In an article running today on AfterElton.com, I disscuss the right's use of anti-gay attacks in the 2008 election. For this piece, I spoke to Congressman Barney Frank, one of the most powerful gay figures in American politics. This is the transcript of that interview.
Christie Keith: We asked Karl Rove about the elections in 2000 and 2004 and how gay issues -- same-sex marriage and gay rights in general -- were being used as helpful to President Bush in winning elections, helpful to the Republicans –
Barney Frank: What did he say?
Christie Keith: He specifically said, “I think it was more in 2004 than it was in 2000. I think it entered into force simply because it was not introduced by the political actors themselves; neither by the Bush nor Kerry campaigns, but brought forward by a Supreme Court decision in Massachusetts. It sort of exploded on the scene and got a life of its own.” Then he goes on to say that he doesn’t think that’s happening in California and he’s not sure if it will. Do you have anything to say about that?
Barney Frank: The general sense was that it was very helpful to them in 2004. They obviously believe that. Of course they went into 2005 determined to ride those issues. Schiavo was an example, by the way, of that same thing.
But they forced several votes on the Constitutional amendment. I think what he’s telling you now reflects that fact that he and the President and their political people tried very hard to whip up any gay marriage sentiment in 2005 and 2006 by forcing several votes on the Constitutional amendment, and it blew up in their face.
So, as I said, the most relevant election year is 2006 because the 2005/2006 Republicans had forced several votes on the Constitutional amendment. Do you know how many people who for it? One. And he was a Republican in a Republican primary. On the other hand, I think about two dozen people who voted for the amendment were defeated by people who were against it. So it was the 2006 election that made it clear.
What Rove is telling you is probably true now, but he forgot to add that he’s very disappointed because he tried very hard to exploit it for the 2006 election and it had no impact
Christie Keith: So you feel that this is probably not something that’s going to get a lot of traction in the current election.
Barney Frank: Right. I think, by the way, even in 2004 and 2002, the two elections they won, it was really more the national security issue. I think the air is substantially out of this balloon.
I get that from talking to members of Congress. Meanwhile we passed an anti-discrimination bill by a large majority. We passed the Hate Crimes bill. I think the fear is out of that one. It was the 2006 election results that demonstrated it. Okay?
Christie Keith: Thank you so much.
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