Liveblogging the Queer Issues Debate

Welcome! We're getting down to the student debate on Queer Issues between the College Democrats and the College Republicans.

We're represented by Brandon Storm and Barry Weinberg, both CC'12, who will be arguing Barack Obama and Joe Biden's positions. Learned Foote, CC'11, and Lauren Salz, BC'11, will be arguing the Republican side.

7:44: We're just getting down to business.

7:49: Brandon's giving a strong explanation of why Barack Obama is significantly better than John McCain on gay issues.

7:51: First question on gay marriage and the Defense of Marriage Act, a really horrible bill that prohibits gay marriage on the federal level. Barack Obama supports repealing the bill.

7:53: Republicans: "The Judicial Branch should not be involved in creating legislation." Sounds like what conservatives said about abortion and segregation. And in fact, Lauren Salz, for the Republicans, made the link to abortion for us.

Barry's giving a full-throated defense of the Supreme Court's work to protect equal rights. He's absolutely right.

7:56: Learned Foote, for the Republicans, is saying that there's no right to privacy, and so Lawrence v. Texas should not have been ruled as such. Lawrence v. Texas ruled states can't criminalize gay sex. Is that something he really wants to highlight? That John McCain thinks sodomy should be illegal?

Does Learned Foote think that's the right path?

8:00: Oooh, a question on sex ed for McCain. Sarah Palin doesn't believe in contraceptives. But Barack Obama does, and he's fought to support sex ed.

8:04: Learned Foote is again going back to the States' Rights argument. Does he really think that's such a winner? It didn't stop the last Civil Rights Movement in the '60s. Can't imagine it would be popular now.

8:07: So far it's a much quieter debate than the first debate. No one seems like they want to throw punches yet.

8:10: The Dems better go after this. Learned Foote just said that John McCain doesn't support discrimination. Then why does he oppose the Employment Non-Discrimination Act? How can he say that when John McCain supports the horrifically discriminatory Don't Ask, Don't Tell Policy.

8:14: Audience participation. A member of the audience just challenged Barry on why Obama doesn't support gay marriage. She was cut off by the moderator after Barry explained that Obama doesn't have a problem with gay people getting married, but the government institution would be a civil union.

8:17: Barry's absolutely right. John McCain stood up against the religious right in 2000. Now, he's kissing up to them. Learned Foote said that John McCain supports gay adoption. That's absolutely, 100% not true. In a July interview, John McCain said that he was opposed to gay adoption because he was "for the values and principles that two parent families represent".

8:21: Finally! Barry's calling the Republicans on their opposition to the Estate Tax. John McCain might oppose the Estate Tax, but he supports a whole system of federal taxes that discriminates against gays and lesbians.

8:24: Learned Foote just lied. He said that John McCain is okay with ending Don't Ask, Don't Tell. That's simply not true. John McCain is on the record as saying:

"The policy is working. And I am convinced that that's the way we can maintain this greatest military. Let's not tamper with them."

Learned Foote lied.

8:27: Barry, in the closing statement: John McCain does not support equal rights. Barack Obama does. John McCain's claim to support equal rights is "laughable".

That about sums it up. John McCain's claims are "laughable", because he says he's against discrimination and votes for discrimination. Barack Obama stands up for LGBT rights. John McCain doesn't. That's the difference in a nutshell.