ANd so has never been in a posiition to have the power to do so.
Sorry DSC, but all the Dean supporters on DU ever do is present their personal opinion about Dean, and provided absolutely NO evidence to counter or explain Deans reticence about acting on Civil Unions or anything.
He was the leader of Vermton. It was his place to place HIS platform before the party that he led, and lay out his plan for legislation in the state he was elected to Govern.
Kerry has wither written or sponsored tweleve different pieces of federal legislation designed to protect gay rates including the hate crimes act, and he led the investigation to nail people in the military who were actively loking for gays in opposition to Clintons dont ask dont tell policies. Sorry, when it comes to legislation protecting gays, Kerry is far ahead of Dean in demanding that laws be written, writing them, and trying to push them through congress.
It was Deans job as governor to do this as well. Did he?
It is the obigation of the elected executive officer to ask his party to write and place forth legialtion that falls within the scope of the government that they have been given power over. Same thing with legislators.
Dean had authority over Marraige Laws. That is a staes right issue. Sorry, but Dean did nothing, initiated nothing. It is typical of Dean supporters to try to try to comparte apples and oranges.
Dena was essentially, the "PRESIDENT:" of Vermont. He decides the issues and agendas of imposrtance during the terms to which he is elected. AS Bush asked for legislation for drilling in ANWR, and For laws making partial birth abortion, It was in Deans power as the head of a state to address marriage laws. That is oustise of federal jurisdiction.
for a very long time:
Kerry has a very strong record on voting pro-gay in the Senate. The Defense of Marriage bill, which was passed by the Clinton administration, was voted NO by Kerry, one of only a handful of dissenters. He also voted to include anti-gay crimes as hate crimes, and voted in the 80s to include gays in the military without obstruction, and this was before the gay issue was a hot topic. Also, he voted to end anti-gay discrimination in the workplace. I hope Dean's not placing his belief on the mere fact that Kerry voted for the Patriot Act, because it's really tiring having to argue that one.
Sorry. Kerry has purposefully set out to do more for gays and set his career on the line doing so many times. Far more than Dean.
And ths issue of a amendment to the Vermont Constitution was well dealt with by the wording by the Vermont Supreme Court, The other states supreeme courts that did create amamendments did so becasue the rulings of the Supreme Courts of those states left out a word in thie ruling.
The Vermont Supreme Court states that it was constitutional for gays to be given the same rights as straight regarding ALL civil laws in Vermont. Stated it was unconstitutional to deny those rights. By writing their judgement and opinions in this way, they were telling the legilature that any amendment to change this ruling would be unconstitutional, which is why you saw no attempt to amend the Vermont Constitution and why you still see nop one trying to do so.
The Supreme Court prevented them from doing so. Once a right is granted constitutionally, it can only be expanded, not reversed.
2002 On the votes that the Human Rights Campaign considered to be the most important in 2002, Senator Kerry voted their preferred position 100 percent of the time.
2002 Bsed on legislative votes, sponsorship of legislation not voted upon, and endorsements of special "dear colleague" letters that the Arab American Institute considered to be the most important in 2002, Senator Kerry supported their preferred position 75 percent of the time.
2002 On the votes that the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda considered to be the most important in 2002, Senator Kerry voted their preferred position 82 percent of the time.
2001-2002 On the votes that the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People considered to be the most important in 2001-2002, Senator Kerry voted their preferred position 100 percent of the time.
2001-2002 On the votes that the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights considered to be the most important in 2001-2002, Senator Kerry voted their preferred position 100 percent of the time.
2001 On the votes that the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People considered to be the most important in 2001, Senator Kerry voted their preferred position 100 percent of the time.
2001 On the votes that the Human Rights Campaign considered to be the most important in 2001, Senator Kerry voted their preferred position 100 percent of the time.
2001 On the votes that the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda considered to be the most important in 2001, Senator Kerry voted their preferred position 82 percent of the time.
2000 On the votes that the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda considered to be the most important in 2000, Senator Kerry voted their preferred position 100 percent of the time.
2000 On the votes that the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People considered to be the most important in 2000, Senator Kerry voted their preferred position 93 percent of the time.
1999-2000 On the votes that the Human Rights Campaign considered to be the most important in 1999-2000, Senator Kerry voted their preferred position 100 percent of the time.
1999-2000 On the votes that the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights considered to be the most important in 1999-2000, Senator Kerry voted their preferred position 94 percent of the time.
If this were school Kerry would have like a B+ or A average. His worst percentage was 75% that is better than what most republicans get, so Kerry can defend his record easily. This really is what turns me off about Dean really, I am not even a Kerry supporter but Kerry was one of the first to bring attention to gay rights I've been told, those are good grades people
http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=S0421103#Civil+RightsKerry's records on civil right and gay right blows Deans ONE decision away. And Dean did not aske for gay rights legislation EVER.
Sorry, I beleive that gays shoould be treated by aprathjeid like separate laws, but must have the exact same rights that I as a straight person have in every way, under every circumstance. AND NOW.
NO Half measures.
I spent much of my career as a librarian, and have taken a fais share of getting myself beaten bloody when seeing one of my co-workers being gay bashed when trying to get to their carts to go home at night, and running to help out.
I have hadcto help gay friends put their livews togetther when they have been burned out of their houses by neighbors who didnt want gays next doors in areas that were being "gentriied"
AS a matter of fact, because of my profession, I have often had females tell me that other people have told them that I am gay. These women seemed concerned that I was not particularly offended by the label. Am not, never have been. Consider myself in good company. But I dont like half assed solutions like Deans. And I dont like his statements about being as uncomfortable with gay marriage as anyone else. I am part of anyone else and I am not bothered by it.
So far the best answer I have head is Kerry's who said he beleived that marriage was something between men and women, but if legislation wass introduced to make marriage legal for gays, he would sign it into law.
But he stated that he did not beleive the political will was there for it.
Dean did precious little regarding civil rights, and gay right of his own volition while governor. Again, it was even more within his power at the state level that it is in Kerry's power at the federal.
Now come on, show me the vast amount of Dean inspered and Dean requested and Dean backed legislstion that matches Kerry's.
Agin, DSC and all of the other Dean supporters can only come up with opinions about Dean, based on what he states, but cannot come up with one but of legislation that proves what he has DONE. That he has led fights in.
Instead, when asked about what Dean did of his own volition they cannot come up with ANYTHING, and then aske what other candidates have done. Well if that is the only response you can come up with, and Dean has done NO MORE than others, and less than others in many cases. then he is less deserving, not more deserving of support.
AND since Kerry has done FAR more to defend gay rights, it is Kerry who gays should support, not Dean.