Ten Years Ago Today, Senator Paul Wellstone Died

[Bluenorthwest]

13. I always assume that he was more than his bigoted vote for DOMA indicated....

Let us remember the man as he was, a person who happily voted to prevent equal rights for those he saw as different from himself, a man who never recanted his vote, even in the face of brutal murders by anti gay bigots, Wellstone was still 'torn'. Here is Paul holding to his DOMA vote in a way that made me ask him 'how many crucified kids will it take to unfreeze your soul'
"When Sheila and I attended a Minnesota memorial service for Matthew Shepard, I though to myself, "Have I taken a position that contributed to a climate of hatred?" Of course, I had never believed this when I voted for DOMA. But if you deny people who are in a stable, loving relationship the right to marry, do you deny them their humanity? I still wonder if I did the right thing."
Still wondering. What a guy. Stable, loving couples, he was STILL not able to extend his cold heart to them. What would it have taken to move such a man?
Senator Kerry said this on the floor during the DOMA debate:
"I am going to vote against this bill...because I believe that this debate is fundamentally ugly, and it is fundamentally political. If this were truly a defense of marriage act it would expand the learning experience for would-be husbands and wives. It would provide for counseling for all troubled marriages, not just for those who can afford it. It would provide treatment on demand for those with alcohol and substance abuse.... It would guarantee daycare for every family that struggles and needs it."
See the stark difference between the two men? I sure do. Let's not forget the reality of what Paul left behind. I'm sure he did other things. I just don't care to gloss over his DOMA support. When he voted for it, he punched millions of us in the gut.