Crist for Senate

[Anonymous]

Charlie Crist is running for the Senate. Guess he thinks no one has seen "Outrage."

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:Charlie Crist is running for the Senate.

Not that there is anything wrong with that.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Charlie Crist is running for the Senate.

Not that there is anything wrong with that.

With which? Running for the Senate? Or allegedly being closeted and voting against marriage equality?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Charlie Crist is running for the Senate.

Not that there is anything wrong with that.

With which? Running for the Senate? Or allegedly being closeted and voting against marriage equality?

I think he means this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GMZjkNW5b8

[Anonymous]

I think he is great and will be sending a check his way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think he is great and will be sending a check his way.

What appeals to you exactly? His apparent hypocrisy, which is stunning?

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Charlie Crist is running for the Senate.

Not that there is anything wrong with that.

Ha!

[Anonymous]

Maybe he can get Miss California to campaign for him!

[Anonymous]

Here is a hypothesis that might explain the apparent disconnect between Crist's (alleged) behavior and his political stands: Suppose he believes that homosexuality is a sin, but, through weakness, sometimes gives in to homosexual urges. Feeling guilty about his own behavior, he is even more intent on ensuring that those who openly engage in such behavior without even having the decency to feel guilt are not allowed to cause damage to society, and especially to children, by being given encouragement.

Note -- I do not believe sexual orientation is a choice, and I support full equality for all. I am just trying to interpret actions of another human being with some charity. Perhaps "empathy" is a more precise word.

[Anonymous]

He may be like a family member of mine who is gay but still thinks marriage is between a man and a woman. I personally don't have a problem with gay marriage--I think it isn't anyone's business who they sleep with and feel that two consenting adults living together should be able to enjoy tax benefits, survivors benefits etc. That's me and actually there are a lot of conservatives who also think government should not be intervening in the middle of someone's personal life but I am focused on issues like government intervention in other areas of my life and he is on the same page with me on that so that's why I support him. Am I to assume that this whole "I am engaged thing" is not a true relationship?

[Anonymous]

Plenty of people who believe marriage is a sacrament and it should be limited to between a man and a woman are a-okay with civil unions that can convey the legal benefits generally reserved to marriage to a gay couple.

So this rumor that Crist is gay should be a disqualifier for running for Senate? Or is it the situation where he might be gay but still thinks marriage is between a man and a woman that should cause him not to run? I don't get it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Plenty of people who believe marriage is a sacrament and it should be limited to between a man and a woman are a-okay with civil unions that can convey the legal benefits generally reserved to marriage to a gay couple.

So this rumor that Crist is gay should be a disqualifier for running for Senate? Or is it the situation where he might be gay but still thinks marriage is between a man and a woman that should cause him not to run? I don't get it?

Personally, although I am strongly in favor of gay rights, and oppose Crist's views on the issue, I agree that his personal life is irrelevant. I feel sorry for his internal conflict, but I don't see it as hypocrisy, any more than I would see it as hypocrisy for a legislator with a drinking problem to favor laws against drunk driving. Note: I am not equating gay right with drunk driving, just drawing the parallel that someone can oppose something in principle even if he is not always able to follow those principles completely.

I also agree that recognizing the rights of gay couples is much more important than the name we call the relationship. But until we stop linguistic discrimination, equality is incomplete. Marriage as a "sacrament" is none of the state's business. Can you imagine Congress passing a law about how the Catholic Church should hold communion or how bar mitzvahs should be performed? Once a state accepts that gay couples have the same rights as heteros, it ought to settle on one name for all, whether it is "civil union" or "civil marriage".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Plenty of people who believe marriage is a sacrament and it should be limited to between a man and a woman are a-okay with civil unions that can convey the legal benefits generally reserved to marriage to a gay couple.

So this rumor that Crist is gay should be a disqualifier for running for Senate? Or is it the situation where he might be gay but still thinks marriage is between a man and a woman that should cause him not to run? I don't get it?

Personally, although I am strongly in favor of gay rights, and oppose Crist's views on the issue, I agree that his personal life is irrelevant. I feel sorry for his internal conflict, but I don't see it as hypocrisy, any more than I would see it as hypocrisy for a legislator with a drinking problem to favor laws against drunk driving. Note: I am not equating gay right with drunk driving, just drawing the parallel that someone can oppose something in principle even if he is not always able to follow those principles completely.

I also agree that recognizing the rights of gay couples is much more important than the name we call the relationship. But until we stop linguistic discrimination, equality is incomplete. Marriage as a "sacrament" is none of the state's business. Can you imagine Congress passing a law about how the Catholic Church should hold communion or how bar mitzvahs should be performed? Once a state accepts that gay couples have the same rights as heteros, it ought to settle on one name for all, whether it is "civil union" or "civil marriage".

Wow. Just wow. Have you ever known anyone who was in the closet and died of AIDS contracted through anonymous sex? Or who transmitted HIV to a partner or spouse as a result of living a double life? You really have no problem with this, and you are "strongly in favor of gay rights"? Amazing.

[Anonymous]

There is a difference between marriage (which does not require a religious ceremony and I know plenty of people who just did it at the courthouse) and the SACRAMENT of marriage/matrimony. The latter is to the discretion of the religious denomination. The former is not and should not be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Personally, although I am strongly in favor of gay rights, and oppose Crist's views on the issue, I agree that his personal life is irrelevant. I feel sorry for his internal conflict, but I don't see it as hypocrisy, any more than I would see it as hypocrisy for a legislator with a drinking problem to favor laws against drunk driving. Note: I am not equating gay right with drunk driving, just drawing the parallel that someone can oppose something in principle even if he is not always able to follow those principles completely.

Pp, I'm okay with your logic on this until I start thinking about the 11-year-old boys who killed themselves in part because they were being called "gay" by other boys. And when I think about how my own daughter (when she was in middle school!) came to me crying because she couldn't understand what was wrong with her that she would never be allowed to get married and have a family the way heterosexuals do. And that's when I realize that Crist's personal life is completely relevant. I can understand why people hide in the shadows but the reality is that continuing to hide does a huge disservice to our young people who feel isolated even today. If he were to live openly as a gay man and still oppose gay marriage, maybe then I could respect his choice.