By now, you’ve probably seen both of these clips. The first is Ellen’s joyous announcement that she and Portia are getting married now that the California Supreme Court had overturned the ban on gay marriage. The second is Republican presidential nominee John McCain explaining why gays and lesbians should not be allowed to legally marry. I’ve put them together because they are the perfect illustration of the clash of the personal and the political. Take a look (if you haven’t already) and we’ll dish.So, how can you call yourself a human being and not be happy for Ellen and Portia after seeing that announcement? Look at Portia’s face. The only thing that would have made that moment more perfect is if Portia had come on stage with Ellen and they had, well, anything – kissed, hugged, held hands. But, hey, that’s Ellen’s style and I respect that.
Then there is McCain. If that’s not the very definition of uncomfortable, I don’t know what is. The guy looks like he’d rather be making out with Dick Cheney than explaining his position to Ellen’s face. And really, how could he? He is essentially saying, I don’t think you or your love is equal. I don’t think you deserve the same recognition or rights. That’s not just a difference of opinion, sir, that’s a difference in basic human decency. And speaking of basic human decency, what kind of person deliberately goes onto a program for publicity, and then tells the host she is not and should not be equal under the law? I want the free airtime, I’m just not that wild about you, lady. Hypocrite. P.S. Way to not let the old coot off the hook, Ellen. Tim Russert could learn a thing or two from that grilling.
I know this post veers off from the poppy culture I usually obsess focus on, but things like this are just a reminder that as disappointed as I am that Hillary (more than likely) will not win the nomination, this man CANNOT be our next president.
[Hat tip, Rowdy, for the clips!]
I think he at least sat there and voiced his opinion respectfully in this instance. I do believe he has the rights to his opinions as well. Fortunately the time has come when the majority don't think they way he and others think. The times they be a changing. When other states see that the world didn't come to an end because someone they didn't like got married, they will change as well.
ReplyDeleteMcCain has always tried to straddle too many fences, appeasing some while fooling no one.
ReplyDeleteI too was taken by his discomfort, it's one thing to have an opinion and quite another to sit across a table from someone look them in the eye and declare "I don't think you are equal to me".
ReplyDeleteAnd that is how change is made, living openly, authentically and normalizing our lives.
One changed opinion at a time.
janet
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ReplyDeleteThe other thing to think about regarding this video is that McCain's attempt at seeming somewhat human-- saying that he thought gay couples should be able to form contracts for insurance, etc-- isn't even true. I wrote about it on my blog here:
ReplyDeleteMcCain Lies to Ellen
Basically, McCain has a history of fighting against the rights of gay couples to share any of the same privileges of married hetero couples. He's even filmed ads in support of the 2006 proposed amendment to the Arizona state constitution that would have banned gay marriage...
As a deaf person, I'm stunned to find that I'm able to use Closed Caption for your Ellen video clips. Is it common with other video clips of other labels as well? Youtube and others don't even have this function.
ReplyDeleteNormally I am the kind of person that so long as an opinion has a well-argued position behind it, I'll respect it even if I vehemently disagree with it.
ReplyDeleteHowever, there are two issues where this is not the case, because on these issues the contrary opinion is just so vile as to be inhuman. One is if you are anti-choice on abortion issues (or, what they laughably call themselves; 'pro-life' *snort*).
The other is, of course, LGBT rights. Seriously, how on earth do people think that they can hold a position that is effectively arguing that we should have less rights, less citizenship, etc, than them, and think that we will just "respect" them for it? That they think their opinion of us as less equal to them should be just be something that we will accept as though it were merely a disagreement over sporting teams?
I'm sorry, but no. Either you think LGBT people are equal to you and hence deserve all rights, including marriage, or you don't think we are equal, in which case you're a bigot. That's the options. You don't respect a bigot.
You don't get to hold an opinion in which we are less human than you and think we will somehow 'respect' you for it. What world do these people think we live in?
really? the best he can come up with is we respectfully disagree? Come the f on! If you are willing to tell an entire population they are less than, at least have a really good reason other than marriage should be between man and woman! Don't just bail on the damn discussion with "we respectfully disagree" there is nothing respectful about telling gay and lesbians that they are less than everyone else!
ReplyDeletewhile i agree with the sentiment of you and most of the commenters, i will give mccain credit for putting himself in what he knew would be an awkward situation. and not including some clause that said this issue could not be discussed.
ReplyDeletehe clearly doesn't get it. but it was nice to see him being forced to sit there and hear our side of things (which ellen did a decent job of articulating).
the more middle america is exposed to our side of the argument, the better.
(it's worth keeping in mind that at this point, none of the potential president-elects, republican or democrat, are willing to support gay marriage).
If you look at McCain's record of supporting the attempted AZ DOMA, you'll see he's not even on the record for supporting the things he said he's for on the show -- the contracting of rights. He's stated his support for the far more draconian version that exists in states such as Virginia and Ohio that would preclude the contracting of rights to approximate marriage.
ReplyDeleteI'm wondering if this man even knows when he's lying.
McCain voted against making MLK, Jr. Day a national holiday to be recognized in AZ. The man is a social Neanderthal. He recently changed that viewpoint and said that he made a mistake b/c he doesn't want to appear to be a bigot (and stupid to boot). He wants to appear to be a rebel and maverick but he is just a Bush "mini-me". He is not the most intelligent of men either. Bush came to AZ today to raise funds for McCain but McCain did not show up at the PRIVATE event b/c he just wants the money that Bush can raise but doesn't want to be associated w/him. They had a private event at an undisclosed location b/c there was going to be a public protest against Bush.
ReplyDeleteA Fan in AZ
i appreciated the way he respectfully said what he had to say. that said, good lord. really makes me want to give up when people demonstrate their ignorance and narrow-mindedness like he did right there *points to video*
ReplyDeleteMy mother didn't raise me to sit at the back of the bus
ReplyDeleteHow can anyone say he was "respectful"? Because he didn't curse? He still considers Ellen and other gays to be less than him and other heteros. He's a hypocrite.
ReplyDeleteA fan in AZ
Hello, i wanna congratulate you for this post, i consider that has good information and is nice to read it.
ReplyDelete