Posted on 09/15/2004 4:33:53 PM PDT by MikeJ75
CARBONDALE -- Alan Keyes has defined himself as a man who is not afraid to speak his mind regardless of political repercussions.
In a mass e-mail sent Monday, however, the Republican Senate candidate defended his stance on homosexuals and criticized the media for "attacking" him on remarks he has recently made.
"I am under fierce attack from the homosexual lobby and their same-sex marriage allies in the press," Keyes wrote in the e-mail. "Our campaign's fund-raising, which was just kicking into high gear, has suffered a blow because some establishment Republican figures have become fearful of the liberal media's attacks on me. Some of our GOP leaders are now distancing themselves from my candidacy."
In the e-mail, which is partly a campaign update and partly a fund-raising mechanism, Keyes defended his previous remarks made at the same time as the Republican National Convention.
"If we embrace homosexuality as a proper basis for marriage, we are saying that it's possible to have a marriage state that in principle excludes procreation and is based simply on the premise of selfish hedonism," Keyes had said.
But the trouble, as Keyes explained, was when a reporter asked if by Keyes' definition the vice president's lesbian daughter -- Mary Cheney -- is a selfish hedonist, to which Keyes responded, "That goes by definition. Of course she is."
The e-mail was widely circulated to Keyes supporters, the media and the Barack Obama campaign.
"I refuse to let America end up like Canada, where it is a crime to speak publicly -- even from the pulpit -- against homosexual behavior without being held criminally liable for 'hate speech,'" Keyes wrote.
Bill Pascoe, Keyes campaign manager, said Keyes is opposed to gay marriage and civil unions.
Keyes opposes legislation that would add sexual orientation to the Illinois Human Rights Act, said Dan Proft, Keyes spokesperson.
The legislation Proft was referring to was the Illinois Non-Discrimination Bill Senate Bill 2597, formally SB 101, which would prohibit discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations on the basis of one's sexual orientation.
One of the sponsors of the bill is Keyes' opponent Obama.
Robert Gibbs, spokesman for Obama, said Obama is against discrimination.
While Obama supports laws that guarantee basic rights to same sex couples, including recognition of domestic partnerships, Obama opposes gay marriage.
"Our position on gay marriage is the same position held by John McCain and Dick Cheney, who are opposed to gay marriage, but are also opposed to a constitutional amendment that is unnecessary," Gibbs said. "If you compared the views of Barack Obama and the views of Alan Keyes, you would find that Barack Obama is the mainstream and Alan Keyes is not even in the mainstream of his own party."
Gibbs said as the campaign has traveled around the state, gay marriage is not an issue that usually comes up as a main concern.
"People ask about jobs and health care -- those things take up a lot more of their time and their thinking in their everyday lives," Gibbs said.
Obama will be in Carbondale on Sept. 17.
Why can't one Democrat be honest and just say they favor gay marriage. If you oppose gay marriage, but aren't willing to do anything about it, you are not opposed to it.
Our position?
I noticed yesterday Obama in the news talking pluraly about himself. "I have no control over Mr. Keyes’ strategy. I have control over our strategy. We’re not really overly concerned with Mr. Keyes’ comments on a day-to-day basis. At some point, he will presumably engage us..."
Who's the "we" behind the curtain?
Excuse me, but what the hell are "domestic partnerships"?
"People ask about jobs and health care -- those things take up a lot more of their time and their thinking in their everyday lives," Gibbs said.
He continued, "people aren't talking about Obama's work to keep infanticide legal. 'To hell with the babies,' you might say.'"
"But I'm concerned that Alan might bring this issue to the fore during the debates."
As a Pubbie on this site, who is clear and candid that he favors gay marriage, albeit not via the courts, folks respect my honesty, and give me a pass. It is damn easy to just be upfront. I really don't know understand why it so difficult for so many folks. It is so dysfunctional. Indeed, the few Pubbie politicians in office who support gay marriage in office have thrived. It just depends on whether or not they are otherwise respected and trusted, and have a demonstrated record of demonstrating a reasonable judgment on the big issues that matter.
I think anyone who supports homosexual marriage is definitely not conservative.
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