The Wall Street Journal: on Civil Rights
Annise Parker:
First openly lesbian mayor of a major American city:
It was no great surprise when some religious leaders and conservative activists voiced fierce opposition to the mayoral candidacy of Annise Parker, a gay woman. But voters here have largely dismissed the issue as insignificant, even though she could
become the first openly lesbian mayor of a major American city.Ms. Parker, a city controller who has been elected to local office six times with little controversy over her sexual preference, is the leading candidate in Saturday's election runoff.
Still, Ms. Parker has faced some attacks from some who fear she will push a radical gay agenda.
Polls show most Houston voters are unconcerned with Ms. Parker's sexual orientation, and if anything, the gay issue
is becoming a bigger problem for her opponent Gene Locke, who is under fire for accepting endorsements from anti-gay activists some liberals see as bigoted.
Source: Wall Street Journal, "Politics"
Dec 12, 2009
Carly Fiorina:
Proud conservative vote for Proposition 8
"I will not run away from [conservative] values," Ms. Fiorina says, noting that she has signed the Americans for Tax Reform pledge against higher taxes and voted for Proposition 8 last year, which banned same-sex marriage in the state. On abortion, Ms.
Fiorina says she is "proudly pro-life" and a strong opponent of taxpayer funding of abortions. But her views also carry some nuance. She notes she created a strong program of domestic partner benefits while at HP.
Source: Wall Street Journal, "Reboot California"
Nov 30, 2009
James Webb:
Opposes constitutional ban of gay marriage
Webb opposes a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, believes trade agreements should require other nations to improve labor standards and wages, and backs abortion rights as defined by the Supreme Court's ruling in
Roe v. Wade. "I believe the power of the government ends at my front door unless there is a compelling reason to come inside," he says.
Source: Jeanne Cummings, Wall Street Journal, p. A6
Jun 8, 2006
Mead Treadwell:
Allow transgendered to correct gender on driver's license
Miller's supporters distributed news clippings about Mr. Treadwell that could be infuriating to a socially conservative audience: That in 2012 he agreed to allow transgendered people to "correct the gender marker" on their Alaska driver's license and
that he blocked a measure that would have allowed a statewide referendum to outlaw abortion. During the debate, Mr. Treadwell said the initiative would have been unconstitutional and acted on advice of the state's lawyers.
But Miller used the episode to attack Treadwell. "You know, we heard that argument before, 'I was just following orders,'"
Miller said. "The question to you is do you take an oath to the Constitution or to the Supreme Court, Mead?" Treadwell was not allowed a rebuttal by the debate's moderator.
Source: Wall Street Journal on 2014 Alaska Senate debate
Aug 5, 2014
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