Newsweek compares Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's position on rights for gay couples during last week's vice presidential debate and an interview in August 2007:
Watching the vice presidential debate, you might have gotten the impression that Sarah Palin supports civil rights for same-sex couples. During an exchange on the topic, both she and Joe Biden said they oppose gay marriage. But Biden added that he and Barack Obama favor granting gay couples many of the same benefits—hospital visitation rights, health benefits—that married couples enjoy. Palin was tougher to pin down. She clearly didn't want to appear intolerant, but neither did she want to seem to embrace gay rights. "[N]o one would ever propose, not in a McCain-Palin administration, to do anything to prohibit, say, visitations in a hospital or contracts being signed …" she said.
The folks in Alaska might have been surprised to hear that. In the past, Palin has described her opposition to granting gay couples the benefits married couples receive. In an August 2007 interview with NEWSWEEK, Palin said she had upheld such benefits (angering fellow conservatives) but only because the state Supreme Court said it was unconstitutional to deny them:
NEWSWEEK : And do you have a position on that? Would you like to see it? Do you care? PALIN: I would vote to further define the definition of marriage as it pertains to benefits even—yes, I would.
That is, not extend benefits to same-sex couples?
Correct. And if it took an amendment to our constitution, I would go there …The Alaska governor was careful not to say anything like that during the debate. Biden, sensing an opportunity, tried to force Palin into clarifying her position. "I'm glad to hear the governor … thinks there should be no civil-rights distinction … between a committed gay couple and a committed heterosexual couple. If that's the case, we really don't have a difference."
Moderator Gwen Ifill threw it back to Palin: "Is that what you said?" Palin dodged the question: "Your question to him was whether he supported gay marriage and my answer is the same as his and is that I do not." A spokeswoman for the McCain campaign told NEWSWEEK that Palin opposes "all forms of discrimination against people with different lifestyles."
Good stretch to make an issue out of thin air. Love the guessing on what Alskans "might" be surprised about as well as those "angered conservatives." And why would a columnist have to put who their "partner" is. Last I checked not other columnist has listed who their spouse is and where they work. Nice chip on the shoulder. Best of luck trying to find a real job.
Posted by: Smark | October 05, 2008 at 07:37 PM
I think the key issue here is what kind of person is Palin? If she is for or against gay marriage is not that important. The important issue is she a trustworthy,honest ,straight talking gal or is she a typical politician who says anything she thinks will get her elected? does she have real convictions or is she a "flip flopper"?
In Alaska it is probably safe to bash gay marriage. Or attend a church that thinks all it takes is prayer to straighten the gays out. But in the lower states it is probably not as wise to take a strong position so she suddenly has a different opinion. This fits with the statement to regulate Wall st,but the government is the problem she made last Thurs. It is also in keeping with her Maverick partner who has changed almost everyone of his positions. Yes,the straight talk express will straight talk to anyone. Welcome to being another "Washington Insider'-I'm sure Sarah will change them.
Posted by: RHead | October 05, 2008 at 08:09 PM
I think the key issue here is what kind of person is Palin? If she is for or against gay marriage is not that important. The important issue is she a trustworthy,honest ,straight talking gal or is she a typical politician who says anything she thinks will get her elected? does she have real convictions or is she a "flip flopper"?
In Alaska it is probably safe to bash gay marriage. Or attend a church that thinks all it takes is prayer to straighten the gays out. But in the lower states it is probably not as wise to take a strong position so she suddenly has a different opinion. This fits with the statement to regulate Wall st,but the government is the problem she made last Thurs. It is also in keeping with her Maverick partner who has changed almost everyone of his positions. Yes,the straight talk express will straight talk to anyone. Welcome to being another "Washington Insider'-I'm sure Sarah will change them.
Posted by: RHead | October 05, 2008 at 08:10 PM
Palin opposed benefits for same-sex couples in Alaska, but couldn't do anything about it.
Just like Palin still has these nutty ideas about global warming, and no abortion never-ever, and creationism, she still definitely believes that, but it's not as campaignable, so she's switched what she says publicly.
Probably only after her handlers noticed it. It's not like she would.
Posted by: Dave | October 05, 2008 at 09:20 PM
Are you kidding? She is a most right-wing conservative? How can you even dissect the words that come out of her mouth?
Posted by: ger | October 05, 2008 at 10:36 PM
Gov Palin reminds me of a press secretary with no original thoughts. The VP debates lacked the fortitude and insisting on clear answers, including answering questions she has not been prepped for.
Get Elected- is the montra, then Republicans can wipe out what remaining rights gay couples have. Can you imagine what a Supreme Court would look like under Palin/McCain? Worse yet, would be the vengance that could take place in all the red state legislatures, and, of course, why not change the Civil Rights laws too?
Better pack your bags and head to Canada.
Posted by: Rusty Vermonter | October 05, 2008 at 11:02 PM