial issues w/o anyone batting an eye. How's this different?

Answer 7

Give me a break there is no gay agenda, they are just looking for the same spousal rights all us hetero-folk enjoy.

50 years ago it was black/white, now it is gay/hetero.

It has become a political debate due to the attempted amendment of the Constitution to limit gay rights. I really cannot see it being much of a debate however without a single republican, it will just be a a giant brainstorm were the Dem's all agree on pivotal points.

Answer 8

President Frankenstein Cheney's
daughter & her lover will be in the audience.
After all this debate does affect them directly,
doesn't it? Unka Dick is gonna take care of the
lil young un while his mommies go to this important
debate....Also hope Republicans watch it for they
have alot of CLOSET gays and this could affect them
also...dontcha think?

Answer 9

That should in itself be proper reason to remove the participating candidates from the ballot.

Here is the reasoning behind my opening remark.

The candidates should focus on issues that affect all humans and never become caught up in individual groups. Gay people are humans and human rights equally administered regardless of personal sexual orientation are where their agendas should focus upon. Any group regardless of its label once given a special right only serves to fragment society into polarized segments. Our greatest challenges ahead as Americans will require all citizens to join a same cause and restore the Government to what it is supposed to be. By fragmenting society and getting people caught up in non essential side issues the powers that be will only become stronger.

Answer 10

Personally I feel they are doing this because amnesty didn't pass and the votes they thought they would get if it passed they aren't going to get because it didn't.
So now they are scrambling to find a new group of people in which to pander to for votes.
In my opinion they are no different than a prostitute who sells herself to anybody who would have her.
They will do absolutely ANYTHING for money and power and will stop at nothing to get it.
They know whose vote they definitely are not going to get so their only alternative is to go for everybody else's.
But like a prostitute they are only going to reap what they sow which is akin to corruption and scandal.
What else can they expect?

Answer 11

There are many votes and lots of money in the gay community. Issues they are interested in need to be articulated. Anyone running should be willing to answer questions from them and see what they think.