: Conservative lawmaker, Iraq veteran !!!CRUSHES!!! GOP gay bashing

[kpete]

Run time: 05:57 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WyYRA4aZSI   Posted on YouTube: May 22, 2011 By YouTube Member: UpTakeVideo Views on YouTube: 23516   Posted on DU: May 24, 2011 By DU Member: kpete Views on DU: 2919

 
http://www.rawstory.com/rawreplay/2011/05/watch-conservative-lawmaker-iraq-veteran-stands-up-for-marriage-equality/

“If this was five, six years ago, I probably would have voted yes,” he admitted — but “everything changed,” Kriesel said, after he was wounded in Iraq.

“It woke me up. It changed me,” he explained. “…Happiness is so hard to find for people. So they find it — they find someone that makes them happy — and we want to say you can be together, you can love that person, but you can’t marry them. That’s wrong. That’s wrong and I disagree with it.”

“This amendment doesn’t represent what I went to fight for,” Kriesel insisted, before holding up a photo of a gay soldier who was killed in Iraq.

“I don’t know about you guys, but I cannot look at this family, look at this picture, and say ‘You know what, corporal, you were good enough to fight for your country and give your life, but you were not good enough to marry the person you love.’ I can’t do that. I cannot do that and I won’t do that. If there was a ‘hell no’ button right here, I would press it. That would be the one I would press.”

[xchrom]

1. Recommend

[fascisthunter]

2. Well Done! (nt)

[Libertas1776]

3. A man of true principle.

K&R

[Plucketeer]

13. T'were it that this sort was the RULE

rather than the rare exception. This fella's career in politics is DOOMED, but my hat's off to him without hesitation! :patriot:

[KeepItReal]

4. K&R

Nothing to add. The man said it all.

[me b zola]

5. "Stand up for freedom"

It is rare to see a conservative actually doing it, but this brave man sure has. Now to see how the gop will kill his political career because he didn't just talk about freedom, he actually did stand up for it.

[Beams1969]

6. America's proudest and brightest moments are the expansion of civil rights.

It will be so again when we recognize those in the GLBT community deserve the same rights as anyone else. Nothing more, nothing less.

This man has courage to speak to power. I wondering how power responded in this case.

[grahamhgreen]

7. Kick

[spedtr90]

8. The Democrats in MN have been amazing this session

Speeches from Democrats in the MN legislature have been amazing in their humanity, humility, courage, and intelligence. The contrast with most Republicans could not be more stark, and thank God, people are noticing.

[sheldon]

9. This guy is an R!

[spedtr90]

10. oops! removed

[democracy1st]

11. K & R

[JAnthony]

12. One (of a very few) REPUBLICANS I can really respect !

Thanks for sharing this!

Can we find some more of these people? That state could use a dozen or two more!

[MedicalAdmin]

19. I have a great deal of respect for Jim Abeler as well.

But I don't know where he stands on this issue. But I've worked with him and I would be surprised if he also didn't break ranks. Too bad it didn't work.

I'm voting NO. Are you?

[iandhr]

14. wow this is amazing.

[Laf.La.Dem.]

15. WOW

And this guy has an "R" next to his name - so some of them are human??

[AtheistCrusader]

16. Very powerful speech.

[matt819]

17. Good speech

I'm not from MN and don't know this man's stand on other issues. But given the fact that this issue - gay marriage - has pretty much been divided down party lines, I continue to wonder how one can continue to be a Republican and either be gay or support gay rights.

[bertman]

18. That was a brave and honorable plea. Very moving. I wish all the bigots

could hear that speech.

REC. nt

[Festivito]

20. Wow, a Republican with military experience! How long till he realizes the rest of the R agenda.

Repubs capitulated on this issue, religious institutions have informed their followers that the fight seems over.

So, Repubs need a guy who would represent this. This guy is not one of their pretty boys. Makes them look military. Perfect choice.

Until he starts to realize the whole Repub agenda stinks. Then, they'll drop him or buy him. I think they'll drop him and keep on playing the clips about his military experience.