06/26/2007
John Edwards Visits L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center
The folks at the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center sent us this shot of Curt Shepard, L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center Director of Government Relations, Lorri L. Jean, L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center Chief Executive Officer, and Democratic candidate John Edwards.
Edwards made a stop at the center today on his swing through Southern California following his appearance yesterday on The Tonight Show. It was an informal and educational visit, according to Communications Manager Bob Adams, so Edwards could learn more about the LGBT community's needs and how the Center is working to advance them.
NOTE — I know we've been covering Edwards quite a bit — it's simply that he's been the one making the news of late. We've made no endorsements of any candidate.
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Posted 5:24 PM EST by Andy Towle in Election 2008, John Edwards, Los Angeles, News | Permalink
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God, I would love Edwards to come on really strong and become the next President. He is the man!
Posted by: go edwards! | Jun 26, 2007 5:34:18 PM
This early, I'm still undecided about who I'd want to be President but I do feel he is genuine.
Posted by: Pugzz | Jun 26, 2007 6:11:48 PM
I would like to give a big thanks to Andy for keeping us updated on the candidates. It has been informative and unbiased to my eyes.
As for Edwards, I hail from his home state and have been following his campaign closely. Right now I am trying my best not to become too attached to him until I see everyone's cards but it is becoming more and more difficult by the day. I honestly feel he is giving us the facts fair and simple.
Posted by: BVC | Jun 26, 2007 6:31:03 PM
John Edwards is the most genuine politician I have ever met - and I don't mean that as faint praise. Unless Gore enters the race, he's my man.
Posted by: Jeff | Jun 26, 2007 6:41:20 PM
"so Edwards could learn more about the LGBT community's needs"
He's refusing to acknowledge our need for equal marriage protection under the law. Why the hell does he pretend to care about the rest of our needs?
Posted by: Jake | Jun 26, 2007 6:47:11 PM
He isn't refusing to acknowledge our need for equal marriage protection and has said he believes gay couples deserve the same benefits that married couples get. He just is undetermined about what that should be called. He hasn't, unlike other candidates flat out said that he will never support calling it marriage, he just isn't on board with that yet. I think that is representative of a lot of compassionate and well meaning Americans and is, to me, a lot better than just flat out saying he only supports civil unions (like most of the other top contenders). He seems receptive to change and I think he's someone who we have a lot of opportunity to educate on the issue. We like to think most Americans care as much as we do about it, but I think most Americans who are not gay are focused on the multitude of other issues 2008's election will be about. It is up to use to continue to be heard, but if we continue to backtalk, bad mouth and shit on any effort politicians make to listen to us, then we deserve to be ignored.
Posted by: Carrie | Jun 26, 2007 7:12:29 PM
Elizabeth Edwards called in to Hardball this afternoon to ask Ann Coulter to stop with the personal attacks:
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/06/26/edwards-coulter/
Posted by: SC | Jun 26, 2007 7:46:46 PM
John Edwards has my vote as a gay black male!
Very well stated Carrie and I agree with you completely!
Posted by: Charles | Jun 26, 2007 8:15:58 PM
Thanks Carrie.
In my opinion, I'll gladly educate any politician (or anyone, really) that wants to find out more - I don't care if it's Brownback or Tancredo.
I would love to be in the position of rejecting those who disagree with me on marriage, but we aren't there yet.
Posted by: Timothy | Jun 26, 2007 8:39:13 PM
I found it very hard not to like Edwards ever since the General Pace issue where Edwards was the first one of the frontrunners to slam him for it while Hillary and Obama were too busy saying they'll leave the morality of homosexuality for others to decide.
Since then, he was the first to actually fill out the HRC questionnaire and mail it out to a bunch of gay blogs - which ended up forcing Hillary and Obamas hands to do the same several weeks later.
Then when Edwards and Obama said that DOMA needed to be repealed, only then did Hillary grudgingly agree.
Then after all 3 of them filled out the HRC questionnaire on the UAFA (equal immigration for our foreign partners), Obama and Hillary backtracked and said they'll have to look into it because of the potential for fraud. Edwards on the other hand, didn't back out.
So yeah, it's hard not to appreciate that he's pandering to us better than the other 2 frontrunners.
However, what remains to be seen is how they will try and dump us after the Dem primaries when they are debating the Republican nominee because they will know then that our votes will be locked due to the Republicans being so much worse.
Posted by: beergoggles | Jun 26, 2007 8:52:27 PM
I'm pretty much a Hillary guy, but have to say I'm always impressed by Edwards.
And with the exception of Edwards, Democratic politicians today seem to have forgotten what Bill Clinton learned in '92. And that is that we are a strong voting block if people listen to our needs.
Remember the gay vote back then? We can mobilize again, and whether it be Edwards, Clinton or some other, we can truly make a difference, but like anyone who goes to the ball, we have to be courted!
Posted by: Dave | Jun 27, 2007 12:13:11 AM
I'm pretty much a Hillary guy, but have to say I'm always impressed by Edwards.
And with the exception of Edwards, Democratic politicians today seem to have forgotten what Bill Clinton learned in '92. And that is that we are a strong voting block if people listen to our needs.
Remember the gay vote back then? We can mobilize again, and whether it be Edwards, Clinton or some other, we can truly make a difference, but like anyone who goes to the ball, we have to be courted!
Posted by: Dave | Jun 27, 2007 12:14:28 AM
Please understand that we have to gitterrr duuuuuune Understand that the perfect ticket would be Her Honor, Ms. Clinton with the Honorable Mr. Edwards. Please let us not divide the ticket!!!!!! This is exceptionally pertinent. Allow the Log Cabin Republicans to please go across Chilly Jordan and at that time, they might get a grip.
Posted by: LMNOP | Jun 27, 2007 12:42:58 AM
Yup...throw the faggots under the bus in the national election so that you can get some redneck bubba bud drinkers to vote for y'all. I am just about ready to rip up my voter card and stop reading all blogs about anything political. Would rather put my energy into outing politicians who hire rentboys. It is time to get radical and fucking nasty.
Posted by: bostonqueerindallas | Jun 27, 2007 6:56:50 AM
Yup...throw the faggots under the bus in the national election so that you can get some redneck bubba bud drinkers to vote for y'all. I am just about ready to rip up my voter card and stop reading all blogs about anything political. Would rather put my energy into outing politicians who hire rentboys. It is time to get radical and fucking nasty.
Posted by: bostonqueerindallas | Jun 27, 2007 6:57:17 AM
Under the Bigot 12-Step Program, visiting a G&L center is the step right before entering rehab.
Don't believe any politician's bullshit. None of them really care about us.
Please, please, please let Gore run!!
Posted by: shane | Jun 27, 2007 7:36:50 AM
Under the Bigot 12-Step Program, visiting a G&L center is the step right before entering rehab.
Don't believe any politician's bullshit. None of them really care about us.
Please, please, please let Gore run!!
Posted by: shane | Jun 27, 2007 7:37:14 AM
Under the Bigot 12-Step Program, visiting a G&L center is the step right before entering rehab.
Don't believe any politician's bullshit. None of them really care about us.
Please, please, please let Gore run!!
Posted by: shane | Jun 27, 2007 7:37:47 AM
Under the Bigot 12-Step Program, visiting a G&L center is the step right before entering rehab.
Don't believe any politician's bullshit. None of them really care about us.
Please, please, please let Gore run!!
Posted by: shane | Jun 27, 2007 7:39:26 AM
Under the Bigot 12-Step Program, visiting a G&L center is the step right before entering rehab.
Don't believe any politician's bullshit. None of them really care about us.
Please, please, please let Gore run!!
Posted by: shane | Jun 27, 2007 7:43:41 AM
Under the Bigot 12-Step Program, visiting a G&L center is the step right before entering rehab.
Don't believe any politician's bullshit. None of them really care about us.
Please, please, please let Gore run!!
Posted by: shane | Jun 27, 2007 8:01:39 AM
Under the Bigot 12-Step Program, visiting a G&L center is the step right before entering rehab.
Don't believe any politician's bullshit. None of them really care about us.
Please, please, please let Gore run!!
Posted by: shane | Jun 27, 2007 9:11:37 AM
That wasn't my fault! TypePad was having a bad morning!
Posted by: shane | Jun 27, 2007 1:08:55 PM
Edwards is showing himself to be the most pro-gay candidate we've got. I don't know how genuine it is, or whether it's just his attempt at triagulation and finding a niche. If it's the latter, he'll throw us under the bus just as readily as Hillary and Obama.
I am encouraged that his cancer-striken wife, who is criticism-proof to anyone but Ann Coulter--has come out openly in favor of real gay marriage. Again, could be tactical, but far ahead of the rest of the pack.
Posted by: adamblast | Jun 27, 2007 4:51:52 PM
He seems nice and all, but I wouldn't vote for him. SLEEP WITH HIM, YES! Edwards is so effin gorgeous. Has this country ever had a truly cute and handsome President?
On the serious side I pray for his wife and hope that she beats the cancer. If he should make it to the top then I hope that he will be the Prez to really do something about funds for cancer and that he does learn more about gaylife and realizes that we are people too and voters.
Posted by: Robert A | Jun 28, 2007 12:37:56 AM