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Wayne Besen
PO Box 25491
Brooklyn, NY 11202
For the past eight years, the only place the GLBT community has flexed its muscle in Washington is Results Gym. With no serious presidential contender to carry the marriage banner in 2004 and few amigos on Capitol Hill, politicians who fancy themselves allies left us twisting in the wind as if we were pinatas.
As the right wing beat the stuffing out of our beleaguered families, our "friends" whispered from the sidelines, "don't take it personally, we still love you." And, of course, they do love us, which is the problem. We are adored like the terminally uncool, but loyal, buddy who unfailingly helps move our furniture or fixes our computers, but never asks us why we haven't invited him to swanky A-List parties.
To translate this politically: Gay and lesbian people are licking envelopes until we are ready to join NA for glue detox and throwing money at ungrateful politicians like it is an Olympic sport. And for our efforts we often get patronizing pols who tell us that we must subordinate our concerns for more important issues, as if there are actually more pressing matters than protecting our families.
Incredibly, last week a political hero emerged who finally handed us an engraved invitation to the penthouse party. Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wisc., shocked the political world when he announced his support for marriage equality.
"As I said at the Kenosha County listening session, gay and lesbian couples should be able to marry and have access to the same rights, privileges and benefits that straight couples currently enjoy. Denying people this basic American right is the kind of discrimination that has no place in our laws, especially in a progressive state like Wisconsin. The time has come to end this discrimination and the politics of divisiveness that has become part of this issue."
Feingold is not the first senator to endorse marriage rights, but he is the first legitimate potential presidential contender to do so. He has clearly taken a political risk, so, the big question is, will we stand by him, as we should?
The answer is not so cut-and-dried, with many of our leaders firmly enmeshed in the Democratic machine, which is clearly banking on a Hillary Rodham Clinton nomination. There is a palpable fear that anyone who crosses Clinton in the primaries might be frozen out of power if she wins the presidency. And, of course, this may be true, but our leaders must be reminded that what is best for the GLBT community comes first, before loyalty to any party or candidate.
If we show ourselves to be feckless and unable to rally support, it will be the last time in the foreseeable future that a legitimate presidential contender takes a risk to support our full inclusion in the American dream.
Quite frankly, if we let him down, we don't deserve further support. Feingold has lain on the train tracks, and we must be equally courageous by seizing control of the train and driving it on a new track. For if a powerful bloc of progressives and GLBT advocates join forces to put Feingold in a position to win the Democratic nomination, the world will take notice and backing marriage equality won't seem like political suicide to so many candidates.
Realistically, it will be an uphill battle for Feingold to win the nomination. But now might be a rare moment where the senator could pull off an upset. As a crusader for campaign finance reform in the age of Jack Abramoff, Feingold can offer himself as the candidate who can clean-up corruption in Washington. His motion to censure President Bush for illegally wiretapping Americans makes him appear almost prophetic, as new scandals seem to roil the Bush administration by the day.
Most important, Feingold appears reasonable and presidential on television. One can easily imagine him in the Oval Office with his finger near the button. He is attractive and articulate with a thoughtful array of public policies that are innovative, yet mainstream. His Midwestern sensibility also connects with voters in the crucial Great Lakes region.
Pooling our resources for Feingold in the primaries is a wise move that will allow our community to show its strength and send the message that we will not be taken for granted. And, it will not hurt the Democratic Party's chances against Republicans in the general election, since the community can rally behind the eventual nominee if Feingold comes up short.
A thoroughbred has announced his support before the presidential horserace has even begun. It is now our moral responsibility to ride him to the end of the rainbow, where we might just find a pot of gold in Feingold.
23 Comments:
When someone asks what the GOP stands for it's easy: Lower taxes, less government, more military.
When someone asks what Democrats stand for it's a bit more tricky.
When someone asks what Senator Feingold stands for it's there: Integrity even when it hurts; community because that means all of us - yes, even a place for the wingnuts, you gotta love 'em when they're where they ought to be, away from blunt objects and power switches, and told to be quiet when they get the least bit annoying; the American dream - being the envy of the world because we are creating a brighter future.
Remember when that was the promise of this country? Well, it's not too late. We will get there from being pragmatic, but not calculating, and from being true to our principles and never demeaning.
Thanks Wayne. There are people in government service who stick to their principles. Senator Feingold is one.
posted by Anonymous, at
4/11/2006 1:59 AM
Russ will definately go down on the right side of history, even if he doesnt make it to the White House. Joe Biden admitted on Bill Maher last week that he intends to run for prez and reliable sources have informed me that Gov Corzine of NJ is already building his war-chest. He too wants to run for pres. and yes as early as 2008! Should be an interesting race--unless bush blows up the world first.
posted by Anonymous, at
4/11/2006 9:24 AM
"There is a palpable fear that anyone who crosses Clinton in the primaries might be frozen out of power if she wins the presidency"
If this is her True intent, then I would say Absoultely NO to Hillary, but we have to be very sure this is her intent.
We have to be very, very sure. NOT gossip sure. Not Hillary Bashing sure, BUT----
What else do we know about Russ, except he's for Gays getting married, and his censure action on Bush?
Isn't it too soon to start "speculating?" I want to hear all of their campaign stratagies before I put my eggs All into one basket AND should Fiengold make it through the Primaries I would sigh a BIG sigh of relief, but if he doesn't and say Hillary or someone else gets the nod from Democratic Party, then what?
If Feingold does win the big battle ahead of him after he throwes his hat into the ring, then we should back him, with a BIG Uproaring YES!! AND should he be the Partys choice by all means YES!! That would be Plan "A"--Do we as a monority group have a Plan "B"?
posted by Anonymous, at
4/11/2006 12:18 PM
Feingold is about the only politician left in government that gives me hope, at least since Paul Wellstone died. He did an amazingly risky thing in support gay marriage, and he has always stood for integrity and respect and for equality for all.
Clinton, and indeed most Democrats, can't be trusted with our rights. They will sell us out at the first available opportunity (as Kerry did in 2004). Feingold may have just lost himself a candidacy with his statement, but I'm sure to him, equality for GLBT people is more important than political expediency. I eagerly await our "allies" on the Democractic side to hem and haw their spineless way through a series of televised debates calling for a more "moderate" approach on the rights of millions of their supporters and constitutents.
If anyone wants to learn more about Russ Feingold and his personal story, Brian Lamb on C-Span's Q&A program did an hour-long interview with him last year and it's very good. If you are not yet enamored with the man, here's your chance to see how genuine the guy really is. You can watch it online and even read the transcript here.
posted by Anonymous, at
4/11/2006 1:48 PM
From that Q&A Interview (Feb 6, 2005) I mentioned above, Feingold did get the gay marriage question:
LAMB: Should gays be allowed to marry?
FEINGOLD: You know, I don’t believe that’s something that is up to me to have a strong opinion on.
I grew up believing that marriage is between a man and a woman. That’s the way I understood it. But I don’t think it’s my job to sit in judgment on people on that issue.
I believe this is up to the states. And I generally think a society where people who are monogamous, where people who love each other come together and form stable families is better than the opposite.
And so, I don’t think it’s my job as a United States senator to pass judgment on who should be married.
Now that there is a state ballot issue on it in Wisconsin, he felt he had to come out and tell people where he really stands. I wish other pols would have handled it this well.
posted by Anonymous, at
4/11/2006 3:57 PM
Feingold came across sounding like an old-fashioned Republican - leaving marriage law to the States (decentralized government) and supporting equal access to governmental services (no preferences). The Republican Party should feel shamed that a Democrat actually supports what they claim to support.
Whether Feingold gets the nomination, his announcement is a victory for marriage equality. It moves the center and changes the dynamic.
In 2004 Bush could say that both he and his opponent opposed gay marriage so he was justified in amending the constitution. And no one stood up to say "no! I favor gay marriage". This pushes the issue. Clinton cannot ignore it and will be forced to tell Democrats just why it is that she thinks some of them should be allowed to get married and others cannot. And this might be a very interesting conversation while being a Senator in a state where the majority favors gay marriage.
1) I am certainly not anti-Clinton and would celebrate her presidency. But, Feingold acted with rare moral integrity and should be rewarded.
2) I did not mean to suggest that Clinton is conspiring to freeze out people who "cross" her. However, Washington is a town where people bet on political horses. If you bet on the right one, you get rewarded on Election Day. If you bet on the wrong one, you suffer the consequences. It is like this with all politicians, to some degree. Certainly, Bush is famous for elevating his cronies to an extent not seen before in modern times.
What I am suggesting is that people are afraid of betting against the powerful frontrunner, and thus hurting their career for 4-8 years.
So, this is about people making pragmatic career choices, which might cause them to go with a candidate who is not as good on GLBT issues.
Wayne, thanks for the clarification. And I wish we could remove that statement, because that's what will stay in the front of folks minds if that's how the Primaries go. Not only that statement but her own words against Marriage for Gays and still, her stand on Iraq.
I have to trust that THIS time the Democrat Party will have it together on ALL the issues and have a firm platform to run on with a sure winner! AND has UNITY within the party.
I want that someone, like the rest of us, who is not just there to take my money and my vote and squander it for the sake of getting into office and then turning their back on us. Kerry and Roberts did just that and their intent was not fully known untill they started their campaign together as "the" selected people.
Many doubts trouble me about Hillary and I'm sure many others too. This time, going in, I want assurances!!
Feingold has gained my trust and support!
I'll have to admit, I was borderline Hillary, until I read that statement.
I still have to think that 53% of New Yorkers are for Marriage among Gays and Hillary doesn't want to loose that % and untill she comes out in full support of us, the GLBT community, like Feingold did. I will not vote or support her.
posted by Anonymous, at
4/11/2006 5:18 PM
Finegold is a Communist who will hurt the country. If we are to remain on the road to freedom, we must continue to elect Republicans.
For the love of pete, How old are you? Haven't you realized the *red* scare is so 1950s ... com'on pull your head outta your ass and get with the times!
You obviously haven't been getting the memos or faxes from HQ ... nobody uses *communist* any more, 'cept Ann coulter ... no! No! the current scary terms are *Terrorist* and *traitor* ... you know *either with us or against us* ... *don't love America* that whole meme.
So if you're going to come here and blast Feingold ... please get with modern times will ya!
Hey Buck America don't belong to Christ, if it did the Indians would still be in control YOU MORON!
posted by Anonymous, at
4/12/2006 12:42 AM
Wayne,
Thanks so much for putting into words what I have been thinking since the Feingold announcement--We need to take action as a community to support this politician. We need to show politicians that they will be rewarded for their courage.
Today the loud voices in politics are anti-gay. We need to raise our voices and tell our friends, family members, colleagues that these are issues that affect us.
Of course we are met with very powerful forces siding with hate--but we can be powerful as well: if we are not apathetic, focus our energy and money, mobilize our vote and work for our equality. It will not be handed to us because it is the right thing to do. We will have to fight for it.
one more thing--just to chime in. I do not think that Hillary has shown any such conviction or courage. As far as I can tell she has not supported us in any meaningful way; she has not fought any part of the fight for us. I think we need to put our trust and support in those who demonstrate they deserve it. No more free rides. :)
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posted by Titanic, at
5/20/2010 1:53 AM
