Just two years ago, Kerry signed letter opposing ban on gay marriages

[Feanorcurufinwe]

Democratic presidential hopeful John Kerry, who opposes gay marriage and hints he might support a limited ban, just two years ago signed a letter with other congressional colleagues urging the Massachusetts Legislature to drop a constitutional amendment outlawing homosexual nuptials. And when Kerry opposed federal legislation in 1996 that defined marriage as a union between a man and a woman, he compared the law to 1960s efforts in the South to criminalize interracial marriages and accused his supporters of engaging in the "politics of division."

"This is an unconstitutional, unprecedented, unnecessary and mean-spirited bill," Kerry declared then, even as 85 senators and President Clinton supported the measure.

<snip>

Kerry's campaign said Wednesday he has consistently opposed gay marriage while also rejecting legislation, like the 2002 amendment, that he believed jeopardized the civil rights and recognition of gay relationships because it was too broadly worded. "John Kerry's position has been crystal clear. He opposed a proposed constitutional amendment in Massachusetts in the summer of 2002 because a sweeping proposal would have threatened civil unions, health benefits, or inheritance rights for gay couples that represent equal protection under the law," spokesman David Wade said. "John Kerry favors civil unions, not gay marriage. It's that simple," he said.

<snip>

Back in 1986, Kerry gave an impassioned 10-minute speech on the Senate floor against an earlier effort in Congress to define marriage only as a union between a man and a woman. He was one of just 14 senators to vote against the Defense of Marriage Act. "This is a power grab into states' rights of monumental proportions," Kerry said at the time, accusing Republicans of using legislation to drive a wedge between Americans. "It is ironic that many of the arguments for this power grab are echoes of the discussion of interracial marriage a generation ago. "It is hard to believe that this bill is anything other than a thinly veiled attempt to score political debating points by scapegoating gay and lesbian Americans," he added, while noting his own personal objections to gay marriage.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2004/02/11/politics1758EST0818.DTL

[aldian159]

1. It doesn't matter

facts don't reside on DU, only hatred and flame.

But good post nonetheless.

[dsc]

2. It isn't our fault

he is saying two different things. BTW this is a major problem that was used to great effect against Gore.

[girl gone mad]

3. It does matter..

because it's more evidence of his unwillingness to take a firm stand on issues that might hurt him politically.

I'm disturbed by his actions and fear hee will be another Clinton in office, another leader more concerned about his poll numbers and public image than instigating real change and being an effective leader.

[BeatleBoot]

8. I hope he gives us Clinton's Economy back!!!

22 millon new jobs created.

Greatest economic expansion in our nation's history!

[Cheswick2.0]

23. yup...because that is all that matters

and by all means conveniently ignore that any other candidate might give us back the same clinton economy.

[killbotfactory]

4. Then he ran for president.

[lastknowngood]

5. The repugs will use this

n/t

[BeatleBoot]

6. Bush driving a wedge issue...

I can't believe we are being distracted by this.

So what. Buckle up. Its gonna get bumpy, but Bush will be voted out on November 2nd.

[Cheswick2.0]

24. yah, the hell with gay people

wouldn't want to be distracted by their rights being at risk for a constititional ammendment. What matters is that JFK deserves to be elected right?

kerry is by far the weakest candidate against bush.

[IndianaGreen]

7. Kerry spoke against going to war in Iraq in 2002, then voted for IWR

and then in early 2003, Kerry said that Saddam had WMDs and was a threat.

Liberman had Kerry pegged pretty good when he chided him for opposing a war that he had supported.

[incapsulated]

9. See, this actually *doesn't help*

Because it sounds as if he backtracked on his original, correct position to a politically expedient one.

There is no need for a Constitutional Amendment, period. It is nothing other than a gay-bashing ploy.

How does this do anything other than make him look like he's flipping on the issue? Being righteous doesn't help if you're only righteous when it doesn't cost you.

What is so frustrating is that this wouldn't cost him. There is no groundswell of support for a constitutional amendment "protecting marriage". It is easy for him to just leave it as a State issue. Only the right wing, who would never vote for him anyway, would be offended by that position.

[sandnsea]

10. State Amendment, Federal Amendment

Two different situations.

"This is a power grab into states' rights of monumental proportions," He opposes a federal amendment on this basis.

The State Amendment is a different matter, that's where he thought it should be legislated all along. He supports civil unions, not gay marriage. It really is simple.

But Kerry hating will make it impossible for anybody on DU to understand.

[killbotfactory]

12. Where in the NPR interview did he qualitfy it as a state amendment?

I read the transcript, and it seemed pretty clear to me they were talking about this on a federal level.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

16. Well could you share the transcript with us please?

Rather than just give us your impression?

[girl gone mad]

13. When you say things like that..

I think you sound just like the GOP excusing all of Bush's inadequacies as simply a product of "Bush hating".

I'm not comparing Bush and Kerry, I just think the argument that "Kerry hating" is all that is wrong with Kerry blows.

[incapsulated]

14. It is *not* that simple

Not when he is considering tampering with the Constitution over an issue created by the rethugs to attack gay people, "depending on how it is worded." What does that mean?

Just say no. That is simple, isn't it?

Just saying I hate Kerry, which is silly and incorrect, won't make this go away. It's already news outside of DU, and don't think it won't be used against him. He has to make up his mind, one way or another. Approve fiddling with the Constitution in the hopes that it will get you off the hook or have the guts to reject this absurd Bush created agenda outright.

[Mairead]

19. Sand, equal rights is a federal issue. It mustn't be left to the states

If civil rights were left to the states, we'd still have slavery!

Your whole record at DU testifies that you're too good a person to be defending the indefensible, Sand. Come away.

[Cheswick2.0]

22. kerry doesn't have to wait for a groundswell of support

for a constitutional ammendment protecting marriage. He can flip flop on the tiniest of evidence that the right might use this as an issue. He is a master of making a statement that will fit any eventuallity. He stands on every side of every issue.

[nancyharris]

11. Interesting word game being played here

The headline says” Just two years ago, Kerry signed letter opposing ban on gay marriages” yet the text shows he opposed “outlawing homosexual nuptials” but later quite plainly states “he has consistently opposed gay marriage”.

Somehow this doesn’t sound like “leadership” or “courage” or standing up for what is right and just to me.

<”John Kerry favors civil unions, not gay marriage. It's that simple,">

Well, unfortunately, it’s not that simple. The federal government does not recognize “civil unions” nor has Senator Kerry in his many years in the Senate ever proposed such legislation. His opposition to gay marriage and the equality it brings for gay and lesbians is both shameful and cowardly.

[Brian_Expat]

21. You have said it clearly and correctly, nancy!

:bump:

[gate of the sun]

15. Well where is that man now?

n/t

[Mairead]

17. If you're implying he flopped, Feanor, I'm not sure that's fair

since two years ago he hadn't yet (I don't think!) started his descent to DLCer. DLCers are in favor of liberal social policies, but only if they won't cost anything or threaten their own political wellbeing. So I think we have to give Kerry credit for having a principled stand, of sorts, on this issue.

[Brian_Expat]

18. Yes, and now. . .

. . . now John Kerry is standing with George W. Bush in hinting he'll support an anti-gay constitutional amendment.

Which tells me that when the going gets tough and requires a stand on principles, rather than an easy vote, John Kerry will sell the rights of Americans down the river for political expediency. We can do better, Democrats.

[Cheswick2.0]

20. My how times change

Too bad he has now changed his position. He now says he would support the ammendment banning gay marriage depending on how it is worded.

Of course he is running for President, that changes so many things for some candidates.