John McCain: March 2008 Archives

On March 29, national newswire Reuters reported that residents of certain states – including Florida, a key swing state - will not only be voting for a president this November but also for ballot initiatives that would ban marriage for gay and lesbian couples.  While the ballot initiative has received local coverage, the Reuters article highlights the ways that anti-gay initiatives might not turn out voters in the same numbers during this election cycle for a national audience.

 

In contrast to the 2004 election, these types of ballot initiatives may not have the same power to mobilize anti-gay voters to support Republican candidate John McCain. Reuters pointed out that these voters may already view McCain's political platform as insufficiently anti-gay. "I have a hard time envisioning social conservatives who want to ban gay marriage in Florida getting excited about John McCain at the polls," said Daniel Smith, a political science professor at the University of Florida at Gainesville. "McCain doesn't have the credibility on the issue that Bush had and so people who come out to vote on it may not vote for McCain." As ballot initiatives develop in Florida and other states, it seems that McCain's past opposition to the Federal Marriage Amendment – which President Bush had championed – may prevent him from reaping the spoils of the anti-gay vote.

 

Cindi Creager is Director of National News  

As the media closely scrutinize the campaign supporters of Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, journalists still tend to overlook the outrageous anti-gay comments made by a key supporter of Sen. John McCain.  On March 21, host Dan Abrams of MSNBC's Verdict with Dan Abrams took note of the media's overall inattention to McCain's most controversial endorsees by nicknaming the presidential hopeful "Teflon John." Abrams called particular attention to the revelation in the March 23 issue of The New York Times Magazine that McCain's campaign sought the endorsement of anti-gay televangelist John Hagee. Though Hagee dodged a question in the Times interview about his allegation that Hurricane Katrina was God's punishment for a New Orleans gay pride parade, Abrams provided viewers with the audio clip of his incendiary statement. With so much invested in the 2008 election, it will be interesting to see whether there will be a national conversation about Hagee's anti-gay rhetoric and his endorsement of McCain if the media follow the lead of Abrams and others by continuing to confront the public with the audio of his inflammatory comments.

Cindi Creager is Director of National News

In recent weeks, the media have been busy scrutinizing controversial statements made by the supporters and associates of the leading presidential candidates. We recently noted the work of journalists who brought to light the extreme anti-gay statements made by John McCain supporter and televangelist John Hagee. On the March 14 broadcast of CNN's Anderson Cooper 360, correspondent Tom Foreman continued to take a close look at the anti-gay backgrounds of McCain's high-profile supporters. Foreman brought attention to the alarming anti-gay comments made by televangelist and McCain supporter Rod Parsley, who McCain has called a "spiritual guide."  Parsley was quoted as saying in the report, "I will lift my voice against the agenda of America's tortured and angry homosexual population."

It is encouraging that the media keep raising awareness of the anti-gay comments made by these high-level political supporters.  We hope they continue to question whether this divisive rhetoric reflects the candidates' platforms as well as the views of most Americans.

Paul Karr is the Director of Media Field Strategy

As influential religious and political figures endorse presidential candidates, the media have begun to examine how their statements about different constituencies square with the candidate’s political platform.  San Antonio televangelist John Hagee's (right) recent backing of John McCain led journalists to scrutinize Hagee's incendiary anti-gay and anti-Catholic comments.  On The Washington Post/Newsweek Interactive's "On Faith" website, writer Claire Hoffman questioned whether McCain's proud association with Hagee – who had asserted that God's anger at an upcoming New Orleans gay pride parade caused Hurricane Katrina – reflected the Republican candidate's aspiration to unite a diverse coalition of voters.

Similarly citing Hagee's offensive remarks about gay people and Catholics, both MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann and the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric recently raised questions about McCain's uncritical acceptance of Hagee's endorsement. If the media continue to responsibly examine the anti-gay background of presidential endorsers, they will look into McCain's recent appearance with and praise for Ohio televangelist Rod Parsley.  Parsley, like Hagee, is known for his espousal of virulently anti-gay rhetoric.

This is not the first time the media has questioned the association of anti-gay figures with presidential hopefuls. Last fall, Donnie McClurkin, a conservative minister and supporter of the degayification attempts of so-called “ex-gay” activists, took part in South Carolina rallies for Democratic candidate Barack Obama. After media brought to light McClurkin's anti-gay background and scrutinized it in the context of Obama's inclusive political platform, Obama publicly stated that he "strongly disagrees" with the preacher.  

It is encouraging that the media are continuing to ask whether the anti-gay views of presidential endorsers conflict with candidates' promises to build inclusive and unifying political campaigns.

Cindi Creager is the Director of National News

During this election, media often fail to scrutinize candidates' statements about LGBT issues. The Wall Street Journal’s Washington Wire recently reported that Republican candidate John McCain told a Texas town hall forum that he opposes the repeal of the military's “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. The article quoted McCain saying, “There are some issues in which we just have to rely on the views of our military leaders.” Unfortunately, The Wall Street Journal did not question McCain's assertion that no military leaders oppose discrimination against gay soldiers.

In fact, a number of prominent military leaders have publicly stated their support of the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”  Most prominent among them is former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. John M. Shalikashvili (right). In January 2007, General Shalikashvili penned a much-discussed op-ed in The New York Times stating, “I now believe that if gay men and lesbians served openly in the United States military, they would not undermine the efficacy of the armed forces.”

Justifying his view on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” General Shalikashvili wrote, “Last year I held a number of meetings with gay soldiers and marines, including some with combat experience in Iraq, and an openly gay senior sailor who was serving effectively as a member of a nuclear submarine crew. These conversations showed me just how much the military has changed, and that gays and lesbians can be accepted by their peers.”

In addition to General Shalikashvili's column, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, and others published pieces noting that 28 retired generals and admirals signed a public letter urging Congress to completely repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

As the media continues to discuss the presidential candidates' statements about issues that profoundly impact the lives of LGBT people, we will encourage journalists to examine whether candidates' assertions reflect the reality that increasing numbers of Americans, including some military leaders, now support the ability of gay people to do their jobs and serve their country while living their lives openly.

Cindi Creager is the Director of National News