Anne Rice Endorses Clinton/Obama Ticket
Novelist Anne Rice, who returned to her Roman Catholic roots in '96 after years as an atheist, and is working on a trilogy of novels about the life of Jesus Christ (the first, Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt
David Kuo of the Huffington Post writes: "This video isn't just the video of a famed female novelist exulting in Sen. Clinton's win. It is also the voice of a woman from a generation that grew up in a world where people sneered at the thought of a female president. It is the voice of a woman like all those women who turned out in New Hampshire to vote for Sen. Clinton."
Here's a little factoid, for some of you newer readers. Anne Rice once left a comment on Towleroad, back in 2004 on the 4th of July, when her son, the novelist Christopher, was filling in for me while I was taking a week off over the summer. You can read it here.
ms. rice,
you go, girlfriend.
anne gave voice to many thoughts i've been having for some time. i, too, like obama and he would make a great president. he just needs more experience. as a veep he would get that.
hillary and obama would be a great ticket, as would hillary and richardson. what a statement to the world that would make: a woman and a member of a major minority (black or hispanic) leading our country.
andy, thanks for the link to 2004.
Posted by: nic | Jan 10, 2008 9:30:54 AM
I find I completely don't care. I've enjoyed many of Ms. Rice books and have been in the audience of one of her few public interviews shes given but like most actors/authors/etc I find her political opinions naive.
If Hillary is headlining the ticket I won't vote for president this year. She believes in the expansive power of the president and her husbands administration was not known for openness and transparency. Quite the opposite. If Obama headlines the ticket - then I'll vote for a president.
Posted by: yoshi | Jan 10, 2008 9:39:06 AM
Sorry Anne, but just because you wrote a few novels does not make you a political thinker. Unfortunately many women (and a large number of gay men) will simply vote for Hillary because she is a woman (unfortunately some gay men actually believe they are closer to women than men).
I've said it before, but being first lady and sleeping with Bill Clinton does not make you a candidate for president. It may sound crude, but that is her only real experience. She's a second term senator? Her failed healthcare bid? what exactly is her experience otherwise?
Posted by: One More Time | Jan 10, 2008 9:52:05 AM
Anne Rice is a great woman, a brilliant writer, and she has an amazing mind. I'm glad she cares enough to make a statement.
As far as Hillary, Barack & John ("Mean John" ever since he beat up on Hillary), I just don't know if any of the three has what it takes to beat John McCain. McCain's going to come across like middle-America's strong minded ol' grandpa --a hero from the Spanish-American War. He's going to be tough. The only hope is if he starts falling asleep during some of the presidential debates.
I'll vote for any Democrat. What choice do I have? If you brought out Robert Byrd with his old white sheet and hood on, I'd have to vote for him...wonder if he can stay awake longer than McCain? Ageism? Ask me do I care.
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | Jan 10, 2008 10:18:22 AM
"I've said it before, but being first lady and sleeping with Bill Clinton does not make you a candidate for president. It may sound crude, but that is her only real experience. She's a second term senator? Her failed healthcare bid? what exactly is her experience otherwise?"
Oh dear me, us women can't get *anywhere* unless our husbands are famous and important.
LOL.
Republican talking points always make me laugh ;-)
Posted by: pvdl | Jan 10, 2008 10:20:38 AM
YOSHI,
The only one exhibiting naivete` is you. Sitting out an election in any year is irresponsible. For a gay person to not vote Democratic regardless of the candidate this year is almost criminal. The harm in terms of the environment, health care, gay rights, and on and on that another Repug in the White House can do is incalculable.
But, indeed, why WOULD you care? Your self-cherishing, snide attitude betrays your ignorance much more than your lack of reasoning and punctuation skills do.
By the way, in what way was Bill Clinton's administration not open or transparent? And, why are some of you fatuous sissies so against Hillary? I find it completely mystifying.
Posted by: nic | Jan 10, 2008 10:21:53 AM
I didn't know that Ann Rice had returned to the Roman Catholic Church. I'm shocked, and a bit dismayed, by that.
I'm also shocked and a bit dismayed that a woman of her intelligence, education and experience would use the outdated and inaccurate term "sexual preference" in her comment on this site as late as 2004, especially considering the fact that she has an out and open gay son.
Lastly, I find it disheartening that a woman that I admire, who I thought was a feminist, rather than pointing out that there are a lot of good ole boys AND GOOD OLE GIRLS who are not ready for a woman president, she chose to phrase it is a sexist and misandristic way by saying that "some of the good ole BOYS are women".
I still respect her as a writer but it seems that the more she talks the more she disappoints me.
Having said that, a Clinton/Obama ticket OR an Obama/Clinton ticket would suit me just fine!
Posted by: Zeke | Jan 10, 2008 10:34:39 AM
"fatuous?" NIC, you got me having a JORDAN moment. Where's my damn dictionary? Fatuous? Does that have something to do with gas? Well, us fatuous sissies can't help that. It comes with the territory.
Oh, and no offense, JORDAN. I still love ya', gorgeous & platinum.
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | Jan 10, 2008 10:34:48 AM
I agree with Anne. Thanks for posting this, Andy.
Posted by: Jeff | Jan 10, 2008 10:37:24 AM
Nic,
I'm against Hillary because I work hard for my money (so you better treat me right...) and I don't want my taxes to go up, I don't want to pay for poor people's health care and I don't want this country to get any closer to becoming a socialist state. And more recently, I don't want a president who 'gets emotional' or 'tears up' becuase the stresses of running a campaign in her own party's primary is 'hard.'
Osama bin Laden or any of our enemies must be licking their lips waiting to pounce after seeing that clip.
You may think it's 'criminal' for a gay person to 'not vote Democratic' but I think it's naive for gay people to think that Hillary, Obama (who I would consider voting for) or Edwards are going to bring some great life changes for us gay people in this country. It's not going to happen like that.
Posted by: Another Matt | Jan 10, 2008 10:47:50 AM
My dear, dear Derrick, you could never be a fatuous sissy (gaseous, yes, but aren't we all at one time or another?).
Posted by: nic | Jan 10, 2008 10:55:10 AM
"I don't want to pay for poor people's health care."
Yeah, suck it up , peasants. Anybody who can't afford to pay for their cancer treatment out of pocket should either get a better job or just die already.
Come to think of it, I don't want to pay for poor people's fire protection, or police protection, or military protection either. Everybody pay for your own damn firefighters and police, army, navy, air force, and marines.
Posted by: 24play | Jan 10, 2008 11:25:10 AM
"Come to think of it, I don't want to pay for poor people's fire protection, or police protection, or military protection either. Everybody pay for your own damn firefighters and police, army, navy, air force, and marines."
24 Play,
Those are necessary services that are there for protection and that I may need to use one day. I do not mind funding those.
I do not think it is my, or your, or anyone else's responsibility to help subsidize the health insurance of those who cannot afford it or those who simply don't want it.
Posted by: Another Matt | Jan 10, 2008 11:34:19 AM
"Come to think of it, I don't want to pay for poor people's fire protection, or police protection, or military protection either. Everybody pay for your own damn firefighters and police, army, navy, air force, and marines."
24 Play,
Those are necessary services that are there for protection and that I may need to use one day. I do not mind funding those.
I do not think it is my, or your, or anyone else's responsibility to help subsidize the health insurance of those who cannot afford it or those who simply don't want it.
Posted by: Another Matt | Jan 10, 2008 11:34:21 AM
ANOTHER MATT,
Apparently you haven't paid too much attention over the past 7 years. Bush teared up when he was being sworn in the first time, and he hasn't stopped blubbering since. Mitt has also cried on TV. But, for some reason when Hillary got a little misty eyed (She did not cry.) it's a big deal.
You know, I am really disappointed at the misogyny and the double standard that the press and society and some of my own queer brothers have adopted toward Hillary. If a man cries, well he's sensitive, but if Hillary's eyes well-up, she's weak. Isn't that turning the whole male/female thing on its ear? And, isn't it completely unfair?
Matt, it is not possible for me to be as cavalier as you about health care. I want to be a part of a society that takes care of its weak and infirm members. I would prefer that my tax dollars go to fund SCHIP rather than to fund a trillion dollar "war."
I did not say that a Democrat in the White House would guarantee anything. If you reread my comment, you will find that I said that another Repug as president would be calamitous. Moreover, more right-wing appointments to federal courts will most certainly precipitate life-changing decisions in the most negative ways, not only for gays but for the country in general.
Your "let them eat cake" philosophy may work for you now, but just pray that you are never in desperate straits.
Posted by: nic | Jan 10, 2008 12:02:38 PM
@ Another Matt:
You might want to get your sarcasm detector cleaned.
24 play was being sarcastic.
Posted by: Marc in Chicago | Jan 10, 2008 12:06:43 PM
Marc:
I know he was being sarcastic, but I've heard that argument before when discussing socialized medicine with people who are for it, and that's the respone I give. I think comparing the fire department, and comparing universal health care is apples and oranges.
Nic:
I don't want anyone running for president, male or female, crying. If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen...and that applies to all of them.
Re: healthcare, you and I just have a philisophical difference on the way we see the issue, and I'm fine to agree to disagree. However, my attitude on that (and all social programs) is not "let them eat cake", it's "sink or swim." Plus, I really don't think healthcare run by the government would be at all efficient and is just another way to create more beauraucracy in Washington.
I understand where you're coming from, but I respectfully disagree with you.
Posted by: another matt | Jan 10, 2008 12:23:31 PM
Another Matt: you don't think it's "anyone else's responsibility to help subsidize the health insurance of those who cannot afford it or those who simply don't want it" huh?
Who do you think pays when those who can't afford healthcare get sick? You do, I do, we all do. When these people get sick, they end up getting treatment from those firefighters you "don't mind funding." And the stresses on our emergency rooms that are forced to deal with those who can't pay for healthcare are (along with greedy insurance companies who are raising your rates, didn't you notice?) overloading those hospitals that still offer emergency services. Wouldn't it be sad if you couldn't get emergency treatment because the facility was booked up dealing with people whose issues could have been dealt with before they became emergencies?
God forbid you offer up a token of your "hard earned money" to help someone who is just a little less fortunate. Or for that matter, anyone else offer to help you out should you ever be down on your luck.
Posted by: TP | Jan 10, 2008 12:26:12 PM
Matt,
Since society has determined that no one in the US will be denied necessary healthcare, doesn't it make sense to also treat that as a necessary service?
We're all going to be paying for it anyway, why not set it up so that we all pay the least amount we have to to guarantee necessary care for all?
The system you support is basically built to guarantee that the rich get better care (by discouraging the poor from seeking or getting care) and that insurance companies make huge profits. There's no other reason to have the system we have, given universal agreement that no one should be denied care.
Call me crazy, but in 2008 "
Posted by: 24play | Jan 10, 2008 12:37:44 PM
I don't think it's a double standard to expect your leaders to hold strong in times of stress, male or female. Bush or Romney weeping or whatever during a happy celebratory moment is a far cry from Hillary breaking down because of "stress".
Does anybody remember Kathleen Blanco? She was governor during Katrina. In that situation, LA and the nation was facing the biggest disaster in our history. We turn on the t.v. and the GOVENOR, the person to whom the suffering were looking to for strength was CRYING HERSELF. It's like gimme a break. you are the one people turn to for strength during these times and here u are crying like "girl, what are we gonna do?".
Hillary if a stressful campaign has you sniffling then God help us if anything should every really happen with you in charge.
Can you imagine if Guiliani was sitting up on t.v. crying during 9/11? come on. When you are a LEADER it's a whole other ballgame.
Posted by: Ron | Jan 10, 2008 12:46:19 PM
What the hell does crying have to do with NOT being strong? I know men and drag queens who if they start to cryin', your ass better start to runnin'. Billie Holiday and Bessie Smith used to start crying before they commenced to kickin' ass.
Yeah, Hillary might cry...right before she gives the order to bomb the hell out of the mountains of Western Pakistan. That's where Osama is, President Bush! He wasn't in Bagdad, you idiotic election stealin' bitch, I mean, Bush!
Oh, my God, y'all are turning me into a Hillary supporter. No, I'm still waiting for Al Gore to come to his party's rescue.
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | Jan 10, 2008 1:15:46 PM
ANOTHER MATT,
ok, it's all clear now. your philosophy is not "let them eat cake," it's "sink or swim." that's a HUGE, HUGE distinction! boy was I stoooopid not to get it!
you may be aware (i doubt it, though) that medicare is a government program that works, and keeps medical care costs down. it is not inconceivable, then, that universal health care might work just as well.
you clearly have a libertarian streak. the problem with the libertarian view, which seems to mesh with yours, is the "pull yourself up with your bootstraps" dictum. sadly, some people don't have boots nor shoes. so for them, according to your view, it would be "sink."
dude, i hope you never lose your job and, hence, your health insurance or that you are sufficiently wealthy to weather a catastrophic illness such as cancer or AIDS
or that your health care provider doesn't disapprove a life-saving treatment.
Posted by: nic | Jan 10, 2008 1:20:49 PM
Anne Rice is an idiot. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have no place in the white house. they represent cororpartions and special interests. if you believe for one second otherwise you are heavily mistaken. by the way, i love that you, mr.towleroad, are not afraid, not even a tiny bit, to use a comma.
Posted by: matthew | Jan 10, 2008 1:27:18 PM
Personally, I don't know why my tax dollars have to go to pay for the US to maintain a military, let alone for the continued occupation of Iraq. Can't all the people who feel that stuff's important just send a check to Halliburton or Blackwater?
Posted by: 24play | Jan 10, 2008 1:28:39 PM
Nic,
I wasn't trying to insult you or call you "stooopid."
And yes, I do believe than anyone in this country can 'pull themselves up by their boot straps' and if they don't have boots or shoes, they can make them. The United States is one of the few countries in the world where you can make yourself into something out of nothing, and that's why I love this country. I'm not saying it's easy by any means, and I'm not saying that anyone from humble origins will automatically become a millionaire with a little hard word. However, if you work hard in this country, get educated, learn a trade, or just simply go to work and do it well, you will reap what you sew. And, yes, that does include private health insurance.
The idea of universal healthcare/socialized medicine is bigger than my own personal beliefs and experiences. As for my own personal situation, if I were to ever find myself in a situation where I was unemployed and could not afford health insurance I would take a job, any job that would provide me with an opportunity to get healthcare on my own. And if I got sick and didn't have health insurance...hey, that's life, and it's nobody's fault but my own.
That's my last post on the matter. I will agree to disagree with you all.
Posted by: another matt | Jan 10, 2008 1:51:26 PM