Comments on: Disillusioned Democrats: Pick a Side, We’re at War

By: John

John — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 18:51:47 +0000

Help me out, more-politically-astute people. What signal do I read in his FISA vote?

~ John

PS Donate to http://www.eff.org !

By: Collin

Collin — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 14:26:22 +0000

Now, please don’t shout at me, OK?

“we have a candidate who . . . actually wants to work across the aisle and rebuild a collegial, functioning government”

Only he knows for sure what he actually wants. What he says he wants is, as you say, “cheap talk.”

The next president has to be able to reach across the aisle. I’m aware of occasions where McCain has taken heat from his party to reach across the aisle (McCain-Feingold, the Climate Stewardship Act (yes, Obama was on that too, but it was a Democratic issue) the Gang of 14, the Immigration Reform Act). Obviously, I don’t expect this to make you vote for him. He’s a conservative as a default (esp. taxes) and, if that doesn’t appeal to you, then it doesn’t. I guess if I were a staunch liberal I’d take it as encouraging that, worst case, you’re going to get somebody much more willing to listen than Bush (like that’s hard.)

But can you give me examples of Obama reaching across the aisle in the Senate? I’m not being snarky. I’d really like to see what there is.

By: oneiroi

oneiroi — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 12:04:36 +0000

Whoa whoa, I’m fairly certain everything Obama has said is only against the term gay marriage. He’s definitely not against “gay rights”. He’s for repealing defense of marriage, ending “don’t ask don’t tell”, adding laws against sexual orientation discrimination at the work place and ensuring full equal rights under civil unions (which is completely different than McCain).

http://pride.barackobama.com/page/content/lgbthome (read the “on the issues” one).

If all it takes to get those things passed is the abandonment of the word “marriage” i’m all for it.

I think people just want to find something to be mad at him about for their personal reasons, when, especially on this issue, he would be one of the most progressive of any president we’ve had.

(I’m pretty sure I’ve talked about this here before :P )