Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR): "equal rights should not become special rights"

[ccharles000]

Senator Blanche Lincoln, Democrat from Arkansas, sends letter to LGBT constituent explaining that she does not support ENDA because she does not believe in "special rights".

Excerpt from Lincoln's letter:

Thank you for contacting me regarding the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (S. 1584) which would prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. However, equal rights should not become special rights, and I appreciate you taking time to share your thoughts with me on this important issue. You can be sure I will remember the concerns you raised if this or similar legislation is considered in the U.S. Senate.....

The translation here:

Thank you for contacting me regarding the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (S. 1584) which would prevent fearful backwards bigots like myself from firing you because you are different than us. However, I do not want to lose my special rights as a heterosexual and I believe that if I do what is morally right and take a stand against discrimination that I may not get to stay in the Senate much longer. You can be sure I will remember that I am more special than you when this or similar legislation is considered in the U.S. Senate.....

UPDATE: A spokesperson from Senator Lincoln's office in Little Rock returned a call from earlier today and offered this statement, "Senator Lincoln has not taken a position on ENDA. When the bill comes up for consideration she will consider it then, but right now it is in the Judiciary Committee. Senator Lincoln did vote to approve the Hate Crimes Bill."

My interpretation (albeit pessimistic) is she will find a reason to vote against ENDA thereby offsetting any damage she might have done to herself with Hate Crimes. She is after all from Arkansas.

http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/13755/sen-blanche-lincoln-dar-equal-rights-should-not-become-special-rights

[Sinti]

1. "equal rights should not become special rights" - I agree, as a human you have rights

they include the right not to be discriminated against. We have to add specificity to what is included in the term "human" because the human race has been divided into this and that by men with agendas.

So, Equal Rights for all Special Rights for none. :p

[jgraz]

2. I don't believe in Blanche Lincoln's "special right" to pretend she's a Democrat

Fuck her.