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Quote UnQuote

Compiled by Rex Wockner

Published Thursday, 28-Aug-2008 in issue 1079

“Barack Obama will close the book on the old politics of race and gender and group against groups, and straight against gay.”

U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., speaking to the Democratic National Convention, Aug. 25.

“About the only guy who seems to have done really well these last eight years is a guy with a private jet and so many homes that he loses count. In just the last eight years, the Republicans have cut the value of the U.S. dollar almost in half and added $4 trillion to our children’s debt. They’ve done this in just eight years. And now they want four more? As an investor, I yearn for a president who looks to financial heroes, not corporate lobbyists, for economic advice. As a gay man, I yearn for a president who believes in equal rights for all Americans. But most of all, as an American, I yearn for a president that the world can root for and be inspired by. Because having much of the world on our side again would not only be good for our national security, it would be good for business. Vote Obama, my fellow Democrats. Because, boy, do we ever need a change.”

Democratic National Committee Treasurer Andrew Tobias speaking to the Democratic National Convention, Aug. 25.

“We support the full inclusion of all families, including same-sex couples, in the life of our nation, and support equal responsibility, benefits, and protections. We will enact a comprehensive bipartisan employment non-discrimination act. We oppose the Defense of Marriage Act and all attempts to use this issue to divide us.”

From the 2008 Democratic Party platform; DOMA prohibits the federal government from treating same-sex relationships as marriages for any purpose and purports to exempt states from having to recognize other states’ same-sex marriages.

“What can I say? I’m the luckiest girl in the world. She’s officially off the market. No one else gets her. And now she’ll cook and clean for me.”

Ellen DeGeneres, who married actress Portia de Rossi on Aug. 16, to People magazine, Aug. 19.

“Neither Jennifer nor I are admitting to being the wife.”

Lesbian San Diego City Councilwoman Toni Atkins confirming that she and partner Jennifer LeSar will marry in September, to The San Diego Union-Tribune, Aug. 15.

“It has a lower profile (than in the 2004 presidential election), but it will be an issue in people’s minds. The bigger issues will be the economy, terrorism, health care, energy.”

Karl Rove, George W. Bush’s campaign “architect,” to the Los Angeles Times, Aug. 14.

“I believe that marriage is the union between a man and a woman. Now, for me, as a Christian … it’s also a sacred union. God’s in the mix. … I would not (support a constitutional amendment with that definition) because historically … we have not defined marriage in our Constitution. It’s been a matter of state law that has been our tradition. Let’s break it down. The reason that people think there needs to be a constitutional amendment, some people believe, is because of the concern about same-sex marriage. I am not somebody who promotes same-sex marriage but I do believe in civil unions. I do believe that we should not – that for gay partners to want to visit each other in the hospital, for the state to say: ‘You know what? That’s all right’ I don’t think in any way inhibits my core beliefs about what marriage are (sic). I think my faith is strong enough and my marriage is strong enough that I can afford those civil rights to others even if I have a different perspective or a different view.”

Barack Obama, speaking at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., Aug. 16.