The Republicans could be reaping the benefits of this just as we did when gay marriaged was imposed by the Massachusetts judiciary. But instead of showing we respect the uniform even when we disagree with the point, the idiots in that crowd handed Obama a perfect weapon with which to label all Republicans as haters. Thanks, guys!
Debates should be dispassionate, not another excuse for people to pretend they`re at a game sshow. If you can`t be an adult and shut up for the time it takes for a debate, to allow the issues to be put out there and so the candidates can express positions [like Santorum`s] that make our points rationally, then stay home. Those bigmouthed boors were the best campaigners Obama could ask for.
When our side says`We weren`t booing HIM but what he SAID!` -- every leftist protestor says that.
I really don’t have much of a problem with gay marriage either. If it is between two consenting adults, then the state should not interfere with their private lives.
In my job as communications director of Defenders of Republicans Unfairly Attacked by the Media and Then Immediately Sold Out by Their Fellow Republicans (DORUAMATISOTFR), I am required to point out that the question and audience reaction went like this:
“In 2010, when I was deployed to Iraq ...”
(No booing.)
“I had to lie about who I was ...”
(No booing — despite the fact that not talking about your sex life with your co-workers is not lying about who you are. In fact, many Americans manage quite easily to go days and days without talking about their sex lives with co-workers.)
“because I’m a gay soldier ...”
(No booing, although we didn’t ask and would prefer that you not tell.)
“and I didn’t want to lose my job.”
(No booing.)
To recap: So far, a remarkably boo-free interaction.
Finally, we got to the question: “My question is, under one of your presidencies, do you intend to circumvent the progress that’s been made for gay and lesbian soldiers in the military?”
Then there was booing. And for good reason.
It is beyond absurd to demand that Republican candidates pledge not to consider altering a recent rule change overturning a military policy that had been in effect from the beginning of warfare until the last few weeks of the 111th Congress.
Of course there was booing for that!
At the time of the vote — five minutes ago — only eight Republicans in the entire U.S. Senate supported eliminating Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. It’s safe to assume that no one on the stage supported this sexualization of the military, except maybe one of the nut candidates polling at 3 percent.
This is not an anti-gay position; it’s a pro-military position. The basic idea is that sexual bonds are disruptive to the military bond.