Responding to a question by the Gay & Lesbian Times during the California Democratic Party state convention last weekend as to whether a presidential candidate could win the White House if he or she supported full marriage equality for same-sex couples, Democratic candidate John Edwards responded, “Yes, yes I do.” However, he said that he is “still conflicted” and “not there yet.”

Edwards is not alone. In fact, none of the Democratic presidential hopefuls are “there yet,” all support civil unions or domestic partnership rights over marriage for same-sex couples.

Democrats will not touch the red herring of gay marriage this go-’round and risk, once again, dividing the nation and diverting attention from such key issues as the war in Iraq, education and universal health care. It seems, for now, civil unions are politically safe and as far as Democrats are willing to go.

Despite our disappointment on this issue, we cannot deny the bumper crop of talented and gay-friendly candidates to choose from this election cycle. From the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” to adoption rights for same-sex couples, nearly every candidate is 99 percent “there” on our issues.

Edwards, Sen. Hillary Clinton, Sen. Barack Obama and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson sent representatives to meet with the California Democratic Party’s LGBT Caucus in order to tout their candidates’ support of our issues. As reported in San Diego News on page 10, the Caucus, which met on the eve of the state convention, works within the Democratic Party to elect GLBT and GLBT-friendly candidates, and with legislators to pass GLBT-friendly legislation. Representatives addressed the audience to list what each candidate supports. We are happy to report these lists were long and overlapping.

Here’s a brief recap:

Edwards supports the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). He was a co-sponsor of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) and federal hate crimes legislation when he was in the Senate, and supports adoption rights for same-sex couples.

Clinton, too, supports the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” and, according to Ann Lewis (sister to Congressmember Barney Frank), who was at the Caucus on Clinton’s behalf, Clinton worked behind the scenes to prevent the Federal Marriage Amendment from passing. Clinton is backing ENDA and hate crimes legislation, and also supports adoption rights for same-sex couples.

Obama is backing ENDA along with his running mates. He supports federal hate crimes legislation, and, like Clinton, voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment and supports adoption rights for same-sex couples.

Richardson signed a state version of ENDA as well as hate crimes legislation, which included gender identity, in his home state of New Mexico. He revitalized New Mexico’s HIV/AIDS Commission and opposes DOMA. He also supports equal rights for same-sex families.

In addition to the above, all of the candidates said they support civil unions. But before we rally behind any of these candidates, we can’t help but point out the obvious: For the two favorites – Clinton and Obama, a woman and an African-American – to endorse a separate-but-equal policy (civil unions) in order to win an election is shameful. This paper strongly believes that leaders lead, and that strong leadership has been the driving force in the civil rights movement, of which the gay rights movement is unequivocally a part. It’s a shame, too, because Clinton and Obama are exactly the kind of leaders who could challenge Americans to support equality for all.

Maybe our slate of Democrats needs a history lesson. The last time we checked, the Constitution said all, not some.