Posted on 03/05/2007 10:14:27 AM PST by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON - Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton told the nation's leading gay rights group in an unpublicized speech that she wants a partnership with gays if elected president.
Clinton also said she opposes the "don't ask, don't tell" policy regarding gays in the military that was instituted during her husband's presidency.
"I am proud to stand by your side," Clinton said in a keynote speech Friday to the Human Rights Campaign. Neither Clinton's campaign nor her Senate office made any announcement that she would be making the Friday address.
In the speech, Clinton joked that she shares the same initials as the group, and pledged to maintain the same close working relationship that last year helped defeat the federal amendment which would have banned same-sex marriage.
"I want you to know that this is exactly the kind of partnership we will have when I am president," Clinton told the group. "I want you to know that just as you always have an open door to my senate office, you will always have an open door to the White House and together we can continue this journey."
Clinton's husband Bill Clinton was president when the Pentagon instituted the "don't ask, don't tell" policy, which says gays may serve in the military only if they keep their sexual orientation private. In 1999, as she prepared to run for the Senate from New York, Clinton publicly opposed that policy.
Previous to Bill Clinton's administration, gays were flatly forbidden from serving in the military.
Sen. Clinton said it would be safer for the nation if openly gay soldiers, sailors, Marines, and airmen could wear the uniform.
"This policy doesn't just hurt gays and lesbians, it hurts all our troops and this to me is a matter of national security and we're going to fix it," Clinton said.
Her chief rivals for the Democratic nomination, John Edwards and Barack Obama (news, bio, voting record), also favor repealing the policy.
She also attacked the Bush administration for making political appeals based on gay rights issues, vowing that her presidency would mark "the end of leadership that has politicized the most personal and intimate issues."
Human Rights Campaign vice president David Smith said Clinton's comments were "very well received," though he added the group is not endorsing any candidate and does not anticipate making an endorsement "anytime soon."
Clinton spokesman Blake Zeff said Tuesday the candidate "affirmed her desire to have a strong partnership with the community as president," adding they were "delighted" the speech was available on the Internet.
Clinton aides said no announcement was made because the group's gathering is traditionally closed to the press. Video of the speech was posted on the group's Web site.
Smith said such annual board meetings have always been closed to the press, but it was the first time he could remember that a speech at such a meeting had been made public afterward.
"There's no contradiction," he said. "The event is always closed to the press and we wanted to make (the remarks) available for people to see."
Admit it you sicko's. You were looking for HRC cameltoe.
I apologize Lord for that remark, and all the starving children in Neworleans. (:^D)
Hillary IS a gay activist.
If you look closely, you'll see the dildo - in fact, he's holding her hand
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2006/10/27/180417.shtml?s=icp
Very odd that AP has written up this secret speech. I wonder how many outlets will print it?
I was wondering how long they will run this title before changing it... It's on Yahoo as is , they usually run their own version of titles, not this time,, Hmmmm.. it's on a lot of rags ap wire sections , btw
AP for Obama? lol
If Hillary is so open why doesnt she come out of the closet and tell us who her gay lover is?
We know damned well she isnt sleeping with Bill.
Photo of Hillary and Suzi Orman in the Suzi October scrapbook towards the back. They look like such a cute couple.
http://www.suzeorman.com/scrapbookalbums/Oct2006.html
So, she's competing for the John Edwards' vote....
So under what circumstances does any presidential candidate make an unpublisized speech?!!!
-first time she isn't carpetbagging I suspect.
How much longer before she is fighting for Bill's vote? ;-)
U.S. presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama (L) greets former U.S. President Bill Clinton after a re-enactment of the1965 Selma to Montgomery march in Selma, Alabama, March 4, 2007. REUTERS/Lee Celano (UNITED STATES)
How dare you say that. That's so offensive.
Oh wait, you said carpetbagging. Nevermind.
:D
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., waves while taking part in the traditional walk across the Edmund Pettus Bridge to commemorate the 1965 Selma to Montgomery March, Sunday March 4, 2007 in Selma, Ala. (AP Photo/Kevin Glackmeyer)
How hysterical is that? Hillary sure knows how to deliver the knee-slappers. /s
Look ma, no botox!!
Their only other choice is no photos at all.
Her bedroom door. In the morning. So they can leave.
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