While gay progressives and Democrats are generally underwhelmed with the Hail Mary pass thrown by John McCain's choice of the obscure, one-term anti-gay Gov. Sarah Palin as the Republican vice presidential choice, the capital gains tax cut lovin' gay Republicans are quite pleased.
"Alaska Governor Sarah Palin can help Sen. McCain win this election by appealing to independent and young voters, Log Cabin President Patrick Sammon tells 365Gay. "Gov. Palin is an inclusive Republican who will help Sen. McCain appeal to gay and lesbian voters."
Right-wing homocon Bruce Carroll at Gay Patriot is also rejoicing. "Woooooo hooooo! Just as I couldn’t imagine me disliking the Obama ticket more after he picked Biden, I’m shocked to now find myself EXCITED about McCain’s pick and Vice President Sarah Palin. I almost can’t believe that he has done it."
Stephen Miller at the Independent Gay Forum glosses over Palin's extensive anti-gay record with this quaint revisionism. "She's apparently an evangelical Christian who is pro-life but no 'phobe. She vetoed an anti-gay bill passed by the legislature that would have barred the state from granting benefits to the partners of gay state employees, and has met with gay groups and spoken publicly about gay friends and relatives."
Ah, yes, the old "some of my best friends are gay argument, sometimes used by John McCain. More about Palin's veto of the bill that would have prohibited providing domestic partnership benefits to state workers: This bill was in defiance of the Alaska Supreme Court’s ruling and the Attorney General's (Republican) advice that the legislation was unconstitutional. Palin went ahead to say that, as a matter of policy, she was in favor of the bill, and "honoring the family structure is that important." So yes, Palin vetoed the anti-gay bill ... because she was forced to veto the anti-gay bill.
McCain Picks Palin [365]
Well, John McCain Got His Headline [Gay Patriot]
How in the hell is she going to appeal to gay and lesbian voters with an anti-gay record? Are gay repubs serious?!?
I'm trying to see the logic of this pick. For all McCain's criticism of Obama not having enough experience, he picks someone who's only been in office a couple years. And do we know of her foreign policy experience?
Was she picked because if Obama and especially Biden go after her, the repubs can claim the democrats are ganging up on this fine young woman. The party that wants women to be bare foot, pregnant, and bowing down to their husbands accusing someone else of sexist behavior. Next week is gonna be a trip.
Posted by: Lavenderpop | 29 August 2008 at 16:29
Jack Cafferty said it best when he described McCain's choice for 2nd in command as a one term governor "of a state with 13 people and some caribou."
LMAO! Gotta luv Cafferty.
Posted by: Taylor Siluwé | 29 August 2008 at 17:19
It's a weird choice, but a choice that can't be underestimated. They are gonna give the Dems a run for their money, and I hope they are ready for it. This is gonna be a crazy few months.
Posted by: S. Flemming | 29 August 2008 at 17:32