Here’s a quick glance at what Jason Bellini and Itay Hod from CBS News on Logo got out of the VIPs and audience members in the crowd in their post-show wrap-up:
Briefly…
Jason speaks to Chris Wolfe of the Victory Fund who says: “It was historic!” And which unscripted moments resonated? “Bill Richardson stumbled… It was a groaning moment in the room.”
Itay speaks with Susan Stanton, the city manager from Largo, FL who was fired for being transgender. She was impressed by Clinton’s “enthusiasm” and “convictions.”
Itay also speaks with MTV Networks head honcho Judy McGrath who heralds the event “humbling” and a “great moment in civil rights.” But claims “it was too short;I wanted them to talk all day.” She gets a bit “rah, rah, rah!” over the affair, but it’s sort of why she’s a good boss. Amen! But who did she like the most? We’ll never know…
Jason then talks to former Marine and Advocate cover man Eric Alva. “Clinton made a good point,” he says about the early struggles of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell”: It would have been hard to do better back when it was introduced with the Republican Congress. So he’s a fan of Hillary? He wont’ say… Hmph.
Suddenly, Itay is standing with an elderly lesbian couple, as he rolls in the clip of Mike Gravel talking about how his older generation and “most of them are wrong!” and will be in history’s “dustbin” with their outdated thoughts. Back to the older couple, Renee and Gail, and their take on it all. Basically, they’re suprised and thrilled that this is all happening; it would have been impossible back in the day! They’re sweet, and their big print jackets and feisty looks say plenty. Rock on, elder lesbians! It’s great that they’re there.
Jason then notes, “Nobody talked about the Iraq War.” Hey, wait a minute… He’s right. Maybe it’s just a given that we all agree with? Where’s the debate-worthy topic in that?
Victory Fund’s Chris Wolfe thinks other fun topics on people’s minds will be how Kucinich and Gravel raved sweetly about “love.” Who didn’t love them? Bong hits, anyone?
But the best bit of the CBS News on Logo post-show…
ALEC MAPA!!! His take on each candidate is delicious and priceless!
Dennis Kucinich: “He was magical! It’s like he was born in a flower…” “Like Santa Claus!!!” Or was that Gravel?
Barack Obama: “He looked me in the eye and told me he loved me!!!!”
Bill Richardson: “He was like Eeyore! ‘Oh well, I tried my best…” Talk about bringing down the room…”
John Edwards: “He seemed patronizing… Like, he just discovered that homeless gay youth is a crisis! Duh! You can tell he’s not really intimate with our community or issues.”
And on Hillary Clinton: “She seemed like a leader. She walked in and you could tell she was among friends. Really one of us… With a real level of comfort.”
Basically, Mapa nailed it. Can he do commentary on every debate from here on out?
Digg This
So along time ago rumor had it that Hillary Clinton was going to run for
President and Gov. Bill Clinton was going to be Vice. Thing was..not many
people in the US knew who the hell Bill was! It isn't surprising because not
many people in the US know that New Mexico ISN'T Mexico! (Which is why on our
NM license plates it says U.S.A.).
2 years later....both Hillary and Bill are running for the Bulls eye of
politics seat. Bill got his name out there....a lot of supports for being a
minority man, and from a state that is "part of Mexico". Most his campaigning
ads didn't bash the other runners but stated his credentials. Instead of
using blood and war to get the people to vote, he used humor. Sad thing
is...one of the most well known downfalls during his campaigning was when
Melissa Etheridge asked him if he thought being gay was biological or a
choice, it went like this:
"During the Logo Democratic forum in August 2007, Melissa Etheridge, one of
the moderators asked Bill Richardson if homosexuality is a choice. Richardson
said, "It's a choice." Melissa then tried to see if he understood the
question, by asking if he believes gays are born that way. Richardson fumbled
along saying he's not a scientist, but he sees gays and lesbians as people."
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I really want to know what kind of question that is anyways! There is NOT a
right answer cause most of us gay people really don't KNOW if we were born
that way or not!! I can honestly say I was not born gay, nature didn't have a
role, but nurture did. My environment that I grew up around played a part in
my comfort in being a lesbian. I do have quite a few friends who I do truly
believe were born gay, my girlfriend being one of them.
So here is Bill being bashed by gay's and lesbian's because he was thrown off
by a very unfair question. What about the amazing thing's Bill HAS done for
the gay's and lesbian's in the state of NM? Here is a personal example:
Jalilah is an employee of the State of NM with her civilian job, Bill is her
boss....I am considered her Domestic Partner in this state where not only I
receive her benefits but so do my kids! THANKS BILL! Also, gays and lesbians
of NM can marry in MA:
FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2007
New Mexico Same-Sex Couples Can Marry in MA Because New Mexico's laws do not
prohibit marriage between parties of the same gender, there is no impediment
to New Mexico same-sex couples marrying in Massachusetts (see www.glad.org
for information about the 2006 MA SJC decision that led to this conclusion).
Yesterday, July 18, The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, via the Department of
Public Health and Registry of Vital Records and Statistics, issued a
corrective notice to all Massachusetts city and town clerks authorizing them
to allow same-sex couples from New Mexico to apply for marriage licenses.
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Look at some of the other things Bill did for the community~ This is from
Kathy Belge on about.com:
Bill Richardson's Background: Bill Richardson is the Governor of New Mexico
since 2002. As Governor, he as been a big supporter of gay and lesbian rights
and added sexual orientation and gender identity to New Mexico's list of
civil rights law. He was a member of congress for 14 years representing New
Mexico. He was U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations in 1997, which he left
in order to become Secretary of Energy during the Clinton administration.
Employment Non-Discrimination: Bill Richardson supports the trans-inclusive
Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA).
Hate Crimes: Bill Richardson supports hate crimes laws that are inclusive of
sexual orientation.
Gay Marriage: Bill Richardson is against gay marriage, but he does not think
the Constitution should be amended to define marriage as between a man and a
woman.
Civil Unions: Bill Richardson support civil unions and domestic partnerships.
He supports federal recognition of civil unions.
Gay and Lesbian Adoption: Bill Richardson supports gay and lesbian couples
adopting children. When he was a guest on the Michelangelo Signorile Show on
Sirus Out Q radio he said, "I think that gay relationships are human decency,
they're love, they promote families. I'm for gay adoption. I think it's very
healthy because there are millions of kids in this country that have no
homes."
Don't Ask, Don't Tell: Bill Richardson supports getting rid of the military's
"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. "I voted against it as a congressman," he
said. "A president has to show leadership. And this country should not be
asking a person who is giving up their life for this country and the military
should not be giving lecture on sexual orientation."
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So my point to all this is....Bill was smart running for a spot in the hot
seat, but not to actually become President but to get himself out there, to
be known, Why? My prediction is you will see Clinton/Richardson....at the
polls. Just a hunch...but damn all in all a VERY VERY SMART PR MOVE!
Regardless of their personal feelings on issues of marriage equality, the fact that they at least identified and elaborated upon the various issues -- adoption rights, employment non-discrimination, immigration rights, etc. -- brings them out into the public space, and makes them viable topics of discussion.
More recap will come in my newsletter, next week.
Jonathon Feit
Chief Editor & Publisher,
"Equality Media Newsletter"
FREE at www.withthisring-magazine.com
Love and Vale,
-LD