Clintons Are Under Fire Over Gay Marriage

They're not doing enough, claim same-sex marriage advocates

Bill Clinton needs to apologize for signing the Defense of Marriage Act, and Hillary should come out in favor of same-sex marriage. So say a few high-profile liberal pundits, who have suddenly taken notice of the Clintons' intriguing lack of public support for a favored liberal cause. Hillary is the biggest-name Democrat who has yet to take an explicit position on gay marriage, as Politico notes.

"Where's your apology for signing the Defense of Marriage Act?" asks Frank Bruni of Bill Clinton in his NYTimes column. Hillary needs to step up too, Bruni adds: "it's almost time for Hillary, who is about to step down as secretary of state, to catch up with other cabinet members and President Obama and make her presumed support for same-sex marriage explicit, which she has never done."

To give the Clintons credit, Bill has said DOMA should be repealed and he's campaigned in favor of gay marriage since 2009. And according to Hillary's spokesman Philippe Reines, she has "made providing greater benefits and support to the gays and lesbians who serve our country as diplomats a top priority. As Secretary, she is 100% focused on the job at hand, and nothing after that."

The Seattle paper The Stranger has a more positive take on Hillary's alleged position: "Hillary Clinton Will Soon Support Gay Marriage."

Via Gawker, Politico, the Stranger, and the New York Times.

Should the Clintons be more active in supporting gay marriage?

[MRMacrum]

The Gay rights folks need to get a grip. When and if the Clintons decide to once again be part of the election process, then ask them.

[srs606791163]

No reason to wait until an election to advocate for equal rights.

[MRMacrum]

@srs606791163 - Both of these people are politicians. Timing is everything to a politician.

[srs606791163]

@MRMacrum True I am talking about the good of the country though. We shouldn't have to wait for it to be advantageous for their political careers. That is my only point.

[stepped_in_it]

Bahaha.... guess 'ole Slick Willie signed DOM and after 13 more years of being married to HIMillary, has changed his mind! OR, it's all an appeasement to better his chances for becoming the FIRST MAN in 2016 after Hillary's successful campaign for president! Either way....too funny!

[EquinsuOcha]

Well, it's probably because it should be low on the list of priorities......There are about 4277 more pressing issues..........

[Neo_NtheMatrix]

Actually there are 16T more pressing issues.

[dances-weebles]

actually, it's the most pressing issue on the political plate to date. nothing else even comes close to social equality.

they may not be coming out in defense of gay marriage for two possible reasons: they either don't have a strong opinion on the subject, or they don't favor it. one way or another, their opinions are their own and can't be dictated by any other person.

of course they may have other reasons, but these two are the only ones that i could think of that seemed relevant.

[Fishbone345]

@dances-weebles Liberty suppression and the Government giving itself more and more powers over its citizens should be the ONLY issue.
The fact you compare Gay Marriage to the importance of getting rid of NDAA 12 and Patriot Act is just silly.
I think Gays and Lesbians should have the same rights too, but it's nowhere near as important as our Constitutional Rights being suppressed.

[EquinsuOcha]

@dances-weebles ......LOL.......

[dances-weebles]

@Fishbone345 *smile* it's exactly the same type if issue, is it not? it is the supression of constitutional rights... it feels different when it's our rights... yours and mine; but when it's 'them' it doesn't feel quite so important, huh?

[kramresim1]

Yes

[Tralee]

Whine, whine, whine, get over it guys. Let the government control Civil Unions for all as part of the protection of families and children (Then it can decide how many, who with or what etc.), then let the Church take on Marriage. Gov. has no place in marriage, it's out of their domain.

[woodtick57]

Actually, marriage IS the purview of the state.

religious rites of matrimony have absolutely nothing to do with legal marriage.

[dances-weebles]

@woodtick57 right

[woodtick57]

@dances-weebles

i have not noticed many people getting married in the eyes of their god, and then not filing their marriage certificate with the state...

[dances-weebles]

@woodtick57 oh, i don't know... i think that 'common law' marriage is becoming more and more popular. more folks are opting to keep the both government and the church out of their decision to get married, live together, and raise children.

both marriage and 'holy' matrimony are simply becoming moot. oven i find it somewhat redundant.

[Tralee]

@woodtick57 Yes, I thought I made that quite clear and Marriage is a religious institution, the gov. can cover Civil Unions ("marriage" is NOT the purview of the state), of whoever they want as part of the family protection stuff, the religious "Marriage" should not be part of government, aren't you guys all for separation of church and state?

[Neo_NtheMatrix]

The Clintons should not be coerced to come out in favor of something that many are not in favor of. If they have not expressed their belief in something then so be it. I'm tired of activists trying to force our politicians to go against God.

[Fishbone345]

Because you care about the Clinton's.
Pfft.

[Keyjo]

Many are NOT in favor of, but the majority now ARE in favor!

[MarkJM]

Hillary is leaving a position that has nothing to do with it and Slick Willie has been out of office for over 12 years now. They're really in no position. This is like arguing with a brick wall here.

[Thegrif]

Well obviously if they now come forward in support of it, they will be lying just to keep Libs happy, cause if they truly supported it they would have come forward long ago, right?
It is no different than Obama flip flopping on that same issue. First he was against it, then he comes out with some crap about having a change of heart and supports it, just before election time is about to get rollin, hmm.
So is that what people want, someone that will lie (or call it what you want)?
Political Moto;
Just say what peoe wanna hear, you don't have to mean it.

[cat2009]

That's the trouble with activists of all issues you want people to endorse your kind of lifestyle if not you want to force it on people then you want to start a personal campaign against them. Accept what is and move on.

[twinertia]

I can't believe gay rights activists aren't aware of Mrs. Clinton's deep involvement with The Family. There's no way she's going to rock THAT boat come election time.

[CommonSense]

Absolutely. It's the right thing to do. But in the grand scheme of things I'm more interested in the Clintons' opinion on the ongoing exile of the Chagossian people, ending the war on drugs, and addressing our crazy system of subsidies.

[Dan_Tien]

I'm not doing enough to promote gay marriage either, but that is only because I don't care one way or another. If you care about gay marriage or any other social issue then you have the right to stand up and be heard. You do not have the right to demand that anyone else stand up and support your position, especially on a social issue that does not involve death and destruction. Maybe you should try saying "please".

[jessejaymes]

Absolutely on the money.

[jamie91]

I agree with you Dan. They are not fighting for or against, probably because it is just not important to them.

[Buzzfriendly]

I don't care who sleeps with who, when where or why and there in rest my only beef with so called "gays rights" movements. They have to stick it in my face and make me aware they are not heterosexuals. It not that I care at all what someones sexual preference is but the truth is I don't care and really don't want or need to know. I don't run into my office with heterosexual pride shirts on, I don't run up and down the street telling everyone I am heterosexual so do they feel I need to know what their preference is? Is one thing to want equal rights and that is fine and I don't care if you marry two men and three women at once that's your business I only ask that folks stop trying to make their business my business.

[Denizen_Kate]

Where you been, Buzz?

[Buzzfriendly]

@Denizen_Kate Did you think I hit that lottery :--)
I have been on a geek retreat. I bought myself a new laptop, router, tablet and mobile phone. I also took a couple weeks off from my full time job (so I don't loose the time) to handle my side business. I also run a small IT Consultant shop and had some big jobs come in that required me to help out my guys to finish it up. But I am wrapping things up and should be around to pi$$ folks off on a more regular basis :--)

[Denizen_Kate]

@Buzzfriendly - Yeah, I was kinda hoping and waiting for that big wad of cash you promised!:)

Geek retreat? We have retreats? Other than the annual trek to Comic-Con, that is. ;)

[Fishbone345]

@Denizen_Kate Kate, I knew I liked you. Comic-con made me like you even more!
Vote up on that one.

[Buzzfriendly]

@Denizen_Kate Comic-Con! I would sooo love to go to that. I always envisioned myself as the Vulcan type, however my frame is more akin to the Klingon's.

[bsking]

who cares what the Clinton's position is... just let them go away.

[DARSB]

I'm not sure I understand the criticism. Just last week Ms Clinton made an important speech about the human rights of LGBT people. It didn't specifically mention marriage, though, so I suppose the critics are technically correct. But the Secretary of State has not been silent on the topic. http://goo.gl/yAUR1

[jessejaymes]

This is the never ending daily barrage from the gay agenda (and hugely supported by Politix). Never a day goes by without the gay agenda being forced upon us. I for one am far less tolerant of gays today than I was five years ago because gays have become like the Christian right. Either you support them in goosestepping lock step and never criticize them for anything either as a group or as an individual or you instantly become their "enemy".

[thejimbo]

@PolitixMary WHO CARES!?

[Zazziness]

While the Clintons do need to be vocal about their support for same-sex marriage, let's face it: they are not exactly the poster children for how to operate a marriage. Maybe they should stay in the background on this issue.

[Petergriffin]

And your suprised because....