I watched the Clinton town hall, listening to some excellent and detailed questions from around the country. I was looking for some independence in her on this issue.
She specifically started with the repealing of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy, one that she stated has failed. She had many other specific points of interest.
More below the fold.
The question involved gay rights and marriage, to which she responded with:
- States traditionally control this, won't have feds rule personal lives
- That said, extend federal benefits to partners
- Repeal "don't ask don't tell" in military because it has not worked
- Actively push for hate crimes legislation
It is important to have distanced herself from Bill on this issue and to "come out" (pun not intended ;)) yea or nay for this policy. But she went further with hate crimes legislation and with benefits, further than I have seen her or her rivals go.
I appreciated the respectful tone of the questions and of the answers...among her finest involved the immediate signing of the stem cell legislation Bush vetoed, the full funding for veterans including PTSD injuries; the linking of rural economic development with alternative energy development (i.e., wind, biomass, solar)....
I think probably both candidates are crossing a threshold, where dialogue will begin to occur. When all the votes are counted tomorrow, my bet is both Clinton and Obama are in. While there is some concern about a prolonged debate till the convention, it will be one heck of a dialogue between the two candidates, where all of our finest ideas and strategies for the future can be put out there for all to see. Historic indeed, no matter which way it goes.
(Disclaimer: I am just enthusiastically reporting this but trying to tone it down and no "hits"; I am an Edwards supporter turned Clinton supporter and my "tiny" state of Wyoming could make a difference March 8th; my 93 year old mother is voting Obama, and she's a lifelong republican and she hates Hillary...and my dogs, thank goodness, don't care.)