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2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: Neither Bill Nor Hillary Supported Marriage Equality in the 1990's. [View all]Agschmid
(28,749 posts)50. All our candidates evolved on this issue.
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders likes to describe himself as a longtime supporter of marriage equalityin sharp contrast to his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, whos still striving to convince her base that shes on board with LGBT rights. In May, Sanders famously told New York Times columnist Gail Collins that Im not evolving when it comes to gay rights. I was there! Liberal outlets consistently describe Sanders as a pioneer for marriage equality. As proof of his pro-LGBT credentials, Sanders frequently touts his opposition in 1996 to the Defense of Marriage Act, which barred the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages.
Mark Joseph Stern Mark Joseph Stern
But Sanders is not quite the gay rights visionary his defenders would like us to believe. Sanders did oppose DOMAbut purely on states rights grounds. And as recently as 2006, Sanders opposed marriage equality for his adopted home state of Vermont. The senator may have evolved earlier than his primary opponents. But the fact remains that, in the critical early days of the modern marriage equality movement, Sanders was neutral at best and hostile at worst.
Mark Joseph Stern Mark Joseph Stern
But Sanders is not quite the gay rights visionary his defenders would like us to believe. Sanders did oppose DOMAbut purely on states rights grounds. And as recently as 2006, Sanders opposed marriage equality for his adopted home state of Vermont. The senator may have evolved earlier than his primary opponents. But the fact remains that, in the critical early days of the modern marriage equality movement, Sanders was neutral at best and hostile at worst.
Source.
Yes he is better than Hillary here, I agree. But the record isn't blemish free.
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Bernie supported us in everything we fought for in the 1990's. And the 1980's... 70's... 60's...etc
Fearless
Oct 2015
#6
There were lots of politicians who hadn't bothered to formally take a position on SSM
jfern
Oct 2015
#55
Got it! You made the claim that he opposed same sex marriage and can't back it up.
beam me up scottie
Oct 2015
#64
That's a different question, but he saying he opposed SSM in 2006 because of that debate is bogus
jfern
Oct 2015
#79
Very true, we can choose to move on to the future or remain in the past, I like today much better.
Thinkingabout
Oct 2015
#8
Know who else changed since the 90's? Elizabeth Warren. "Evolving" is not a bad word, if context
Fred Sanders
Oct 2015
#2
I vehemently disagree with his "personal evolution" on LGBT rights. Yes. Emphatically.
Fearless
Oct 2015
#10
You were not in a position of power in the 1990's. What you believed doesn't impact this nation.
Fearless
Oct 2015
#29
Neither did I. I am an old geezer and grew up in an age that was much different than todays's in
justhanginon
Oct 2015
#26