The LGBT Debate

By Jeralyn, Section Elections 2008
Posted on Thu Aug 09, 2007 at 10:31:40 PM EST
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Logo TV tonight had the LGBT presidential debate:

Logo and Human Rights Campaign Foundation present this historic and first-ever live televised U.S. Presidential candidate forum on issues of importance to the LGBT community, with the leading 2008 Democratic presidential candidates including Hillary Clinton, Chris Dodd, John Edwards, Mike Gravel, Dennis Kucinich, Barack Obama, and Bill Richardson....

I was able to see most of it. Obama went first and in my view, didn't impress. Especially when he said gay marriage should be left up to individual churches to decide. Edwards did a credible job. He came so close to endorsing gay marriage and then backed off. Too bad. Still, a positive step for him, he's clearly on as he says "a journey." I missed Gravel. Dodd wasn't there after all. Kucinich, not suprisingly, had the best and most heartfelt answers.

Richardson blew it big time. He was asked whether being gay is a matter of choice or whether you're born that way and he immediately responded "choice." Figuring he misunderstood the question, the panelists, including Melissa Etheridge and Margaret Carlson, gave him another chance. He still didn't get it and framed his answer in terms of equality, saying it didn't matter. Can someone please educate him?

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Hillary was last and answered the tough questions about the failure of Don't Ask, Don't Tell with candor. She also said her opposition to gay marriage is "personal" and whereas Obama said it's a matter for churches to decide, she said it's a matter for states to decide.

Both are cop-out positions, of course. If you support equal rights and domestic partnerships, there's no reason not to support gay marriage.

Yet, Hillary came across as more convincing in saying that if President she would continue to fight their fight for equality. I think the audience reacted favorably to her.

Interestingly, or perhaps just predictably, Margaret Carlson mentioned that the Republican candidates had also been invited to the debate but none accepted.

It was the best debate format yet in that each candidate was on by himself/herself, answering the questions of the panel. There was none of the "time's up" that has marked the other debates. It allowed the candidates to express themselves in more than soundbites and give us, the viewers, a fuller sense of them.

Did any of you see it? What were your reactions?

Here's the replay