My pick for the winner of the first televised presidential forum on gay issues is Melissa Ethridge! I especially liked one of the questions she addressed to Hillary, a question that could have been asked of the Clintons by most any progressive:
"I remember when your husband was elected," Etheridge said, calling it a "hopeful time" for gays and lesbians. But "in the years that followed, our hearts were broken. We were pushed aside. All those great promises that were made to us were broken."
"What," she asked, "are you going to do to be different than that?"
You'll have to watch the forum or a clip to hear Hillary's answer. You've probably guessed that the answer is not as good as the question.
The candidates appeared in the order in which they accepted the invitation to attend the LGBT presidential forum -- Barack Obama, John Edwards, Dennis Kucinich, Mike Gravel, Bill Richardson and finally, Hillary Clinton.
Kucinich and Gravel were as pro equality and pro gay marriage as you would expect any non electable candidates to be. The other candidates all agreed that you can have all the civil rights you need without marriage. (I dealt with Richardson here.)
John Edwards recycled all his talking points. I've heard them so many times, I'm beginning to have trouble listening to him. There's a reason why he drops Elizabeth's name so often, it's called authenticity. She has it.
Barack Obama said he could relate because he's a black guy named Barack Obama. In my view, he was the second best of the candidates. He talked about addressing homophobia in the black community by preaching to pastors. He said he gave a lecture on homophobia to some of Harold Ford's black pastors in Nashville. I guess Harold Ford wasn't paying attention.
Hillary Clinton seemed to be in the presence of friends. She knew many of the people, she was at ease, and she listened as well as she spoke. I didn't hear any talking points. I heard her engage in an authentic back and forth conversation. She owned the room. Of the three top tier imperfect candidates, it was Hillary who came across as the one who has done her homework and the one who has the greatest desire and ability to deliver.
Each candidate got at least 15 minutes to sit and talk with the panelists in a living room setting. I've seen every televised Democratic debate, and this format was the best of them all. The cable news channels should take a lesson and throw away all those ridiculous lecturns and one minute responses.
Oh, and the Republicans were invited to appear in their own forum. Much like rude and bigoted scum of the earth, they declined.
See all of it at Visible Vote 08.
Gay Lesbian LGBT Visible Vote 2008 Hillary Clinton Obama Edwards Harold Ford Democratic Candidates News Politics Gay Presidential Forum
