- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- March 2009
- October 2006
- July 2002
America's Leading Gay News Source
Paul Begala should shut up about marriage
Paul Begala, the political dinosaur who advised Bill Clinton in the early ’90s, appeared on CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360 tonight to criticize President Obama’s public position on marriage equality.
Begala told Cooper that Obama is “late to the party” when it comes to the issue.
Who is Begala kidding? Did he advise Clinton to sign the Defense of Marriage Act? Or “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell?” Talk about late to the party, Begala’s BFF Hillary Clinton still hasn’t endorsed marriage equality, even though she’s found time to record an “It Gets Better” video.
CNN needs to update its corps of political commentators. Begala is a ’90s relic who lacks credibility when criticizing modern political leaders for their public views on social issues. Sure, Bill Clinton belatedly came around to endorsing marriage equality — long after Dick Cheney did. But Clinton played the gay community for years and Begala was his closest adviser.
Bill Clinton can’t touch Barack Obama when it comes to support for the LGBT community. Begala should recognize that and explain his own role in the duplicitous Clinton years.
Tagged with Anderson Cooper, Bill Clinton, marriage equality, Paul Begala
We welcome your thoughtful, respectful comments. Please read our 'Terms of Service' page for more information about community expectations.
Comments from new visitors, flagged users, or those containing questionable language are automatically held for moderation and may not appear immediately.
view print edition
Or maybe you should shut up, Kevin. You know, in the 90′s things were different. You couldn’t just come out in support of gay marriage and get elected back then. I suppose you think everyone should have just handed every election over to the Republicans until the public was ready? Throw women and poor people and everyone else under the bus until you got what YOU wanted? Of course you do. I worked in the gay right’s movement for a long time. I had plenty opportunities to be reminded that gay men are happy to throw women and our rights under the bus when it’s convenient for them. So stay off the high road, okay? You don’t belong there.
Further, Obama hasn’t done anything different than Clinton did. He has only had the opportunity to be more openly supportive because if how far the movement has come. But he hasn’t done anything bold or taken any hard stands. Don’t lie to yourself.
[Translate]
Oh, and btw, attacking Hillary Clinton for not coming out in favor of gay marriage while effectively defending Obama for NOT coming out in favor of gay marriage just illustrates my point. Women are supposed to do the right thing but the boys can play politics all they want, right?
[Translate]
Gee, Kevin. How do you respond to SEL? Please don’t hide under your desk…
[Translate]
Sounds like barking back, Kevin… Too blatantly partisan, although without any real merit. Sorry.
[Translate]