An eye on the election!! Who is the right Candidate?

[DanaH]

I know how dangerous it is to start political threads, but I want to anyway.

I missed the Democratic debate, but read it online. I caught the Republican debate.

I want to make the right decision in this election. Regardless of who gets elected, I want to vote for the right person.

Can a black man or a woman win? I don't know.

Can a Republican win? Is the only way a Republican can win is if a black man or woman run.

That said, here is my disclaimer. No, I am not a bigot, and I have nothing against either Hillary or Barack, or for that matter women or African Americans. Acutally, Barack is my congressman, and I lobbied in his office just a few weeks ago and I found his office to be wonderfully accepting and just buzzing with energy.

Is the "Gay" issue enought to vote one way or the other.

I'm not Gay, but I am Transgendered, does that put me further down the ladder? Maybe not a political question, but I group myself with the "Gay question" when it is mentioned.

The Democrats only talked about Gay Marriage, or Gay Unions, agreeing that we shouldn't be allowed to be married.

The Republicans said that Now wasn't the time to challenge Don't Ask Don't Tell. Does that mean that there is enough going on in the world that they don't have time for us? We don't rate?

I hear in e-mail where Barack says he backs us, but I don't see it in the debates.

I am only in the last 5 years really coming out, so please don't scream, don't argue, and don't preach. I am so very interested in this election. Can we have a debate here on the issues and who is the right candidate, Republican or Democrat? I would love to see this thread last till the election, if for no other reason but to help me decide.

Thank you.

[Zerbie]

Oh I'm sure there will be plenty of election threads between now and Nov 08.

I don't think Hillary has a chance. Too much anti-Hillary stuff out there. Too much sexism.

I think Obama's chances are better, but I don't know if they are good enough.

My childhood dream of voting a progressive black lesbian into the White House is still a long way off.

The gay issue is lose/lose for politicians, pretty much no matter what.

I'm not at all decided yet either. As long as Republican candidates are the likes of McCain, I'm not even considering them. Maybe a complete surprise will come along? It's still early enough, right? Interesting side-note, my mom's best friend from her college days was just hired as a consultant for the Obama campaign.

Well, I'm going away now before the fights begin.

[ladyinred]

I watched the republican debate and listened to Ron Paul, now I know alot of people don't agree with him and I don't on certain things, but I think I would vote for a candidate who is willing to work on resolving the issue with the war in Iraq. It is just too costly and I honestly don't think it is going anywhere. I guess I have concerns about education, the environment, social security, and other things I know no politicians are perfect, but I will probably do more research on the candidates before I make up my mind. On the issues.org is a good source of information. Even though I've voted traditionally democrat, I'm not so much affiliated with a party. I would have to vote for on what the person stands for.

The gay issue is risky business for politicians, but I feel most American support GLBT rights. It would take alot of courage for any politician to stand up and say ,"Hey look I think that gay people should have the same rights as anyone else.But actually that is what JFK said when he addressed segregation. He tried to get people to see things from the "black point of view and what if you were in their shoes perspective. But I guess it depends on the candidate and whether he sees it as a risk to his chances for running. Unfortunately sad but true.

[tpdncr4christ]

I should be President. And SoulForce could be my cabinet.

I would legalize all forms of marriage between people, and make a law decreeing people with bad fashion had to attend fashion school to learn to look fabulous.

Yep. Turner for President. '08... let's make it happen.

[BrentRichards]

Originally Posted by tpdncr4christ

I should be President. And SoulForce could be my cabinet.

I would legalize all forms of marriage between people, and make a law decreeing people with bad fashion had to attend fashion school to learn to look fabulous.

Yep. Turner for President. '08... let's make it happen.

I'm there Austin ... I think I'll write you in.

[Progo35]

you know, I watched the democratic discussion on religion and I didn't see a lot of discussion on homosexuality, interestingly. Also I saw NO discussion of disabilities or the issue of disabled people being denied medical care, but that's to be expected, given that few people know about it. I'm right with you on the LGBT issues-I don't know how I would handle a canidate that, for instance, was keen on LGBT issues or poverty issues but negative or complacent on disability issues, or vice versa. Excuse me for interjecting the issues of disabilities into a discussion of LBGT rights and politics, but that's usually where I draw comparisions from.

[BrentRichards]

Originally Posted by Progo35

Excuse me for interjecting the issues of disabilities into a discussion of LBGT rights and politics, but that's usually where I draw comparisions from.

Don't think you need to be excused for that! In my book, it's called empathy ... your experience of misunderstanding and mistreatment is not entirely dissimilar to ours ... compare away!

[Vanessa White]

I have never been very politically, or religiously savvy, for that matter. I tend to hear the first signs of support and run with it. That being said, I want to be much more discriminating this election time, in that I want to feel like I am using my vote in a worthwhile way. I have to know that the candidate that I support not only supports LGBT rights, but also other pertinent issues such as disability issues and access to health care, health care issues in general, poverty, AIDS, global warming. No one candidate is going to get it all right, probably, but I want to vote wisely. My first inclination is Hillary. I have always liked her style, no matter how much she has pissed people off. After all, she is a powerful woman, and that is often highly resented, outright despised, in our society. I really liked Bill a lot also, even though he pooped out on us all in a big way in his time.

[ladyinred]

I would probably vote for you tpdncr4Christ.

[ladyinred]

Vanessa,I think you are right on with the issues that should concern people, but I would like to add to that list , the environment, education,and vets, too many of them are homeless and not getting proper medical care and more support for our teachers and policemen,firemen and medical workers. Also I'm concerned with the laxity of deregulation, the FDA I read does less .....alot less inspections on foods, and we are hearing about the outbreak of food poisoning ,ecoli in our peanut butter for example and it is becoming all too commmon, also 75% of the drugs our children are being prescribed are said not to be FDA approved, that's a real worrier with me ,since I have a child.

[u-dog]

Originally Posted by tpdncr4christ

I should be President. And SoulForce could be my cabinet.

I would legalize all forms of marriage between people, and make a law decreeing people with bad fashion had to attend fashion school to learn to look fabulous.
Yep. Turner for President. '08... let's make it happen.

I believe that you have stumbled upon the TRUE reason why Straight people fear us. If we take power "frumpy" could become a crime.

[ladyinred]

LOL u-dog,tooo funny

[Progo35]

Thanks, Brent!

[ladyinred]

Here is the problem with politics, it can get down and dirty and many times candidates resort to attack campaigns and go for the jugular vein to discredit the other guy. Could politicians be more civil when disagreeing with another candidate ,probably. For example if they were to state, I just don't see to eye with this person on this issue and this is my point and how I see things from a differing perspective.What to me would make a winning candidate is if they actually could strike a chord with the American people and do more listening than talking when it came to our concerns, of course it would take a great deal of humility to admit that you don't have all the answers and were willing to address people on the level of their concerns and try to find possible solutions or think outside the box.

[Progo35]

You know, as I've said in another thread, and which is relevant to this discussion, I would really like to try to make disabilities-esp. the Futile Care situation and the latest revisions to IDEA-a bigger issue in the political arena. Besides writing letters, how does one organize a protest or discussion that would focus the attention of presidential canidates and current politicians on this issue? It' s something that I've really been thinking about and I would welcome comments, from everyone and especially those who have been active in organizing soulforce events, which I feel have been successful in their aim.

[ladyinred]

Here is an aspect I think affects many people who are disabled and on disability. We too are marginalized. I belong to a group and we talk alot about our disabilities. Many of us struggle with poverty , medical and other things. People seem to think if you are disabled you are not contributing because many of us are not able to work. What they don't understand is many of us would fare better economically if we could work, and being on disabilty really puts many of us at a disadvantage, because it is often hard to find affordable housing and other programs acclimated to our needs,I'm not going to go into the specifics of my own disability,but I've seen many things that relate not only to my own personal experiences but to those of others.The present laws we have I feel help to oppress many disabled people,and keep them locked in abject poverty, they do not always serve us beneficially.

We can often be a few steps closer to homelessness,and many of my friends have been and also don't have luxuries like being able to have an airconditioning and being able to afford paying the high electric bills. One of my friends kept cool by standing outside in her neighbors sprinkler , she was also diabetic and was severly disabled where she could not walk, had no car and no means of transportation. She said she could not even afford the 75 cents for public transportation like bus. She also lived in a dump, that I say would be way below the living standards of most people, she paid most of her disability income just to live in that eyesore, rundown "barn"

Many are bedridden and often in the past have tried to hold jobs only to be fired because of their medical problems and absences,often being seen as a medical liability ,so not being able to get insurance. People who have disabilities that are not physically related , but are mental often suffer, because many have tried to work and hold jobs down in the past only to be hospitalized again and again. Alot of it has to do with just daily functioning with them, they often do not have the ability to even mentally function normally on a job much less at home many times,small or even simple things can seem horribly difficult for them and often on medication, the side effects are also extremely uncomfortable, many also have physical disabilities and other health related problems...

The major thing that holds most people down on disability is their ability to function on a job, they may have days where they feel alright or better, but there is often many more where they don't. It's not that they lack the incentive to hold down a job, but the functionality and ability to do so. Many are angry, feel ashamed for even needing help. Even angry at their inability to hold and keep a job.

I don't know what to tell you, if I could help in someway I would, just how to go about it.. I feel it is pertinent to address what disabled people actually go through with the government and it's "programs" Housing has already been cut into significantly which may explain the fact that three million are homeless, many of them have mental illness as well.
Healthcare can also be minimal alot of times, many do not even have dental care or even eyecare. My mother bought my eyeglasses.

I know medical care can be expensive, but there has to be a better way. the fact that many on disability are on a very limited income also can create stress and problems with depression, it is a heavy burden for them and on them.Many live on as little as 625.00 a month.(Consider the cost of even a 1 bedroom apartment that is usually over 500.00 a month. )So-called affordable housing usually has a long waiting list up to several years.Some are lucky enough to have roomates or partners, or family that helps them out but that is certainly not the case with all of them. Sounding off about the issues and concerns of people on disability sounds like a great idea, but I have no idea how that could be accomplished. Politicans for some reason don't seem to be that concerned with issues like poverty, or the elderly or the disabled.

[Zerbie]

Originally Posted by Progo35

You know, as I've said in another thread, and which is relevant to this discussion, I would really like to try to make disabilities-esp. the Futile Care situation and the latest revisions to IDEA-a bigger issue in the political arena. Besides writing letters, how does one organize a protest or discussion that would focus the attention of presidential canidates and current politicians on this issue? It' s something that I've really been thinking about and I would welcome comments, from everyone and especially those who have been active in organizing soulforce events, which I feel have been successful in their aim.

I don't think you can approach presidential candidates with this - the issues being discussed for that campaign have been, what's a good word?, scripted, as it were. And it wouldn't do much for your cause, imo.

Since there seem to be specific things that concern you, I suggest starting locally. There are far more elected officials in local and state office than in national office. If there is something you would like to see done or changed, lobby your state legislature, or even your local city council. I think you stand the best chance of concrete results that way.

[ladyinred]

Somebody I think was on this thread asking where Ron Paul stands on gay marriages..http://www.lewrockwell.com/paul/paul160.html
http://www.lewrockwell.com/paul/paul207.html

[ladyinred]

http://inrepair.net/2007/05/31/my-co...ut-gay-rights/
http://spaceramblings.blogsome.com/2...age-clarified/

[ladyinred]

Ron Paul also voted against gay adoption