MSNBC Recaps Maryland Marriage Battle

This week's expected vote by the full Maryland House is going to be a squeaker. Today openly gay Washington Post reporter Jonathan Capehart appeared on MSNBC to talk about those waffling delegates.

HomoQuotable - Jonathan Capehart

"I guess we're supposed to presume that Palin supports the repeal of the ban on gay men and lesbians from serving openly in the military. And I suppose by extension we should presume that she is down with gay equality. But it's easy to support something that has already happened and costs you little to speak out about -- even if it is in the form a retweet. DADT was repealed with 65 votes in the Senate on Dec. 22.

"Palin had a chance to take a stand last November when her daughter Willow apparently unleashed the f-bomb (the one that rhymes with drag) on someone criticizing the premier of Sarah Palin's Alaska on Facebook. Bristol Palin seemed to step up with an apology of sorts. But the former governor, reality television star and self-proclaimed Mama Grizzly remained mute. This raises lots of questions about what constitutes accepted banter in the Palins' Wasilla manse. Leadership is about staking out positions when it's difficult, not just when it's easy. Once again, it seems, Palin has taken the easy route." - Jonathan Capehart, writing for the Washington Post.

Jonathan Capehart Rants About DADT

Openly gay Washington Post columnist Jonathan Capehart appeared on MSNBC's Daily Rant segment tonight to rail against Sen. John McCain's position on DADT.

HomoQuotable - Jonathan Capehart

"Now, truth be told, with a stroke of a pen, Obama could end don't ask don't tell through a back-door maneuver such as a 'stop loss' order. Meaning all troops who come out or are revealed to be gay or lesbian would not be discharged. The rationale could be that because the nation is at war it needs every ready, willing and able servicemember. And it would be the single-most irresponsible action the president could take.

"Leave aside the antagonism it would create between the commander in chief and the armed forces. Think of the jeopardy Obama would put gay troops in if he did sign an executive order. Once such an order is signed, gay troops would be right to want to come out of the closet to finally live their lives honestly. Here's the problem: if Obama is defeated in 2012 or is succeeded by a Republican in 2016, the new president could rescind the order.

"If the ban, which is an act of Congress, has not been repealed by Congress by then, all those gay and lesbian troops who have come out would then be in violation of the law banning them from serving openly in the military. To please a base constituency in the short term Obama will have endangered the careers of gay troops in the long term." - Jonathan Capehart, writing for the Washington Post.

HomoQuotable - Jonathan Capehart

"Let me point out that the Gill case was not the only relevant one decided by Tauro. He also ruled that DOMA was unconstitutional because it trumped states’ rights to set their own marriage laws. It was a satisfying outcome. But his decision has gay legal eagles and federal court tea leaf readers a bit mystified and concerned. 'Perhaps more importantly, his Tenth Amendment arguments prove entirely too much,' Yale constitutional law professor Jack Balkin wrote last week about Judge Tauro’s ruling. 'As much as liberals might applaud the result, they should be aware that the logic of his arguments, taken seriously, would undermine the constitutionality of wide swaths of federal regulatory programs and seriously constrict federal regulatory power.' Balkin supports marriage equality, fyi.

"As nice as this decision is, it’s only the start of the long journey to the Supreme Court. All eyes are on the Justice Department and whether it will appeal the Tauro rulings to the Appellate division. I won’t be surprised or angered if it does. An administration traditionally defends the nation’s laws no matter its policy view of them. President Obama has made it clear many times that he wants DOMA repealed. (Got that, Congress?) And if the administration does appeal I hope it mounts the same limp defense it did in District Court. We can only hope that those same indefensible -- and unconstitutional -- rationales for unfairness will lead to the ultimate demise of DOMA." - Washington Post columnist Jonathan Capehart.

HomoQuotable - Jonathan Capehart

"If only that Rudy were in this presidential race. That Rudy was a leader. One who didn't duck challenging issues but faced them head-on. One who didn't tell people what they wanted to hear to get their votes but what they needed to hear to earn their votes. - Jonathan Capehart in the Washington Post, discussing Rudy Giuliani's former reputation as a progressive on gay causes. Capehart contacted all the Republican candidates to pose the same questions given at last month's LOGO forum for Democrats. None responded.

HomoQuotable - Jonathan Capehart

"To gays and lesbians, flubbing the choice-vs.-nature question is like botching the answer to "What's one plus one?" Note to [New Mexico Governor] Richardson's current and former gay staffers and supporters: Do an intervention -- and get him an Ambien -- before he implodes again." - Visible Vote '08 panelist and Washington Post reporter Jonathan Capehart, commenting on Richardson's contention that jet lag caused him to answer as he did.

Capehart goes on to say that he "doesn't fault" Clinton, Obama, or Edwards for their opposition to gay marriage, agreeing that political pragmatism trumps personal ideals in the campaign. Capehart: "Many gays and lesbians couldn't care less about the political calculus involved in gay marriage. They are being denied basic civil rights, and they want them now."