Friday, May 06, 2005

Irony Is a Dish Best Served Steaming Hot

Ah, what a difference a year makes.

John Kerry, erstwhile Democratic Party Presidential candidate and part-time US Senator, seems to have annoyed a few "gay rights" groups and activists with his recent statements:

U.S. Sen. John Kerry, visiting Louisiana for a forum on children's health care, criticized the Massachusetts Democratic Party for its expected approval of a statement in the party platform in support of same-sex marriage.

"I think it's a mistake," Kerry said. "I think it's the wrong thing, and I'm not sure it reflects the broad view of the Democratic Party in our state."


Of course, at that point, these activists and groups went into full-bore feather boa shriek mode.

The Human Rights Campaign denounced the statements of Sen. John Kerry yesterday, who called the decision of the Massachusetts Democratic Party adding support to its platform for same-sex marriage equality “a mistake.”

National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Calls Senator John Kerry's Remarks on Marriage Equality "Wrong" and "a Mistake"

Today, the National Stonewall Democrats (NSD) strongly disagreed with the position of Senator John Kerry (D-MA) regarding a proposed marriage equality plank in the platform of the Massachusetts Democratic Party.

Masssachusetts already has gay marriage. Hundreds of gay couples have been married. And John Kerry doesn't think the Democratic Party should support their rights?

Quite a contrast from their glowing praise of him last year.

The Human Rights Campaign today endorsed Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., for President of the United States. The decision was made by HRC’s board of directors based on the candidate’s support for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality, demonstrated leadership and his viability to win in November.

"John Kerry and John Edwards make up the most gay-supportive national ticket in American history," said Task Force Executive Director Matt Foreman.

"Even before his first year in the Senate almost twenty years ago, Senator Kerry has been a friend to gay and lesbian families," said Dave Noble, NSD executive director. "There has never been a presidential nominee who has held such a strong record of support for our community."

And, two of my particular favorites:

This woman gets it, guys. The Kerry campaign, in my view, tried very hard with today's speeches at the caucus to win over any gay doubters, and I have to tell you, they won me.

I don't care what anyone says about John Kerry - yeah, he's bad on gay marriage, who isn't?

Moreover, all of that praise came while Kerry was making statements like these:

Presidential candidate John F. Kerry said yesterday that he supports amending the Massachusetts Constitution to ban gay marriage and provide for civil unions for gay couples......

Kerry's position is also contrary to that of the Massachusetts Democratic Party, which last month endorsed gay marriage......

Earlier this year, Kerry was the only member of the state's all-Democrat congressional delegation who chose not to sign a letter urging the state Legislature to reject a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.


Sen. John Kerry said in an interview published yesterday that he would have voted for the gay-marriage ban passed overwhelmingly this week by Missouri voters.
The Democratic presidential nominee, who spent parts of two days stumping across the state, told The Kansas City Star the ballot measure was the same as one his home state of Massachusetts passed a few years ago. Kerry supported that measure.


So I guess the question becomes.... what is the difference between what Kerry is saying this year and what he said last year?

My tongue-in-cheek guess: Last year, Kerry's checks didn't bounce.

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