Note: This is not a persuasion diary. (It's my favorite Austen book & movie tho').
If you support President Obama, recognize his achievements, and understand 11-dimensional chess—I remember the 2008 primaries. My takeaway saw how something introduced in the primaries grows like kudzu in the General taking a life of its own in the Administration.
If you support a Candidate more aligned to Main Street than Wall Street—I agree this relationship is out-of-balance, benefiting a moneyed elite at the detriment of average Americans, and overdue for necessary realignment.
So, why am I voting for Hillary? Two things changed for me when this happened:
One, who (did I think) was the best next President to support same-sex marriage at this critical stage? (Admittedly, I was looking for an attack dog.) After dealing with Prop 8 in California, I feel a strong Democratic offense is needed the next few administrations. Two, while I was concerned about the erasure of President Obama's accomplishments once he left office, I became convinced these accomplishments would stand the test of time.
Why this particular issue? Several years ago watched a documentary about a white same-sex couple adopting a young black boy with serious challenges: emotional, developmental, educational. You could really see this kid positively responding, and relating, to their parenting. One of the parents was this great big guy and you could see that the kid was going to grow big and strong too. It seemed to help them relate to one another. Kinda sweet to see.
Getting a minority child out of foster care into a stable and caring home gives them a better chance at succeeding in life. Anyone taking up that challenge gets major points from me. To me, same-sex marriage increases the odds of foster kids finding caring and nurturing parents.
Years later, here on DKos in fact, another same-sex couple (if I remember correctly) adopted a young black girl. One diary showed their arms together on a table. Don't have kids, never wanted any—I survived living next to a day-care center, and (different location) sleeping in the first floor corner bedroom with kids running screaming from one window to the next in stereoaroundsound. Seeing the embracing arms of this DKos family made me realize there was something very important to protect here.
SCOTUSblog says it better than me:
In historic decision, Court strikes down state bans on same-sex marriage: In Plain English …marriage is a unique way for two individuals – in both same- and opposite-sex partnerships – to demonstrate their commitment to one another.
The Court has also protected the right to marry, the opinion notes, because of its importance for children and families. Laws prohibiting same-sex couples from marrying, the opinion concludes, “harm and humiliate the children” of those couples by depriving them of both financial benefits and – even more importantly – “the recognition, stability, and predictability marriage offers.”
I am assured that any of our Democratic Candidates will defend and support same-sex marriage. Only (and I stress this with all my heart) a Democratic President can effectively support the right to same-sex marriage (keeping in mind same-sex marriage went national during the Obama Administration, and that the next President needs to capture the baton on the next relay). The primaries are a wonderful way to explore the strengths and weaknesses of all our candidates, and see who we collectively decide will be our next President. That process is one I wholeheartedly support, and I look forward to voting for our Democratic Nominee.
Godspeed #45.
(now i must go watch Anne Elliot kiss Captain Wentworth, again, for the 4,052nd time because i just love it when love wins)
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