04/05/2006
Feingold Comes Out for Gay Marriage
Russ Feingold, a Democratic Senator from Wisconsin and potential Presidential candidate, has set himself apart from the pack by saying what many other top Democrats believe but won't say for fear it might hurt them politically, speaking out on Tuesday against an amendment that would ban gay marriage and civil unions in that state:
"I will be voting against the harsh amendment that's been proposed in Wisconsin, and I thought it was an appropriate occasion to indicate my feeling that if two people care enough about each other to get married, that it probably is a positive thing for society. Gay and lesbian people in our country are fighting a mean-spirited movement to harm them and to discriminate against them. I stand with them against that movement, and I'm proud to stand with them."
Good for Feingold. He joins Senators Ted Kennedy, Lincoln Chafee, and Ron Wyden in public support of gay marriage.
Sphere: Related ContentPosted 8:59 AM EST by Andy in Current Affairs, Gay Marriage | Permalink
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Thank you Andy for posting this. I'm a faithful reader of yours in rural Wisconsin and it makes me proud to see my senator show such conviction on the issues that matter. Feingold is also the one that voted against the original Patriot Act, and has called for censure of the president.
Posted by: Dean Wiegert | Apr 5, 2006 9:13:11 AM
I've always had a little straight mancrush on Feingold. He's intelligent, articulate, rational and on the right side of most of the issues that are impotant to me. And he's a handsome devil.
And last week he spent 15 minutes sharing my TV screen with Jon Stewart on The Daily Show. It was like straight mancrush porn!
Posted by: Jake | Apr 5, 2006 9:29:56 AM
Maybe the tide is turning. I`m afraid that news surfing for my blog has taught me that America, which prides itself on selling "freedom" to the rest of the world, is in fact, more or less, the standard-bearer for oppression and homophobia. Not the worst in practice, but entirely negative in influence.
I know I don`t need to tell you guys this... I just love Towleroad!
Posted by: Peter Rivendell | Apr 5, 2006 9:40:57 AM
I'm with ya Jake.. I thought he was pretty awesome before reading this..... Now, full on 'straight mancrush!'
Posted by: Greg | Apr 5, 2006 9:47:33 AM
Finally! A Democrat with the guts to actually stand for something. I'm sick to death of all the dems who try to be GOP-lite. Maybe there's actually hope for the Democratic party afterall. Russ Feingold for President!
Posted by: Sam | Apr 5, 2006 9:56:28 AM
J'adore Russ Feingold. I'm glad I live in Wisconsin because I can continue to vote for him. Awesome.
Posted by: Brian | Apr 5, 2006 9:57:19 AM
Send Senator Feingold a well deserved Thank You. Let him know his stand is appreciated.
http://feingold.senate.gov/
Posted by: plumberjeffj | Apr 5, 2006 9:58:25 AM
why is it that i dont see him actually saying "I AM FOR EQUAL MARRIAGE RIGHTS FOR GAY PEOPLE" ????? he is against the mean-spirited folks, - he stand with us agains them - and thinks "if two people care enough about each other to get married, that it PROBABLY is a positive thing for society." (emphasis mine) ---- i just want to hear an unequivacle answer and i dont see it in any of the press reporitng on this....
Posted by: bj | Apr 5, 2006 10:38:47 AM
BJ, go to Feingold.senate.gov and you'll find the following: "FEINGOLD OPPOSES DISCRIMINATORY AMENDMENT; SUPPORTS MARRIAGE EQUALITY"
Posted by: Sam | Apr 5, 2006 10:49:53 AM
Andy, thanks for letting people know how great Feingold is and why we're so proud of him here in Wisconsin. Please also mention that we have a real chance to defeat the anti-gay amendment that Feingold talks about. It's on the ballot in November. The organization working to defeat it is Fair Wisconsin (fairwisconsin.com), and we Wisconsinites need all the help we can get from people around the country who want at least one of these amendments stopped. Fair Wisconsin has a pretty awesome blog, too: .
Posted by: David | Apr 5, 2006 10:58:11 AM
the blog address is:
noontheamendment.blogspot.com :)
Posted by: David | Apr 5, 2006 10:59:52 AM
thanks, sam, - jsut funny how his quote wasn't in the 6 or 7 news articles i read before posting my question...
Posted by: bj | Apr 5, 2006 11:02:08 AM
My parents live in Wisconsin. One day, my Mother (72) asked me if I'd vote for Senator Feingold. I told her that I probably would given what I know about him. She asked me if I'd ever seen him interviewed and I said no. Then: "Well, believe me, if you saw him you'd vote for him just on looks. He makes Biden look like a piker! And besides, he's more on our side the Joe." I love my Mom's taste in men...except for my father, that would be just sick.
Posted by: JT | Apr 5, 2006 12:01:07 PM
Thanks David for the fairwisconsin link. It's important to remember that the amendment that's on the ballot in November will be one of the most restrictive and discriminatory amendments in the country, not only banning gay marriage, but also domestic partnerships and civil unions. The folks over at BlockOutWisconsin have been leafleting out in the burbs and smaller Wisconsin towns for months now. I hope we'll get a chance to turn this around... even people who are against marriage equality will more than likely see that this amendment goes too far.
Posted by: Brian | Apr 5, 2006 12:09:20 PM
Russ Feingold stands on principles and that's why I support him for president. I'm tired of Dems who won't just be honest and say what they think privately.
Thanks, Russ, for supporting equal rights for ALL Americans.
Posted by: Dave | Apr 5, 2006 12:26:26 PM
Halleluja! We have a similar ballot up for vote in Colorado in November. I don't know if it is as restrictive as the one in Wisconsin, but is wrong nonetheless. Colorado is a red state (I hate that about my beloved state). We'll need all the help we can get to fight this one too.
Posted by: Tina | Apr 5, 2006 1:36:35 PM
I say BOYCOTT straight weddings (even if it's your sisiter's)until this whole mess is resolved. That should make the straight folk think things through. After all, we generally are the life of the party.
Posted by: WWH | Apr 5, 2006 1:56:21 PM
Further to my last comment: if we're not going to straight weddings, we're not flying, staying in hotels, buying gifts, etc. While it won't bring any company to it's kness (hee, hee), that money could go to the any number of gay causes.
Posted by: WWH | Apr 5, 2006 2:12:33 PM
I just left a little note of thanks on Mr. Feingold's website. Thanks for posting the address, plumberjeffj.
Posted by: Jake | Apr 5, 2006 3:10:52 PM
Time to put your money where your mouth is. We need to support candidates who actually stand up for our rights: https://ssl14.pair.com/feingold/contrib/contribute.php?refer=web Think before you send a check somewhere else (read, "do nothing for us but take our money and votes Hillary").
Posted by: Dan | Apr 5, 2006 5:31:25 PM
Feingold loves being DIFFERENT.
He voted to provide an additional $550,000,000 for Amtrak for fiscal year 2007. Even though Democrat and Republicans voted against the bill.
He voted against legislation that would provide for an extension of the Medicare part D enrollment period. Even though Democrats and Republicans supported the bill.
He voted to move forward the date on which the transition to digital television is to occur. Even though Democrats and Republicans voted against the measure.
He voted to increase funding for the AIDS drug assistance program. Even though Democrats and Republicans voted against the bill.
There are plenty of other votes where he was clearly out of the mainstream, Democrat or Republican. That could be a good sign, or it could just be a sign that he likes to be the Rebel. I don't necessarily disagree with all of his dissenting votes, but he seems to enjoy being the "outsider".
We'll be watching....
Posted by: Jay Croce | Apr 5, 2006 9:41:40 PM
More so than McCain?
Posted by: Chad Hanging | Apr 5, 2006 10:59:42 PM
Russ Feingold is different because he does and says the right thing, unlike the Abramoff-tainted gay-hating rubber-stamp Republikkkan Congress, which votes against medical coverage for seniors, body armor and health care for our brave veterans, and which is the most corrupt in history -- DeLay, Duke Cunningham, Ney and all the crooks who are headed to jail are ALL the Rethuglicans.
Posted by: BRIAN NYC | Apr 5, 2006 11:34:50 PM
>>More so than McCain?
He's voted against party lines, but he's primarily in the mainstream. I still wouldn't vote for him. I just don't like the man. For starters, he's short. 5'7" Not a commanding figure at all. I want a president that people will look up to.
I disagree with a number of his votes too. He abstained on Alexander Amdt. No. 3193, and I believe he should have voted YES. He voted against the Dorgan Amdt No. 3102, and coming from AZ, he knows damn well that Tribal programs are badly in need of additional funding. He abstained on the Allard Amdt. No. 2423, when he clearly should have voted YES.
McCain graduated 894th out of a class of 899 at Annapolis. Definitely not the sharpest pencil in the box. I applaud his patriotism and his service to our country, but that doesn't make him a good leader. And we need a good leader.
Posted by: Jay Croce | Apr 6, 2006 12:25:54 AM
Although well-informed and aware of US politics, this Canadian is aware of our WI neighbour. The death of William Proxmire recently highlighted the fact that the Senate seat has seen much more than McCarthy of the SUAC scandals in the fifties.
Yes, there are a few liberal Democrats with a constituency that permits them to be part of that isolated spectrum of the Democratic Debating Society aka Party. These men have as much clout as the RINO Senators from New England.
In the end, the DLC/DINO's will continue to control a minority party in Congress and the "Opposition" outside the White House, and as for the Republicans In Name Only....they will be allowed to play their game UNLESS Frist requires their votes, or suggests lack of support for their contested primaries or general elections, that they fold like a cheap suit.
Posted by: Raymond | Apr 6, 2006 5:24:50 AM
I am unaware of the amendments alluded to, but I am not naive that US senators are often forced to vote in a quid pro quo. Reid needs votes and I am sure calls in his chits....but the minority is not as significant as the majority leader
Posted by: Raymond | Apr 6, 2006 5:27:43 AM
Any gay man or woman who is still ambivalent about Feingold's politics should have his or her head examined. We need to recognize the righteous and support them. If he isn't Swiftboated by those repukelican scumbags, Feingold has a great shot at turning this country back into the real USA.
Posted by: rightwingbasher | Apr 6, 2006 9:46:02 AM
Russ Feingold was FANTASTIC on Air America when Iraq veteran Paul Hackett was hosting this morning...
No equivocation, upholding the Constitutional rights of EVERY SINGLE CITIZEN, gay or straight. A great American and a patriot -- not a Republikkkan hypocrite sex deviant like the DHS cronies who've been stung every other day this week.
Posted by: brian nyc | Apr 6, 2006 11:43:38 AM
Right, so when McCain does it he's a maverick with integrity but when Feilgold does it he just wants to be different.
Got it.
Posted by: Chad Hanging | Apr 6, 2006 4:08:16 PM