05/22/2009
Meghan McCain to NY GOP: Embrace Marriage Equality
Meghan McCain has written an open letter to New York Republicans (she should also be writing it to many of the Democrats as well!):
"As Republicans, we understand the importance of strong communities. Last week, the New York Assembly passed the marriage bill with the support of five Republican Assembly members. Now, the bill goes before the state Senate, where Republican senators will make the difference on whether the bill becomes law or dies. Once again, New York has the opportunity to make a statement about Republican values and fairness by passing the marriage bill.
I believe marriage equality will soon come to New York. My hope is that Republican senators will offer their support and make the difference to pass the marriage bill.
By voting for the marriage bill, they will make a strong statement about supporting New York families, strengthening New York communities and demonstrating that equality and fairness are fundamental values of New York Republicans. It will leave a legacy that will make us all proud."
Read the whole letter at the New York Daily News...
And watch McCain's recent appearance on The Colbert Report, AFTER THE JUMP...
Posted 12:30 PM EST by Andy Towle in Gay Marriage, Meghan McCain, New York, News, Republican Party |
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Another cup of Kool-Aid from Megan McCain. Don't believe the hype. Are these transparent shenanigans really fooling anyone? You can't put a friendly face on the Republican Fourth Reich.
Posted by: Roscoe | May 22, 2009 12:37:26 PM
I am so glad this girl exists.
Roscoe, what are you talking about? She's not trying to fool anyone; she's trying to convince NY Senate Republicans to support marriage equality. How on earth is that something that could offend you?
Posted by: Pender | May 22, 2009 12:45:09 PM
Pender, I do not believe for a moment that this is a genuine attempt to convince NY Senate Republicans to support marriage equality. I believe that it is a calculated fake attempt to put a slightly more liberal face on the Republican Party. I do not believe a word of it.
These are REPUBLICANS. They cannot be trusted in any way shape or form. They have seen the way the wind is blowing, and are trying desperately to pretend that there are going to be changes in their party. DO NOT BE FOOLED.
Posted by: Roscoe | May 22, 2009 12:56:26 PM
Wow, I have never actually fully agreed with two opposing points of view at the exact same time before. My brains hurt. Kudos, Roscoe and Pender!
Posted by: Andalusian Dog | May 22, 2009 12:59:48 PM
Roscoe : You're saying that if NY Republicans don't support marriage equality, that a letter like THIS is going to fool everybody into thinking they're liberal? Doesn't make sense. I believe this is a personal thing of M. McCain's and I believe it's sincere.
Posted by: JT | May 22, 2009 1:06:14 PM
I have e-mailed the good folks at Towleroad.com already about the following (see below) and apparently it is not something that is too important to them. I realize that they have lots of work to do. But perhaps if you could all join me in an e-mail campaign to CHANGE THE HUB NAME on towleroad that the above and other stories belong to, currently entitled "GAY MARRIAGE."
Don't get me wrong: I love towleroad.com. I really really do. But this hub heading chaps my ass, sorry.
I mean, we all know better, right? "MARRIAGE EQUALITY" actually describes what it is we are standing up for, am I correct? There is no GAY MARRIAGE and STRAIGHT marriage and BLACK marriage and WHITE marriage and ITALIAN marriage and ELDERLY marriage...it's all just MARRIAGE, or am I living in some fairy dream world? (Don't answer that.)
Click on the "contact us" link to the right and ask Andy and Mike to change this really inappropriate heading, please.
If WE LGBT folk can't get this right -- if we can't respect ourselves enough to use terminology that signals that we are no different or lesser than straight people on the issue of committing ourselves to the persons we love -- how do we expect others to? Thanks ladies and gents!
Posted by: Andalusian Dog | May 22, 2009 1:09:01 PM
It's officially on the Supreme Court website, Prop 8 decision Tuesday
Posted by: Gregg | May 22, 2009 1:11:31 PM
I too agree with both Roscoe and Pender. On the one hand, it's great that there is a push to extricate the Republican party from its disastrous takeover by the religious right. The fact that Meghan McCain is the attractive daughter of a prominent conservative is helpful in that she brings attention to a nascent intra-Republican movement that otherwise wouldn't merit much coverage in the national media. On the other hand, whether the Republican party should be credited with its own rescue from the jaws of theocratic fundamentalist Christianity will be determined by its voting record over the next few years rather than by any one Republican's public statements, no matter how charming.
We need multiple party rule in this country, and we need both parties (assuming there will remain only two viable national parties) to be reasonable and evidence-based. More power to Meghan... but the proof of the pudding is in the tasting.
Posted by: The Milkman | May 22, 2009 1:13:27 PM
While I think Roscoe's instinct to be cynical about this is probably the correct one, I don't know for certain what McCain's motive is so I'll demur on that question. I do know that she has about as much influence on the GOP Senators as I do, which is to say, zip. And it does seriously chap my ass to see her suggest that if one or two Republicans (out of 30) vote for same-sex marriage and thus make it possible for it to pass, that this somehow reflects well on the Republican Party's values. Um, no. If this passes, it will be because the Democrats did it, and the fact that they managed to find a few Republicans who aren't knuckle-dragging neanderthals won't change that fact.
Posted by: Glenn | May 22, 2009 1:14:30 PM
I love that Meghan is trying to change the face of the republican party. It's an uphill battle, but she's got the right attitude.
I don't think it's fair to stereotype republicans so harshly. I don't have much use for them, but I know I hate it when homosexuals are stereotypes so severly.
Posted by: Bobby | May 22, 2009 1:20:50 PM
Uh, good luck with that.
Posted by: Keith | May 22, 2009 1:21:38 PM
I don't think this is about anything but one person's plea to her party. No more, no less. But if it represents anything larger scale, I'd say it's again indicative of the younger generation being more supportive of marriage equality than the older.
Posted by: JT | May 22, 2009 1:22:23 PM
I personally know several Republicans who support marriage equality.
I personally disagree with my own Democratic party on several key issues.
It is possible to belong to a political party and disagree with it. Political parties do change an evolve.
Stereotypes are not helpful. All Republicans are evil? How about all homosexuals are degenerate musical theatre lovers?
Posted by: henry | May 22, 2009 1:29:40 PM
Hang on Bobby. There's a big difference between stereotyping gays and "stereotyping" Republicans. The Republican Party is an association founded to bring together people of similar political belief and to promote those beliefs. People choose to associate themselves with it. It hardly is "stereotyping" to assume that those persons share those beliefs. The party's official position is virulently anti-gay (to just begin to list their failings). Anyone who, in the face of that, chooses to be associated with that group can hardly complain about the assumption that they must be anti-gay too -- or at least supportive of those who are.
Posted by: Glenn | May 22, 2009 1:29:55 PM
Right now she is pissing into the wind.
The repubs are going farther right for 2010 and 2012. Loosing more congressional seats 2010 won't drill anything into the pary's head they will just feel they need a farther right standard bearer on a national level. It is never the message it is the messenger.
Then when palin, jindal, whoever looses 2012 then and ONLY THEN does the party have a chance with the Meghan Mccains, Huntsman's, governators, and crists to pull them away from the club for growth and xtianista types
Posted by: jimmyboyo | May 22, 2009 1:32:12 PM
PS The latest PEW poll shows repubs at a lower point than they have ever been at only 22% of the electorate self identifying as repub and that being made of tons of really old types that are dropping dead every day.
With cheney out there even repub pollsters say they can go even lower if he doesn't shut up
Posted by: jimmyboyo | May 22, 2009 1:33:54 PM
Notice how badly some people NEED an enemy? Whether it's Republicans or Jews or African-American ministers...or.... Just accept, guys, that the Republican Party will gradually change over to more socially-liberal ideas, like most of American society, especially with younger members. There's not going to be some big BANG where you see your "enemies" defeated. Nothing as dramatic as that.
Posted by: JT | May 22, 2009 1:41:23 PM
"The party's official position is virulently anti-gay (to just begin to list their failings)"
Are you talking about the Republicans or the Democrats? I think it applies to both.
Any politician who speaks out for marriage equality is going against the establishment. Many on the right are openly against gays. Most on the Left just use us.
Posted by: henry | May 22, 2009 1:55:11 PM
What exactly has the Democratic Party done for Marriage Equality? The President is against it, Congress is leaning towards defeating DC's request to recognize same sex marriage, and only Vermont has legalized marriage via the assembly. All others have come from the judicial branch, and believe it or not, most of those justices were appointed by Republicans.
My parents identify themselves as Republicans but they also support marriage equality, as so many others.
If you continue to stereotype all Republicans and lump them into your "hate them all" attitude then you're know better than they are.
This tide has to turn somewhere and Ms. McCain is at least making an effort... what are you doing?
Posted by: Wayne | May 22, 2009 1:59:16 PM
I'm gay and republican, and Meghan McCain is a great example of where the Republican party NEEDS to go if it is going to survive. But I guess it doesn't really matter since I'm 'evil'......right?
Posted by: chris | May 22, 2009 2:03:09 PM
Come on, Henry, you can't seriously compare the Democrats to the Republicans on gay issues. The Republican party's platform was more virulently, explicitly anti-gay than ever, EVER, this year, and that was with "moderate" Republican John McCain at its helm. Would she be this vocal about gay issues if her father had been elected? No. Because she wasn't while he was running. Sure, she slipped up a few times and sounded too liberal. But then she shut the fuck up. And she's still shutting up about Palin. She's not so gutsy. Sure, she's in favor of marriage equality and gay rights and repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell, but if her father were president, instead of people champing at the bit for our president to put up or shut up, those things wouldn't even be on the table, and Ms. McCain would be romping with Speidi and avoiding the issues altogether.
All that said, I have to agree with those who agree with the first two polar-opposite comments—it's bullshit to dream that the Republicans are anywhere near to where the Democrats are on gay issues, but it sure is fun that Meghan is around to piss off the most far-right in her party.
Meanwhile, I get how you can be a conservative and be pro-gay. But a Republican??? How can she love her party with all her heart when she seems so far flung from the heart of all its principles? Very few people agree with every plank in their party's platform, but all she seems to agree with is a tough national defense (which Democrats have co-opted from Republicans—Google the latest polls on that) and what? Strong families? Fiscal responsibility? Okay, Obama is spending lots, but he's also got plans to make it back. Bush didn't even TRY. I'd be pissed at her if I were a Republican, too. She's like their Lieberman.
I'll take the good parts of her, but would never trust her.
Posted by: Matthew Rettenmund | May 22, 2009 2:05:30 PM
@Roscoe, I don't see where you're coming off in thinking Meghan McCain is some sort of linchpin to a Republican master plan. The things she's saying run contrary to the majority of their social beliefs. If the Republican were really pushing her to the forefront, they're either completely lost in the arena of keeping their bright fresh face on-message or... she's not speaking for them.
I like the idea of a fiscal conservative with real-world social ideologies. And if Meghan McCain is the embodiment of that, then I'd gladly vote for her over any one the Democrats could throw against her.
I sincerely hope she runs for a political office in the near future. And I hope she has her parent's financial backing to do so.
Posted by: Tommy | May 22, 2009 2:06:58 PM
The Republican Party has a history, shall we say, which, by their own doing, has caused the common perception of their being anti-gay. They earned it. Unless they atone for the many, many, MANY years of injustice that they have perpetrated against the gay community - beginning with McCarthy, straight on through to the AIDS crisis during the Reagan years, and up to Bush/Cheney/Rove's abuse of the marriage equality issue and gay rights as a red herring to whip the lowest common denominator up into a venemous froth while our nation's army was losing two wars while being ordered to torture enemy combatants AND while our economy was slowly sliding into the shitter ("Look at the evil gay birdie!!!")...etc., etc. - then we have really nothing to talk about. There's no getting out of it. It is ridiculous even to try to defend the Party. I don't care what g-d purty face they put on it - the Party (maybe not individual members, but the Party) is anti-gay, and they own it. Give me an effing break already.
And yes, the Democrats own their fair share of shame too - DOMA, DADT, and right now our current little disappointment in the White House, whose thieving silence is the most shameful of all. Keep putting pressure on him! Flood the White House email in-box with your angry letters, your pleas, your stories, and your very full threats of not voting for this administration again in 2012.
Posted by: Andalusian Dog | May 22, 2009 2:15:36 PM
Let's just confine our examples to the issue at hand, i.e., marriage equality in NY, for a moment, shall we? The Assembly -- which is controlled by the Democrats -- has brought up, and passed (twice!) a bill to make equality a reality. With, as little Ms. McCain notes, only the most token of Republican support. When the Republicans controlled the State Senate, they absolutely refused to bring it up regardless of the support. (Remember, this is the same party who absolutely refused to bring up ENDA for a vote -- despite its majority support -- until Pataki needed ESPA's endorsement.) Now that the Democrats are in control of the Senate, we at least have a willingness to bring it to a vote if the votes are there (and maybe even if they're not).
Tell me again how the parties are exactly the same on this issue?
And no, Republicans are not all "evil." But the gay ones are delusional if they think the party they support is not worse on gay issues than the Democrats.
Posted by: Glenn | May 22, 2009 2:16:08 PM
We all have dear ones who are members of the Republican Fourth Reich. I have an especially dear aunt and uncle who, despite all their considerable intelligence, voted for W. both times, and probably would have voted for him again.
There are, of course, otherwise intelligent members of the Republican Fourth Reich, just as I'm sure there are otherwise intelligent members of the Ku Klux Klan. Their allegiance to the party that has done so much damage to this country over the past 8 years and beyond cannot be forgotten about and just ignored.
As for Ms. McCain -- her motives are best known to herself. I for one will never trust her, or any public member of that hideous party she claims she is trying so hard to reform.
When in doubt, assume the Republicans are up to no good. Not that there's ever any doubt.
Posted by: Roscoe | May 22, 2009 2:21:24 PM