Gerald Ford supports Gay marriage

“Interesting report. I missed the story when it came out. I've long said that Ford and Eisenhower were two of the best presidents in my life time.

http://www.detnews.com/2001/editorial/0110/29/a11-329647.htm”

“BTW, there is a petition against the anti-gay marriage amendment at http://www.moveon.org/unitednotdivided/?id=3077-1501563-8PVQDJPL7tUH2tdX9OfPQg”

“There's nothing quite like a good old-fashioned wedge issue in an election year!

The only thing about Ford that perplexed me was his pardoning of Nixon... and him saying that he just wanted to get rid of the whole "distraction" of Watergate.”

“They just don't make Republicans like they used to.

Well maybe they do but Grover Norquist will have them run outta town.”

“There are a few he might run out of town... like Bill Thomas or Emmett Tyrrell.”

“In retrospect, I'm willing to believe that he thought the Nixon pardon was healing even if he made the deal before being appoined.

At the time though, I was really PO'd - and had great fun demonstrating against him when he came to Concord to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the shot heard round the world. I was a high school kid, and came partly for the music - it was a beautiful day and I walked about 15 miles.”

“Don't forget how old Ford is... He's from the old-school from back when "gay" meant being very happy.

And who wouldn't be for happy marriages?”

“The impression I got at the time was that the powerful were above the law. Consequently, there was no question that I would be voting for Carter.”

“hey, I remember that headline ---”

“Ford was one of the greats in football at U of M. He's a great man indeed! And yes, he's intitled to his own opinion but it's less than honest to present his view in the "He gets it. Why don't the rest?".”

“I dunno... It sounds like he does and they don't, so what's dishonest about it?”

“Huh?”

“It's like finding a small number of democrats who are pro-gun and saying, "See? They support guns! Why don't the rest of the democrats? They get it. Why don't the rest?".

Don't get me wrong buddy. I believe you have every right to be gay. :)”

“Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight.



I herd about them Log Cabin guys, so Republicans are actually all Gay and they're using reverse psychology on us... LOL”

“I call that last post Hommage à Stratdewd.

JIHAD FORD!”

“No tilt, the log cabin organization is a shill group set up by the extreme right in an attempt to gain gay votes and get a show of tolerance.”

“The best thing about Ford was that he gave Chevy Chase someone to parody on Saturday Night Live. Other than that, he was about as useless as teats on a boar.”

“It makes sense. Ford was a lesbian before his sex change. Everyone knows you can't be a lezbo and President at the same time.

cc: Hillary Clinton”

“I thought her forehead looked familiar! The pants suites are a dead give away too.”

“I know you guys prefer the meek kindergarten-teaching, librarian cookie-baking type, but why are you so scared of Hillary?”

“I was shocked to read recently that Cheney's daughter, who he denounced in the press for being a lesbian, works as one of the big cheeses on his campaign.

What a loser!

Cheney/Bush trying to corral the gay voters is like the Democrats courting the NRA.”

“Dang tilt, what's NOT to be scared of?



"The buffet line just cleared? YEEEHAW!"”

“No, really.”

“No, really. Look at her! LOL! OK, OK.

The first thing we need to get straight is the assertion that I ‘fear’ her or that I’m threatened by her. It isn’t fear; it’s displeasure and dislike. I don’t like her divisiveness nor her political views. Plain and simple.”

“LMAO!”

“LMAO!”

“Oh, and she sounds like a raging howler monkey at NOW rallies.”

“Did you see that the republicans are going to have Rudolph Guliani speak at the convention? Can you believe the hypocrisy? He could never be on a republican ticket for president or vice president. He is pro choice and pro gun control.”

“What bugs me most about Hillary is her belief that she's above the law. I'll always remember her National Health Care plan (which, thankfully failed)... crafted in secrecy, no publication of what she was doing, who the advisors were, etc. This from an advocate of open gov'mnt.”

“Her 'divisiveness'? You can say that with a straight face considering who's in the White House?

Man, Please! LOL



I heard an interesting argument today. McCain bases his opposition to the proposed amendment on Federalist 44.

"I stand with Madison," he said.”

“Who fed you that load? Secrecy in her planning of the National Health Care Plan????? I can show you the page in her book where everyone on the task force team is shown as plain as day. Try another tack, captain.”

“"Can you believe the hypocrisy? He could never be on a republican ticket for president or vice president. He is pro choice and pro gun control."

There is room for differing opinions within the republican party.


tilt,

With all due respect I never said, "she's divisive and Bush isn't". You asked why I don't like her, not how she compares to Bush. Cool?”

“Well, if divisiveness is a turn-off for you then you have problems with Lots of folks in politics today.... like just about all of them.

I'm trying to think of One who isn't....”

“Divisiveness doesn't bother me much. Being on the take does.”

“Well of course. Divisiveness isn't divisiveness when they are propagating our own views and points of view. What I see as divisiveness in Hillary, you see as perfectly good sense. Same goes for me and Bushy (about 65% of the time).”

“Can an amendment be amended?

I'm just curious, because the polls clearly state that there is broad opposition to gay marriage and broad support for civil unions with equivalent rights to marriage.

Why not a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage and enshrine civil unions throughout the land?”

“RL - that's close to what I believe in. I'd support an ammendment that gets the government out of marriage altogether and regulates the rights and responsibilities of civil unions for people (without caring whether they ahve sex or not). Let the churches decide who they will and won't marry.”

“Good for Ford. And everyone thought I was crazy for supporting him when I was 8.....


The answers, my friend, is blowing in the wind.....!


LOL!”

“Bobby Zimmerman strikes from afar -----”

“By Robert Menendez

Since my vote in favor of the Defense of Marriage Act 15 years ago, like tens of millions of Americans, I have reflected deeply and frequently about this issue. During this time, I have engaged in discussions about the issue of marriage equality with friends, family members, colleagues and of course, the people I serve in New Jersey. I have heard and listened to many different views.

But for me, this comes down to an issue of fundamental fairness. For me, this comes down to the principles I learned as the child of immigrants and that I cherish as an American: that we believe in equality for all people under the law.

So today, I am announcing my support for the Respect for Marriage Act, which repeals DOMA and ensures that all lawfully married couples — including same-sex couples — receive the benefits of marriage under federal law.

Across our country, the attitudes of millions of Americans have changed on this issue and several states have acted to guarantee the freedom to marry to same-sex couples whose love for each other and life commitment to one another is no different from other couples.
These gay men and gay women defend our streets and our citizens as firefighters and police officers; they are small-business people who create jobs; they are teachers who prepare our children to compete in the future. And they are soldiers, Marines and sailors who have put their lives on the line for our country, fighting to protect our freedoms and to combat terrorists who threaten to attack us again.

For many years, these millions of committed couples have argued that the freedom to marry — their freedom to marry — is a core civil rights issue. I now believe they are right.

In affirming marriage equality for individuals, it is important to remember that no church, no faith, no religion will be required — nor would I support requiring them — to perform marriages that are not consistent with the tenets of their religion.

In other states, the things that many of us take for granted — getting married, having a family, visiting a spouse in the hospital, making life and death decisions for a spouse in end-of-life situations, collecting spousal benefits to continue providing for our family — are still being denied to same-sex couples. Can you imagine not only dealing with a dying loved one and the inevitable fights with your insurance company, but also having to fight just to get into the hospital room to see the person you’ve loved and with whom you’ve spent your life? That’s fundamentally unfair, and I don’t want to be a part of continuing that discrimination.

I believe the time has come to recognize the civil rights of the LGBT community. Fundamentally, I do not view this as an issue of special rights, but simply one of equal rights.

No American should have to wait outside a hospital room while a loved one suffers inside. No American should lose inheritance simply because the federal government does not recognize the couple’s marriage. No child should feel that his or her parents are somehow less equal under the law than a best friend’s parents.

This kind of discrimination cannot be tolerated in our society as a matter of law, and it should not be tolerated. Two people who want to be committed to each other should be able to enter into marriage, and they should receive the benefits that flow from that commitment.

http://blog.nj.com/njv_guest_blog/2011/12/discrimination_against_same-se.html”

“I'm drafting a letter to my Senator to congratulate him for taking an unpopular, yet morally correct stand.”

“Amen!”

“What he doesn't explain is why he voted for DOMA in the first place. 15 years ago the upbringing you had convinced you that marriage was under some kind of attack?

" Across our country, the attitudes of millions of Americans have changed on this issue.."

Typical finger in the air unprincipled politician.”

“Classic wedge issue, just like abortion. People will vote for someone based on that issue alone, and overlook everything else about a candidate or even an entire party. My MIL know the D's are ruining the Nation will out of control s”

“Spending but sell never vote against them because of wedge issues like this. It's basically how the Dems get most of their votes, minorities issues, environmental issues, anti gun issues, atheist issues...yes the R's do it too over abortion and gun rights. My stance on gay marriage is ambivalence. But people who are willing to sink the entire Nation over a wedge issue like this are short sighted and obtuse.... IMO”

“morally correct

Good luck convincing the religious of that. People like you who make a childish appeal to moral authority only entrench an otherwise moderate religious majority. It's an ethical and rights issue, not a moral one. Grow up.”

“unpopular

" Voters in the state narrowly think gay marriage should be legal, by a 47/42 margin. That includes a 46/35 spread with independent voters. When you broaden the issue to civil unions 81% of voters support some form of legal recognition for gay couples to only 17% opposed. 41% say full same sex marriage rights would be their preference with another 40% supporting civil unions. Even among Republicans in the state 77% support either gay marriage or civil unions.

-New Jersey's attitude towards its current Senate delegation could be easily summarized as 'meh.' Last week we showed Robert Menendez had tepid approval ratings and Frank Lautenberg does too with 41% of voters approving of him and 36% disapproving. What might be most remarkable is that 23% have no opinion even though Lautenberg's been in the Senatefor nearly 30 years. Maybe that lack of familiarity is a product of the state not having its own media markets."
http://publicpolicypolling.blogspot.com/2011/07/new-jersey-miscellaneous-poll.html

Menendez is reading the handwriting on the wall and trying to keep his cushy job even tho his constituents aren't thrilled with him. No surprise and no tough stand.”