Watch part of John McCain's interview with Ellen.
(CNN)— Openly gay talk show host Ellen DeGeneres pressed John McCain Thursday on his opposition to gay marriage.
The presumptive Republican nominee said he believes same-sex couples have the right to legal agreements for insurance and other purposes, but opposes gay marriage. “I just believe in the unique status of marriage between man and a woman,” McCain told DeGeneres.
McCain, who also opposes a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, said he supports and encourages legal benefits for same-sex partners particularly for insurance purposes. The Arizona senator has said individual states should decide the issue.
The talk show host pushed further, drawing parallels between the right to gay marriage and the suffrage movements for women and African-Americans.
“We are all the same people,” DeGeneres told McCain. “You’re no different than I am. Our love is the same.”
The Arizona senator said that she had given an “eloquent” defense of her position, but "we just have a disagreement. And I, along with many, many others, wish you every happiness."
Degeneres joked: "So, you'll walk me down the aisle? Is that what you're saying?"
McCain’s one word response: "Touché."
From CNN Politics
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The one thing I agree with McCain on.
Vote for Hillary Clinton!
He is old enough to be her father. He could walk her down the aisle.
I heard that McCain got his first wife by hitting her over the head with a club and dragging her back to his cave...
good for McCain.
Talking to enemies gave us Senator McCain. Now, he keeps showing up everywhere he wants. Can somebody asks him why he thinks talking adversaries is a bad idea since he was released as a result of diplomacy of direct talk.
Is this what you call newsworthy CNN?
Oops... there goes his gay vote.
November is going to be a cakewalk for the Dems!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great dialog. McCain does walk a fine line on the issue and he must be careful what he says on teh subject. I actually believe he would be for marriage but I doubt his party would like that very much. Good interview though.
As a african american, I hate when people compare gay marriage and civil rights. Gay people arent being denied any rights besides getting married. Black people were denied everything so there is no comparison
WHATEVER OBAMA/NAGEL 2008/2012
A Presidential candidate going in to the lions den to face his critics. I admire McCains courage even though I do not agree with his position.
The more this race goes on the differences in character will become appearant.
McCain is a war hero who stands up takes on his critics. Obama run and dodges and flip flops on the issues. A quote from Obama's book,
"Pot had helped, and booze; maybe a little blow when you could afford it," wrote Obama about what he would later say were "bad decisions." "Junkie. Pothead. That's where I'd been headed: the final, fatal role of the young would-be black man."
Wake up America, how would this man handle the pressures of the White House.
Go Hillary, if not Hillary go McCain
That would be too funny. dumb and dumber. lol
Come on, McCain, walk her down the aisle. It'll be a beautiful wedding.
Yet another issue in which I disagree with McCain. Equal rights & protection under the law... that's what separates America from so many countries around the world.
Weak!!!
Well at least you need to give him credit for sticking to his GUNS on his beliefs.
Touche!
People should not be able to make laws about what other people can do when it comes to love and marriage of consenting adults.
Nice to see two people on opposite sides get along while discussing an issue.
I do agree with McCain on the constitional part... it should be up to the states... far to many issues go to the federal government...
Remember, this is the guy Hillary supporters want you to vote for as "payback" for losing the primary. I can't think of anything more childish.
Also, can you guys and gals hurry up and pay off Hillary's campaign loans, so she can finally drop out? She's not going to quit until you pay off the money she loaned herself. Donate today!
Please! My only comment to this bit of non-news is NO COMMENT.
I disagree with almost every position I hear from McCain. But he says what he thinks. Next to him, Obama's empty preppy suit and canned speeches is going to be very weak.
Voters like some certainly as opposed to only vague dreams. Especially if the last days of the Bush group raises a scare or security alert.
Very sad day for liberals. Who will pull Obama's strings if he were to get in?
what do you think of [insert issues]?
McCain – "I am against (or for) it"
Obama – "I want change and am tired of politics as usual and I as a minority candidate I want the best for all the people all the time".
John McCain handled this brillantly ,,,Ellen tried to make him look like a Bible beater and that is just no the case. Ellen you are in the minority only roughly 15-20 percent of americans believe in Gay marriage, while only 5-10 percent of the poplulation is actually gay or lesabian. Stop pushing a small minorites wants onto the whole public. So if we give rights to same sex marriage where does it stop, can you marry your dog, your horse, a clone? America will not stand for it and frankly does not want it.
WRONG.....black people ARE GIVEN EVERYTHING !
At least he had a sense of humor about it. At least he was willing to engage in a dialogue – more than we can say for the current President.
Who is going to give who away?.And doesn't the brides family pay for the wedding?.Who will change the oil in the car?Who will win the arguements?
LOL @ Greg, NY...that's some funny stuff!
Ellen, I love you. I thought he was going to choke on his teeth!
I think McCain handled it well..
I am really glad that Senator McCain clarified his belief in gay marriage.
Ellen is one of Hillary's best girlfriends.
She learned how to talk with different accents in different states and use gestures identical to Ellen's. Both are very talented in whatever they do.
The only thing Ellen cannot teach Hillary is how to convince the voters.
Wonder if Dick Chenney would walk Ellen down the aisle.
Heck wonder if he would walk his own daughter down the
aisle. Is anyone taking any bets on that ?
Stop comparing the gay movement to the struggles of Black America.
* McCain went from saying gay marriage should be allowed, to saying gay marriage shouldn’t be allowed.
It's not the issues.......It's not the party.......... it's the man. Why won't you people get it.......obama is unfit to run this country. He is way too dangerous. He'll drag this country down to third world status. I will never vote for obama.
I hope all you HIllary supporters who plan to vote for McCain in the Fall are listening to this.
MICHAEL WE ARE SAYING THERE ARE A LOT OF SIMILARITIES. THE BLACKS WENT THRU A HORRIFIC PERIOD AND AS A WHITE AMERICAN, I AM APPALLED AND SADDENED THAT HAPPEN. BUT WHAT SHE IS BASICALLY SAYING IS, THAT THIS IS THE NEW CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE SAME RIGHTS A STRAIGHTS. MARRIAGE TO A MAN TO MAN OR WOMAN TO WOMAN, IS THE SAME LOVE THAT A MAN AND WOMAN HAVE. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WILL NEVER GO AWAY. THERE WERE GAYS AND LESIBIANS IN HISTORY ie ALEXANDER THE GREAT. THEY ARE PART OF LIFE PEOPLE
Obama,
Watch out to not give too much in to Hillary
1 – This is an appeasemnt test
2 – If she narrows the gap she will have months to twist arms of delegates and steal victory
Be fair but tough
MCCAIN: I think that gay marriage should be allowed, if there’s a ceremony kind of thing, if you want to call it that. I don’t have any problem with that, but I do believe in preserving the sanctity of a union between man and woman.
CNN.
You have a lot of fluff on here today... I think the real stories should be:
1. Obama flip-flops on Foreign Policy... i.e. Iran (big threat or little threat)
2. Florida voters chant "Count our Votes" at Clinton Rally.
3. Obama declares himself nominee and returns to Iowa.
Do you people provide news anymore?
Just wondering...
Hillary 08
Gays are not in the same situation on Black...they were not lynched, rape, enslaved, treated as less than human, could not be with a white man or woman that they loved...had churches burned to the ground, had dogs set on them...got bomb threats....I could go on and on. You cannot compare Gays to Blacks....at least you can hid being Gay..you cannot hide the fact that you are black
Oh go ahead, Mc and walk her down the aisle. It won't rub off.
This exchange demonstrates the kindness and consideration that makes John McCain the person and statesman he is.
Americans for McCain '08
oh please, these righties are soooo freaking HYPOCRITICAL!!!!!
you babble on about the sanctity of marriage, blah blah blah, meanwhile they've all been married MULTIPLE times. mccain cheated on his first wife and married his mistress!!!! yeah, THAT'S real respectful of the sanctity of marriage.
people need to worry less about who marries who and focus on their own crumbling, miserable marriages!!
republicans=MAJOR hypocrites!!
Michael A, i just have to respond to your statement. The Struggle by the Gay community is the same as the one the African-American community fought in the 60's. It is the fight a section of our society must endure to be seen as equal under the eye's of the law. Your statement just says to me "Our struggle was longer therefore we suffered more". Suc fallacies of argument just make you seem ignorant, look around the gay community is treated the same as the african-american community was back then, with disdain and hatred all hatred is the same. Ignorance.
BTW Kudos to John McCain he is willing to be the President with the ability or at least the courage to try and bridge the gap between all sect's of society. He is more than just catch phrases like Sen. Obama. McCain has substance.
I really like McCain..I wish he were not as old as he is...
I voted for him in 2000. I wish he had won primary in 2000 than GW Bush. He is a good man.
However, I am so tired of conservative Republicans like Sean Hannity, Bill O reilly and how they spread hate for others- I have decided to become Independent and vote for the right candidate
Republican for Obama 08
So, all of you angry Hillary supporters-
you plan to vote for a anti-choice, anti-gay candidate in November because of your fierce loyalty to Hillary?
Try explaining that vote to your children years from now when abortion becomes illegal and we are still engaging in reckless warfare.
Love ya Ellen! Hope you're ready to campaign for Senator Obama once this is over- Best wishes for you wedding! It's ABOUT TIME!
I thought McCain's interview with Ellen was good. McCain was diplomatic on his views of same sex marriages.......at least he didn't "woof" some political explanation to advance his candidacy. He was cautious to walk the "rice paper" on this issue.....not that it is going to affect his candidacy, but rather impact on his popularity.
Since when do just a few states determine who the president will be. Last I knew we had 50 states in this union.
I think the news should keep quiet about pole results and let each individual make up their own minds.
As a Republican....its time...time for my party to give up the White House for Obama – and we need to allow "people" rights – and if "people" want to be married....let them..geez....allowing unions for "insurance purposes" – is crazy....allow full rights....this argument is crazy....there is a clear separation of church and state....needs to stop...and stop now
HIllary , Barack and Mccain all believe in unions...and don't believe in Same Sex marriage...
So everyone chill out.
anyone but Mccain..but vote Obama.
I love it when people say they're tired of those who spread hate. They remind me of grossly obese people who say they are too tired to work out. Morality requires the hatred of immorality. No one would be willing to stop genocide in the name of being tired. You have to hate that which is evil, and cling to that which is good. Otherwise, you're lukewarm and no good to either side.
I'm an Obama supporter, but I have to commend McCain for holding his ground on this issue.
At least John McCain is willing to talk to people that oppose him on his views. Lets see Hillary or Obama on the O'Reilly Factor! Maybe we can figure out ANSWERS to the CHANGES that Obama is pressing on everyone.
Good for Ellen. I think she was very brave to put it to McCain in that way. She put a human face on it for McCain. I also have to say, that McCain holds a moderate stance on this issue which is refreshing for a Republican. While I mostly disagree with McCain on many things, it's nice to see the willingness to compromise.
".at least you can hid being Gay..you cannot hide the fact that you are black"
Has to be the most disgusting comment I've seen on cnn today. Are you suggesting that gays should hide who they're, and that it's a comfortable position doing so?
why should I care someone marry in same sex or for that matter marry Dog or Cat. give people freedom of choice.
McCain is right on this one 100%. Ellen makes some fundamentally flawed arguments about "all the same" and "same love" that are basically not true in a pluralistic society. Religious folks are called to love God 1st, before their neighbor and therefore their views in this regard may differ substantially from hers in this regard. Civil unions are fine and are indeed a right, but for those like myself, marriage is a purely religious institution involving a unique perception of God in that process.
Actually there are a couple of points on which McCain and I agree. There should not be a constitutional amendment and states should be allowed to decide on their own. However, I do hope that eventually all 50 states will recognize gay marriages, civil unions, or something to that affect, eventually.
Everytime a gay person says that their struggle is the same as the black person is funny. A black person didn' have to be asked if they were black or not to be discriminitated against. A gay person was never a slave. A gay person never was paid a lower wage or had to sit in the back of the bus cause they were gay. A gay person never had beg to vote cause they were gay. A gay person didn't have to make a choice over what bathroom to use ( if they were white). A gay person never was denied food at a restaurant if they were gay. A gay person never had to boycott the education system to get an education.
SO please stop comparing it to the black experience. I hate that comparison...but I love the fact that I am gay!!!!!!
Jeanne in San Diego, where do you see an "equal protection" argument? Applying that 14th Amendment principal, gay people have just as much right as non-gay people to marry a person of the opposite sex. Gays may not wish to do so, and that's their choice. "Marrying" a person of the same sex in not a right currently enjoyed by non-gays, so there's no merit to any equal protection argument. What gays want is more than the law allows anyone !
NO OBAMA,NEVER May 22nd, 2008 1:50 pm ET
WRONG…..black people ARE GIVEN EVERYTHING !
***********************************************************
ROFLMAO!! You are clearly in a rural area with no access to books, newspapers or reality checks. I'm sure you are voting for Hillary – can't have an uppity one in the White House, huh?
Obama O-8!! Deal with Baby!!!
The battle of gay people and the black people is FONDAMENTALY DIFFERENT.
based on one single thing:
Gay people have the oportunity to hide and live a "normal" life
Black people cant hide their color, they dont even have that choice !
Now i know that this is not suposed to be an option. Nobody should have to hide what they are in order to have the right to have a normal life !
BUT EVEN THAT black people dont have.
all you have is a world, were at best, you have to consider yourself satisfied to be given the chance to attend college, even if you must give twice the efforts of a white person to get there !
that is why most people are trippin about Michelle OBama's comments. At if she should consider herself happy to go to college and have a profession when " she belongs to a cotton plantation "
God help america !
Hey, I'm gay and will vote McCain.
For all of us Democrats that have voted before and follow politics, we have a lot of respect for John McCain. He has gone against the Bush machine and we can all respect that. Anyway, John McCain is a moderate Republican and he believes that gays should have rights and opposes a constitutional amendment against gay marriage. Good Enough.
Pretty much sounds like John will leave gay marriage as a "states rights" decision. That is cool with me. I am from AR, and they have already banned gay marriage, and I respect that. However, California is more liberal and they have made it legal. The older I get, it seems the more tolerant people are becoming.
I'll break my thoughts down for you. Obama has no experience. If I volunteer for Habit for Humanity, would that make me qualified for President? I think not.
Obama is a former "Community Organizer" in Chicago, and the last I heard is that school kids can't even ride the school bus or walk to school without being shot. If Obama is the great uniter, he should unite inner city Chicago first.
Hillary 08 or McCain if necessary (no more on the job training for President)
I think CNN needs to turn on the dope filter – and all the "if not Hillary then McCain" blogs....hey dopes...they don't even have similar positions...(not that any of you seemed to care...as Hillarys "positions" changed state to state...in between sniper fire)
ANYONE who says this ....complete moron....no excuses...Hillary has lost this....thats it....stop it...vote on positions...not hurt feelings...
The Obama Republicans are speaking up!
yardstylze May 22nd, 2008 1:56 pm ET
Gays are not in the same situation on Black…they were not lynched, rape, enslaved, treated as less than human, could not be with a white man or woman that they loved…had churches burned to the ground, had dogs set on them…got bomb threats….I could go on and on. You cannot compare Gays to Blacks….at least you can hid being Gay..you cannot hide the fact that you are black
As both a gay and black man, i find stuff like this particularly offensive and extremely ignorant and naive. Gay people are still being treating that way all across the world including here in the US. The plight of the black community is no more noble, honorable, or noteworthy than the plight of gays.
And as far as the comment, "you can hide the fact that you're gay"...try hiding the fact that your heterosexual for 80 years of your life and let me know you feel about that then.
All we're asking for is equal rights and protection under the law, the same as the black community.
WAKE UP AMERICA!
Michael A:
As a gay guy, I hate it when people dismiss the right to marry as something insignificant.
African-Americans weren't denied that right, were they? Or the right to foster children and raise a family? Or, until FIVE YEARS ago, the right to even have sex?
And let's also not forget that there's no federal protection against hiring/firing discrimination against gays, nor anything guaranteeing inheritance or hospital rights.
Until you personally are okay not having any of those rights, please don't pretend they're insignificant.
But to more directly respond to your post: Read more closely. No one is saying gays have it harder now than blacks did in the 60s. That's not the comparison being made. The analogy is the simple fact that one minority is being denied equal protection by the majority - period. The comparison is that after we learned those lessons with blacks, and then with women, and then with blacks again, this nation is still doing it.
I have a hard time understanding how any minority, having lived through it, is okay with it being done to another minority - even if it's on a smaller scale.
Gays should be allowed to marry people, come on. Call it whatever you want, they should have the same rights if they want to, how can we not allow them to it seems so wrong to do so. Regardless of a persons belief systems we should not go around telling those who wish to be together that they can not marry.
As for Mccain, if he wins, I'm moving to Holland. I can't take another 2000 election Republican evil slick deal again.
If Hillary win the Nomination by some back room deal I will no longer vote again.
Obama 08
ellen would probably have to walk him down the aisle.he could use a walker,i guess.
Well now, you CAN compare the experience of gays to African Americans... Matthew Shepherd anyone? Gays have been beaten to death and discriminated against because of their sexual orientation the world over (and they hang them in Iran). Its easier to hide your sexuality than your skin color, I'll grant you that. Anyways, I have African Americans, gays and women in my family so I firmly support equal rights and a level playing field for all.
-A white married middle-aged male hunter / fisherman from Minnesota for Obama
Ellen says: we're the same.
I have to disagree...marriage is a sacrement of religious faith. Partnerships, Gay Unions...etc....are terms effectively used by the states/governements if defining the legal relationships, etc....
This is really sick...I applaud him for having the coconuts to go on there knowing she was going after him with both liberal barrels.
Next liberal special interest group–please stand up.
I cannot believe I'm not sitting here reading people trying to compare the African American struggle of the 60s to the gay struggle of today. Have you all lost your minds?!?!
-Show me a restaurant WITH A SIGN that says we don't serve gays.
-Show me public areas with signs depicting "White Only" and "Colored Only"
-Show me the last time a gay person was hanged
-Show me gays being denied the right to vote
-Show me gays being told that they only count as 1/3 of a human being....
-Show me gays that have had dogs attacking them
-Show me gays that have been hosed by fire hoses
I could go on all day!
Yes, I am an educated black man and I do not live in the past. I respect every person regardless of their race and I harbor no ill will toward any person because I know people of today had nothing to do with what happened then, but I refuse to sit here and read this garbage and watch these idiotic comparisons take place.
gays have the right to marry, but they don't have the right to marry the same sex that is not marriage, that is perversion. the poor 8 year old kid that is a product of a gay marriage that ends in divorce who later remarry and that child has to say 'i have 4 mommies or 4 daddys..indoctrination starts by activist judges and then nurtured by liberal school teachers.
One more note,
Throughout history and still in present day, gay people have been burned alive, staked, crucified, hung upside, tortured, castrated, raped, beaten to death, deleted from history, endured electroshock "therapy", exiled, denied the right to inherit property, serve their country, or wed their loved ones. i can go on and on - so don't tell me that Gays and Blacks are nothing alike.
Terrific answer Senator McCain "touche'". I would have voted for you in 2004 if you were the nominee instead of Bush. I'm a Clinton Democrat, I'm very grateful for your service to our country from Vietnam all the way to the senate. Hillary will be the nominee for my party, my apologize Senator I can't give you my vote this November.
Sometimes I think the issue of gay marriage comes down to semantics. Maybe we need to stop fighting over the word "marriage." In other words let straight couples have the word "marriage" and let us focus our arguments, energy and efforts on the underlining issues of equal protection of our rights and privileges under the law.
I will give john McCain credit for sitting down with Ellen. I dont think Curious George or the V.P. ( Ventriliquist President ) would have the guts or the ability to handle the issue so diplomatically. I disaree with John McCain completely and believe he is wrong. ALL men (and women) are created equal. We ALL deserve the same rights and benefits he has. But at least he is willing to talk in a reasonable and courteous manner.
I find it disturbing how easy it is for some people to make generalizations about a group of people.
EXAMPLE :
Soma people from WV are racist so the hole state is racist. It is all over the place , and not just on one side of the fence.
Black people are given everything? Do you know how rediculous you sound? And Clinton says racism did not play a roll in this
Mccain could have been playing flippy-floppy with his cellmates,one thing is for sure, he is a flip-floper I just wonder where he learn it Hmm .! not to close (Yes Obama can)!!!!!!
It's a bit of a cliche to suggest that Obama supporters don't even know his positions of the issues, but the "Hillary voters shouldn't vote for McCain because he opposes gay marriage" posts are hillarious. Do you guys even realize that McCain, Obama, and Hillary pretty much all have the same position on gay marriage?
If Obama is handed the nomination by the Super Delegates, start getting used to saying "Presdient McCain." Obama can't carry most of the states that HIllary carried, and those are the big ones... the ones needed to win in November.
Look at the states he has won - most are either caucus states, where there was no popular vote taken and only a small percentage of voters participate, or states with large numbers of black voters. Caucusus are not democratic (no vote by mail and are held over just a couple hours, not a whole day) and they are run by the parties with volunteers, so there are few controls in place and no government oversight. The votes are public, too, so people are vulnerable to threat and intimidation, like the restaurant workers in Nevada who were thereatened with being docked a full day if they voted for Clinton. They are ripe for abuse. I know - I was there. I saw what went on in Nevada. It was only their courage - pulling on Hillary shirts and walking into the casino caucuses - that saved the day for Hillary in that caucus state in defiance of their union bosses.
There are no caucuses in November - how is he going to win the swing states where Hillary has been strong?
Just proves one thing: He's a bigger panderer than Hil-lie-ary Clinton! Say anything, do anything and deny everything ... even when it's on audio or video to prove otherwise.
Marriage is a result of 2 things : 1) acknowledgment 2) tax benefits.
If it was considered sacred, there should be severe punishment for divorce. I've known couples who've lived together far longer than the length of marriages.
As for comparing gay marriages to the civil rights movement. Yes things were unfair for the blacks back then. Now, the blacks like to complain about EVERYTHING. They still complain about slavery as if they're EXPERIENCING slavery for god sakes!
As much as I love Ellen, her lifestyle is an abomination against my God. Its hers to choose, but marriage is between man and woman and only man and woman. Then to group Gay rights with Civil Rights is a slap in the face of all who suffered and still suffer because of the color of their skin. McCain was right to be a little squeamish in that situation..so would I.
OBAMA 08
I really liked Obama until I saw Bobby Jindal. Jindal is a reformer who has the accomplishments you would expect out of Obama at 46, while Obama has the accomplishments you would expect out of a man at 36.
If Jindal gets the VP nod, McCain gets my vote.
Democrat voting Republican in '08
That is such an odd combination.. Why is McCain on that show?
SHE DIDN'T COMPARE THE 'GAY MOVEMENT' TO THE STRUGGLES OF BLACK AMERICA...SHE COMPARED IT TO THE SUFFRAGETTE MOVEMENT AFFECTING WOMEN AND AFRICAN AMERICANS.....READ THE ARTICLE PEOPLE...............UGH........................................I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES I COME HERE AND PEOPLE MAKE COMMENTS THAT DO NOT EVEN PERTAIN TO THE STORY AT HAND!
PS
OBAMA WILL NOT BEAT MCAIN. GET YER HEDS OUT YER ARSES....TALK ABOUT EGO....DO YOU WANT A DEMOCRAT IN OFFICE OR AN AFRICAN AMERICAN AS THE NOMINEE? BECAUSE THERE WILL NOT BE BOTH.
WHO HAS THE EGO?
HILLARY 08
(BESIDE SHE WILL DO MORE AS A SENATOR THAN OBAMA EVER WILL AS PRESIDENT....WOULD HE EVEN BE AROUND...OR WOULD HE CONTINUE TO VOTE 'NOT PRESENT'?)
Marriage is not a right. It's a legal contract. The government — by extension, the people — have the authority to set limits and eligibility for such contracts. Therefore, if the people do not want same-sex couples to marry, that is within their "right." Ellen — have sex with whomever you want. But please don't correlate sex to marriage.
Gay rights is not to be equated to Civil Rights...
I believe in judge ye not less ye be judged. But, the civil rights comparison to me is different – unless you have walked a mile in an African American persons shoe you have no idea.
I'd be he'd do it if she would be his escort at a NRA convention...
I like Ellen... she's pretty cool... and I think McCain handled himself very well on an issue he didn't support... well done.... agree or not!
Considering more than 99% of the people are gay or support gay rights, McCain has just handed the presidency to Obama. McCain should just withdraw now and let us stop wasting time on this election. Let's talk about high gas prices and what the old farts in congress haven't done about it. It's time for progressive thinking. It's time to stop the destruction of the poor. It's time to stop the rich from stuffing their pockets with more, more, more money. It's time for Obama to be president NOW.
Being browned skinned is not something I can change. It is a decision God made when I was formed. However, being gay is a choice one makes each day. I don't see the comparison and people who do are ignorant not the ones who don't. One is a choice and one isn't.
Should each state decide?? What if each state were allowed to decide to free slaves or not. We would still have a divided nation.
McCrazy is saying that states have a right to decide to give a civil right on the basis of what?? Civil rights should be inforced by the national government.
When is our country going to stop marginalizing different groups of people??
yardstylze wrote: "Gays are not in the same situation on Black…they were not lynched, rape, enslaved, treated as less than human, could not be with a white man or woman that they loved…had churches burned to the ground, had dogs set on them…got bomb threats…."
Wow, yardstylze, you don't know much gay history. The Nazis executed over 600,000 gays and lesbians. Gays still have businesses and homes burned down. There are a lot of threats, stabbings, and beatings (I myself was a victim of a beating in Washington, DC). We live in fear a good bit of the time.
And we also "could not be with a white man or woman" we love! Think about it. I can't get married to my male partner so I also can't be with the man I love! And we have to hide our relationship when we travel to be sure we are in safe company first.
You aren't the only oppressed minority group. Every minority needs help from other people to secure their rights. There weren't enough African Americans to do it (12%) alone. You needed some white help in the 40's–>60's. Guess what, a lot of my gay friends were out there with blacks protesting on school campuses and in front of state houses.
How about seeing the similarities and offering help instead of looking for differences. Or is it just going to be a case of you saying, "We've got ours now (black acceptance), so screw you"?
.
To the comment made by "no Obama never" that black people get everything! Tell that to the black slaves that help build this country or the the blacks in the 60's that ware lynched, beaten & had no rights..or even today to the blacks who are first judgeed by their skin color & not their character.
The Funny thing here is comparing Gay marriages right to African Americans Suffrage right or Womens right. These things are not related at all if you look at it from the learned point of view.
This shows how illiterate so many people are including Ellen.
So unbiblical! I love Ellen..she's great...but the bible is very clear on this issue (1 Corinthians) and we will all stand before God one day. But it is His judgement call so we have to let Him be the one to judge. All we can do is try to live our lives according to His will and answer for ourselves. But, try as they might, gays can not change what the bible says. You can not put a question mark where God has put a period.
Equal Right=Equal Rights and that is what this country is founded on, our civil liberties. The ban on gay marriage is a religous influenced law which should be trashed. Religion should play no part in politics. If you want religion in your government, there are plenty of countries out there that may suit you better (i.e. Iran, Suadi Arabia, ect..). Having religion play a part in modern American government is an oxymoron and goes against the foundation in which this country has been built on.
While I appreciate McCain's "eloquent defense" of his argument, I am staunchly against religion imposing itself in the form of government policy. I myself do not favor marriage between te same sex for personal reasons, but DO NOT SUPPORT GIVING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THE POWER TO DECIDE THOSE LIFESTYLE ISSUES FOR ITS CITIZENS.
Eugenio, while I am not African American myself the struggles are not the same and are in no way similar to each other. The majority of African Americans will tell you that. There is no good reason to allow gay marriage and if they kept it their own business as they should few people would bother them. Instead they insist on having their childish "gay pride" parades and insist the definition of marriage be changed to suit their needs.
I am a black person and I believe that the struggle for gay people IS the same as what blacks went through.
The problem is people just found another group of people that are different. And because they are different we try to say somehow they are not worthy of what things "normal" people enjoy. I know that some black people don't see the connection. But it is very real. To deny any person, ANY right is WRONG.
And black people have not been given everything (to the ignorant commentator above)
If all the people in this country who are discrimminated against for what ever reason, (blacks, poor white people, gays, hispanics, asians, native americans) would get together, find our common ground to make our goals reality, we would be the majority and improve this country.
That is at the core of Obama's message. We need to work together on our commonalities. Why are we so divided, when it doesn't help any of us.
So, gays haven't had it as hard as blacks? The gay rights movement is just not comparable because blacks have it so hard? What planet are you from? Yes, gays can possibly hide it, whereas blacks cannot.
But gays are still killed because they are gay. Gays are still fired because they are gay, or not hired. Large numbers of voters want to ban gays from marrying, and even to ban laws that give some civil rights protections to gays. We have a black man as the presumptive presidential nominee of the Democratic Party. Gays in politics? Sure, a few. But most are in the closet, pretend to be rabidly anti-gay, and have sham marriages – then, when they are caught, they have to resign from office. We are very, very far from having an openly gay president.
The only way that gay marriage can be compared to blacks is the right of blacks to marry blacks (denied during slavery) and miscegenation laws. I'm all for LGBT rights, but most of the black/woman issues where completely different, no one denies gays the right to vote, or the right to use the "straight" water fountain.
Hey Eugenio (and everyone else who holds your opinion)
The gay marriage movement has NO business being compared to the civil rights movement concerning African Americans.
For starters, AAs were seeking equal access to voting rights in the same manner to which other Americans were currently entitled (one person, one vote). The were not seeking a new or special "black right to vote."
Today, all Americans have the equal right to marry one person of the opposite sex. Gay marriage advocates want access to a special (new) right of marriage just for gays (one person of the same sex). Whatever your thoughts about gay marriage being right or wrong, you must acknowledge this fact.
One other thing, racism against AAs was/is based on nothing more than skin color and stereotypes. A black man's behavior didn't prevent racism, he was still hated because of his color. Gays are opposed mainly due to what is widely perceived as socially deviant behavior (sex w/ same gender), not because of outward appearance. If a gay man walks into a room and "acts straight", homophobic people will not attack him as there is no outward indication of his sexual orientation.
If a black man walks into a room filled with racists and "acts white" (whatever that is), he's not so fortunate.