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09/04/2007
LGBwhaaaaa? McCain gets schooled
While speaking to students at New Hampshire's Concord High School today, GOP White House hopeful John McCain got quite the earful from a brave, gay-supporting youngster. This from CNN's Political Ticker:
Another student then asked McCain a question about what he would do for “LGBT” rights – the initials stand for Lesbian, Gay, Bi Sexual, and Transgender people. McCain was confused by the question and admitted to the audience that he did not know what the initials meant. Once it was clarified, McCain told sophomore William Sleaster that he was opposed to any form of discrimination, but he supported the military’s current “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy and that he opposed gay marriage.
“I believe that the sanctity of marriage between man and woman is unique and should be preserved, and I understand the controversy that swirls around that issue, and that debate needs to be continued to be held, but I support that position,” McCain said.
“You want to take away someone’s rights because you believe it’s wrong,” Sleaster followed up.
“I don’t put that interpretation on my position, but I understand yours,” McCain responded, seeming to enjoy the back and forth.
“I came here looking to see a good leader, I don’t,” Sleaster said before leaving the microphone to some boos and gasps from the audience and an eventual scolding by a school administrator.
“Listen, I understand,” McCain told the buzzing crowd. “I thank you, that’s what America is all about, and I appreciate your views.”
When asked later at a news conference, McCain admitted he had never heard the initials “LGBT” before, but knew the phrase.
Uhm...never heard the initials "LGBT" before?! We know we live in all-gay-all-the-time bubble here at G-A-Y, but come on! It's not like If you're going to have such forceful opinions about us, Johnny, at least get the terminology down pat!
But that being said -- bravo to William Sleaster for standing up for what he believes in, and for not being intimidated by his elder, more esteemed counterpart. We have learned that Mr. Sleaster identifies as a bisexual, so he certainly has vested interest in how the next leader of this country will treat his existence for the next 4-8 years. So while respect is something that should be afforded to everyone in such debates, it's refreshing to see a young LGBT (you still need clarifying Johnny, or are you good now?) person pointing out the sheer lack of respect that the GOP's "finest" have both overtly and stealthy shown towards the LGBT (what about now Johnny -- got it?) population for the past many years. After all, young people speaking their mind is the antidote to the 21st century's poisonous embrace of 20th century homophobia!
McCain faces hard-hitting high schoolers [CNN POlitical Ticker]
Technorati Tags: John McCain
Your thoughts
Ah, yes, the scolding because you speak your mind to someone in 'power'. Been there. Humans. They say they want honesty, but they don't really want to hear it.
Posted by: Howard | Sep 4, 2007 6:52:40 PM
Wow, I'm so proud of little Billy Sleazster -he is DA LFJO. Wow again. He should be somewhere and going somewhere.
Rodney Earl Christmas
Posted by: RICHARD DOVER | Sep 4, 2007 7:30:41 PM
If Sleaster is any indication of our future youth, I think we are in pretty good hands.
Posted by: Franc | Sep 4, 2007 7:36:48 PM
goddamn faggots
Posted by: mr.conservativeCHS09 | Sep 4, 2007 8:20:17 PM
Mr.ConservativeCHS09: Why the anger against gays? Judging by the info you've provided, you're a high school junior (presumably at Concord High) and a football player, yes? Take your aggressions out on the field, dude! You are too young to hold such animosity for an entire sect of the population.
Posted by: G-A-Y | Sep 4, 2007 9:01:16 PM
Yep, that sure is great
I know that I find few things more inspiring than the sight of a kid who just got his driver's license spouting off at a man who spent five and a half years having the crap beaten out of him by the North Vietnamese.
I don't plan on voting for McCain but someone should teach the little shit some manners.
Anyway, I think I've figured out the real problem with the McCain campaign. He's wasting his time taking questions from people who can't vote.
Posted by: The MediaBlog | Sep 4, 2007 10:29:11 PM
Oh please, MediaBlog. I'm so tired of people using McCain's admittedly horrible, torturous POW experience to give him a pass in all other areas.
Regardless of one's voting age, they should speak out against the cruelness and persecution they perceive in the world, which is what Mr. Sleater has done. Nobody should automatically accept an elder's wrong-headed outlooks simply because they are esteemed guests to whom they've been told to play nice. Even McCain seems to respect that aspect.
Yes, Mr. Sleaster's words had a tone of teenage cockiness about them. Whose words don't have such a tone at age 16?! But still -- bravo to him for going up against a well-spoken, decorated, and respected leader and refusing to back down on this. It took heart and guts.
Posted by: G-A-Y | Sep 4, 2007 10:40:51 PM
In New Hampshire a bigot got bashed back. William Sleasters gutsy jabbing at Republican/Democrat McCain may seem like a minor incident in the campaign, but they're indicative of a sea change in American politics. Our struggle against the Democrat/Republican Party with it’s DADT and DOMA laws and for a tough EDNA are being included in the politics of a new generation which is unburdened as never before by bigotry.
Williams question linking that to "how to help the working class in America" represents the next big break for our movement - using the connectivity of our issues and those of our natural allies and working with them in independent political actions that keep us away from the treachery, corruption and 'politics as usual' of the Democrat/Republicans, the political organ of the billionaires.
Sleaster and his peers are light years ahead of the frauds masquerading as leaders who hustle for the politics that kept us in chains for generations. Sleaster’s generation is ringing the death knell for shills and sellouts like HRC, the Logheads and the Stoneheads.
I hope William hooks up with Pride at Work, the AFL-CIO's GLBT organizing group, the Youth for Socialist Action or the AFL-CIO’s Student Labor Action Project, SLAP. Take your pick; they're all professional, militant groups. Good job, bud, and don't let the old frauds getcha.
www.prideatwork.org
http://www.socialistaction.org/ysa.htm
www.aflcio.org/aboutus/unionsummr
Posted by: Bill Perdue, RainbowRED Organization | Sep 5, 2007 8:44:57 AM
BILLY.... YOU ROCK!!!!
Not only has his mind and personality together but also is the kind of person that we need to see more often. Not only coming from high schools but from everywhere they are; people who are hiding their sexuality behind a "fake marriage" or for the sake of their job, religion or for whatever reasons they might think is ok to live a "straight" life knowing they are not. Look at this example a teenager is showing you and realize that time has changed.
THANK YOU WILLIAM SLEASTER!!!
Posted by: Tomas Matos (Chicago) | Sep 5, 2007 9:43:03 AM
Sleaster should burn in the firey cauldrons of hell, if not sooner. McCain spent years living in a POW camp so that little punk has the freedom to stick gerbils in his spinchter.
Posted by: Shep Mattherd | Sep 5, 2007 3:29:21 PM
Oh, "Shep Mattherd". You types are always so big, bad, and bold when posting anonymously using a fake email address. Regardless of what you think of William Sleaster or his proclivity for small rodents, at least he is brave enough to publicly stand up for his beliefs.
Posted by: G-A-Y | Sep 5, 2007 3:37:42 PM
My name is John Stiles and I can be reached at 919.924.9244.
My son, Jonathan Stiles, a Concord, NH High School Junior, called me this afternoon all excited, after being near his friend, William Sleaster, when he addressed John McCain, telling him that he did'nt see a great leader in the room.
Having been John Edwards supporters for years, Jon, his sister Heather and I concur that any and all activity by Republican presidential candidates is moot. There is no way the American People will subject ourselves to another four years of war, horrific deficits, tax cut for the rich at the expense of health care and infracstucture, etc.
All the same, I salute Mr. Sleaster and my son for their bravery and support of LTGB people when, to my knowledge, Messers Sleaster and Stiles have no stake in this organization.
I agree with the prior writer that if this is the mindset of our young people and future generation, then life might not be so bad as it seems under Republican rule. Just let it end.
John C. Stiles
Posted by: John C. Stiles | Sep 5, 2007 8:04:05 PM
well may i just say that i am not a football player and that i simple stood up for my rights and and spoke my mind against a old man in a suit and a bunch of bad ideas.
i know i don't vote but does that mean i don't have a voice?
thank you for your support i will conitue using my talent of public speaking and leadership to help people and i hope that you all support me when i run for office within the next 10 years
Posted by: william sleaster | Sep 9, 2007 11:49:22 AM
I interested in the out-pooring of support for little Billy here. Granted, I'm not gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender, but I do sympathize with the LGBT community. While I personally can't understand the attraction, it is apparently a valid life-style.
Having said all that, I find Billy's comment of "I came here looking for a leader, I don't see one" to be easily recognizable as the speech of one who has never been a leader. Being a leader doesn't mean doing what's popular, it means doing what's right in your mind.
I respect William for his willingness to speak his views, but I just don't understand how older and more mature Americans can agree with the way they were spoken.
Posted by: Adam | Sep 14, 2007 9:24:18 PM
why the hell can't you spell my name? it's up there, copy, paste. that simple.
Posted by: william sleaster | Apr 5, 2008 9:34:34 PM
William: Who, exactly, are you talking to? Most people here seem to have gotten your name right.
Posted by: G-A-Y | Apr 6, 2008 1:41:50 PM
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