Just as friends don’t let friends drive drunk, we should declare right here, right now that as LGBT people we won’t let our friends vote McCain. At least not without a fight.

If you think I am overstating the importance of this, watch this video by the Human Rights Campaign on McCain’s long record of opposition to LGBT equality.

I understand that voting is a personal thing, but it is critical that we let our friends, family and co-workers know how much a McCain/Palin administration would hurt us and our families.

This post is the first in a series to provide you with talking points, resources and ideas on how to talk to your family and friends about why they should not be fooled by the “maverick” label because John McCain is no friend to the LGBT community. Join Gays Won’t Let Friends Vote McCain on Facebook.

McCain has opposed every single pro-LGBT piece of legislation that has come his way in his 26 years in Congress. Even worse, McCain is on record as saying “I don’t believe in gay adoptions.”, he opposes LGBT Americans serving openly and honorably in the military and he supports the anti-marriage constitutional amendments that will be on the ballot in Arizona, California and Florida.

In 2006 McCain appeared in this ad promoting the draconian anti-marriage amendment that was then on the ballot in Arizona.

We must make clear to those who love us that a vote for John McCain is a vote for discrimination against us. Here are some talking points on where McCain stands on LGBT issues.

The Case Against John McCain

McCain opposes non-discrimination legislation that would protect LGBT people from being fired from their jobs simply for who they are.

McCain opposes federal hate crimes legislation that would add sexual orientation and gender identity to existing federal law and provide resources to local law enforcement agencies to better investigate hate crimes.

McCain opposes the legal recognition of same-sex relationships including marriage, civil unions and domestic partnerships.

McCain opposes the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act which denies the federal rights and responsibilities of marriage from being extended to same-sex couples.

McCain opposes adoption by LGBT people even if it means that kids who need families will remain in orphanages.

McCain supports the ban on openly gay soldiers serving in the military.

McCain would appoint Supreme Court justices that would take anti-LGBT stances like John Roberts and Samuel Alito.

McCain has chosen Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate and she may be even more anti-LGBT than McCain is.

When it comes to LGBT civil rights, we cannot afford to have John McCain and Sarah Palin in the White House.

Join Gays Won’t Let Friends Vote McCain on Facebook.

Cross-posted at Bloggernista

Its lines like this that make me more than a little gay for Markos Moulitsas, founder of Daily Kos:

Many people will warn against “getting complacent”. I like to approach this potential problem differently — we have a chance to rip out the GOP’s jugular. We can throw them an anvil. We can kick them while they’re down. No matter the metaphor, the underlying meaning remains — we can destroy the Republicans. Now’s not the time to slack, it’s the time to pick things up. We’ve got them in a near rout. Let’s destroy them.

In his post Markos is warning people to expect a scorched Earth wave of negative attacks from the McCain campaign against Obama because of Obama’s rising poll numbers with less than 30 days left in the campaign. In the attacks we can expect McCain to question Obama’s patriotism, religious faith, and experience. You can also expect to see the return of Rev. Wright, madrasahs, Bill Ayers and anything else McCain can think to pull out of his magic hat of political distraction to keep from talking about the issues that matter to voters. Nearly 100% of McCain’s ad spending is devoted to attacking Obama.

What you want see from the McCain campaign is something like this:

I get that negative attacks are a part of the political game and that they can be quite effective. But McCain’s campaign strategy of “attack, attack, attack” is much like the GOP chant “drill, baby, drill.” It is a whole lot of smoke and mirrors that doesn’t address the issues at hand and fails to deliver the change that we need now.

She’s a spunky one that Sarah Palin. Unfortunately, not only is she out of touch with the issues facing most Americans, she is also out of the loop in decisions made by the McCain campaign.

Check out this clip from Fox News in which Palin shares her “yes we can” reaction to reading about the decision by McCain to pull out of Michigan.

On a side note, notice that the reporter mistakenly labels Palin as the Democratic VP candidate. As if.

h/t: TPM Election Central

I don’t mean to offend drag queens when I ask that question, but look at this video from Progress Accountability and see for yourself.

So many of the catch phrases, talking points and stale ideas spouted by Palin in her debate with Joe Biden sound as they were coming from Bush’s lips. Or, more accurately, the poisonous pens of the same Rovian spin doctors who fooled the American public into voting for Bush. Except now their cynicism and political manipulation is gussied up in a shiny coat of bright red lipstick and a beauty queen’s sash.

Compare statements by the Bush and Palin on partisan politics:

PALIN:

Palin Said She’s Known For Putting Partisan Politics Aside. During the 2008 vice presidential debate, Governor Palin said, We’re known for putting partisan politics aside to just get the job done.” [Vice Presidential Debate, 10/2/08]

BUSH:

Bush Said Partisanship Needs To Be Put Aside. During the third presidential debate in 2000, Governor Bush said, In order to get something done on behalf of the people, you have to put partisanship aside, and that’s what we did in my state. [Commission on Presidential Debates, 10/17/00]

No one who survived the Bush reign of error should believe Palin’s hollow and cynical remarks about “putting partisan politics aside” particularly when nearly 100% of McCain’s ad spending is devoted to attacking Obama.

Sarah Palin may be almost completely unqualified to be Vice-President, but she has proven herself to be adept at one thing: the willingness to manipulate, spin and lie to satiate her hunger for political power. George Bush was equally skilled. And, as progressives, we stood by laughing at his inability to string together a coherent thought that amounted to more than “USA! USA! USA!” while Rove charted his dark path to the White House.

We can’t make that mistake again.

John McCain is a 72 year old man with a history of melanoma and a stubborn unwillingness to share his medical records with the public. If McCain is elected president, he would be the old president in our history’s to be beginning his first term. If he were to die in office, or for reason be unable to complete his full term, Sarah Palin would become president.

Is Sarah Palin, aka George Bush in drag and with less experience, the person you would want running the country?

Spoiler: Michael did not find Palin’s rumored gay friend.

h/t: HRC Back Story

No one would ever expect John McCain to win Ms Congeniality, but during the presidential debate he cemented his reputation as the Grumpiest Member of the Senate. He didn’t even try to hide his contempt for Barack Obam and refused to even look at him. That’s so not the kind of president we need negotiating with world leaders.

Check out this compilation edited by Jed Lewison of McCain’s most nostril-flaring moments. Cindy McCain should consider spending some of her cash on getting McCain some anger management classes.

Andrew Sullivan appeared along with Naomi Klein and Will.I.Am on Real Time with Bill Maher and eviscerated Sarah Palin. Here is a taste:

She is a farce. It is a joke. It is absurd. It is something [McCain's pick] that should dismissed out of hand as the most irresponsible act any candidate has any made.

h/t: Joe.My.God

I don’t want you to miss out on the electoral fun of saying buh-bye to the Bush/Cheney/McCain regime so make sure you are registered to vote.

Visit Vote for Change to register to vote, request to vote absentee, or find your polling location.

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