Dems Raise Rainbow Flags

In about-face, frontrunners rush to endorse gay rights for political advantage

By Heather McPherson, Newser User

Posted Aug 2, 2007 3:10 PM CDT

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Dems Raise Rainbow Flags — Democratic presidential hopefuls, from left, former Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C.; Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y.; Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.; stand together before the start of the debate sponsored by CNN, YouTube and Google at The Citadel military college in Charleston, S.C., Monday, July 23, 2007.... (Associated Press)

It's only been 3 years since the Kerry campaign stumped for an anti-gay marriage amendment, but this cycle's Democrats are hopping on the rainbow bandwagon. The Politico's Ben Smith says the 2008 Dems are proud to be pro-gay, showcasing their full support of rights for same-sex couples—as long as the term “marriage" isn't involved, that is.

Almost all of the candidates will participate in next week’s debate on the gay Logo network, while a recent mainstream debate saw hopefuls jockeying to disagree most stridently with the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. Smith says the new comfort level is partly an authentic shift of center in the party, but also represents a reaction to a perceived GOP weakness. (More gay marriage stories.)

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