Where's your courage, Sen. Stabenow?

by: PerfectStormer

Sun Oct 11, 2009 at 18:42:55 PM EDT

(Transcript and commentary over the fold.)

JOHN KING: Senator Stabenow, would you vote to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act?

SEN. STABENOW: Well, first I think we need to start with making sure that there is domestic partners benefits for everyone involved in relationships. The hate crimes bill, as Sen. Casey just said, is about ready to go to the President's desk. And I also think we shouldn't be losing the great talent of anyone in the military, whether it's because of skin color, or because they're a man or a woman or sexual orientation, so I think the President is putting the priorities in the right place.

JOHN KING: Why is this so hard? If I asked you "Would you vote for a public option in health care?" you would say "Yes." If I asked you if you would vote to help out the auto workers in your state you would say "Yes." I asked you if you would vote to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and you didn't answer the question. Why is it so hard?

SEN. STABENOW: The challenge for me is that we have had on the ballot and there has been passage in Michigan of a law prohibiting, uh, gay marriage. So I think for a number of us that becomes a challenge in terms of what has happened in terms of voting in our states. Now, I am a cosponsor of the hate crimes bill, and support eliminating the policies that discriminate among talented people in our military. I support making sure that there are legal protections for everyone. But I think the patchwork of state policies, now, make it difficult and we all have to take another look.

Respectfully, Sen. Stabenow, the man asked you a question. The least you could do is answer. If you said no, I'd take you to task for that and point out just exactly how ridiculous that position is. If you said yes, I'd hug you from afar and when it came time to re-elect you I'd work my ass off. This waffling thing...that ain't gonna work.

But hey, I'm a smart guy. I can read between the lines. The answer was obviously "No." And it's not because you don't think I deserve the same rights. You said yourself (though not in so many words) that it's ludicrous that I could get married in Iowa and then magically be divorced when I crossed the border into Illinois. You said yourself that this "patchwork" approach to equality is a massive failure. You have the power to end it. You have the power to be a champion of LGBT rights, to stand up and say "This is wrong and we need to fix it." But you won't. And why? Because you might get dinged a few points at the polls in 2012.

I've got news for you, Sen. Stabenow. Your seat is yours for as long as you want it. You pasted Mike Bouchard in 2006, 56-42. The people of Michigan like you, and they'll vote to keep you. The challenge for you isn't to twist in the wind and do what's popular at any given moment. The challenge for you is to do what's right and move America forward. The challenge for you is to be a champion for ALL Michiganders and ALL Americans, not just the ones with money and influence. The challenge for you is to step up and be a leader, not a follower.

As for your appearance on CNN today, that wasn't an answer. That was a cop-out...and it was a cheap one. Two hundred thousand people marched outside your office today while you were dissembling at John King's desk and demanded that you and your colleagues do what's right to protect ALL Americans, and you couldn't even answer a question.