A Stitch in Haste

It's rare that I actually have an opportunity to say something nice about the Human Rights Campaign (cf., this post), so let me savor the moment:

As the general election kicks off, Senator John McCain will tout his reputation as a maverick, an independent, a moderate who will work with both parties to get things done. However, a look at Senator McCain's record paints a very different picture.

The bullet points: McCain

• cast a deciding vote against the federal Employment Non Discrimination Act.


• voted three times against expanding the federal hate crimes law to include sexual orientation.


• supports Don't Ask, Don't Tell and does not believe that gays should serve in the military.


• voted for the Defense of Marriage Act, which prohibits same-sex couples from receiving federal rights and benefits in any state.


• campaigned for a ban on same-sex relationship recognition in his home state of Arizona — even appearing in a campaign television ad.

That last point is the most interesting, given that the Theocrat Right despises McCain for voting against the federal Marriage Protection Amendment. But neither gays nor libertarians should mistake this fleeting wisp of respect for federalism as a principled stance for gay rights. Not even close.

(I'll stop short of embracing HRC's indignation of McCain's vote to confirm Samuel Alito or his record on HIV issues. See the report for details.)

The report is "Senator John McCain: A Record of Opposing the Interests of GLBT Americans" (PDF - 7 pages) (Note: One would think that someone at HRC would have test-printed the file on a B&W printer — the colorful cover page doesn't show the title text on a laser printer copy. Issue advocacy at its most professional?)