'I don't think that's a radical view to say we're going to affirm marriage. I think the radical view is to say that we're going to change the definition of marriage so that it can mean two men, two women, a man and three women, a man and a child, a man and animal. Again, once we change the definition, the door is open to change it again. I think the radical position is to make a change in what's been historic.' — Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee when asked by BeliefNet.com on Jan. 17, 'Is it your goal to bring the Constitution into strict conformity with the Bible?'
'In light of the extraordinary funds already being given for AIDS research, it does not seem that additional federal spending can be justified. An alternative would be to request that multimillionaire celebrities, such as Elizabeth Taylor, Madonna and others who are pushing for more AIDS funding be encouraged to give out of their own personal treasuries increased amounts for AIDS research.' — Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee to the Associated Press in 1992, as reported by the AP on Dec. 8.
'No, I don't believe it's sinful. My moral views on this come from the, you know, from the Catholic Church, and I believe that homosexuality, heterosexuality as a, as a way that somebody leads their life is not—isn't sinful. It's the acts, it's the various acts that people perform that are sinful, not the—not the orientation that they have.' — Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani on TV's Meet The Press, Dec. 9.
' [ We should ] develop marketing campaigns that remind us all that good old-fashioned dating, going steady and relationships have a lot to recommend them, especially with rising HIV statistics. Most of the gay men I know who survived the worst of the AIDS slaughter in the 1980s and 90s did so because they were in relationships. There's nothing wrong—and a lot right even beyond the safe sex context—to remembering that lesson.' — Syndicated gay-press columnist Chris Crain writing on his blog, citizenchris.typepad.com, Nov. 30.
'Since Sept. 11, 2001, the insecure cronies of a woefully incompetent, underqualified and arguably unelected American president have resorted to all manner of dirty tricks in a conspiracy to solidify political power and hoard personal wealth for a select Republican few. They have rarely even attempted to cover their footprints, preferring instead to explain away their manipulations as evils necessary in pursuit of their war on terror.' — From Matt Mills' editorial in the Nov. 22 edition of the Toronto gay newspaper Xtra!.
'So they dangled a few more clams in front of mama's paws and suddenly she's in the blogosphere! Yes, I'll be going to that clichéd place in your computer by pinching out a daily posting of mirth and mayhem—something wise and witty and astounding, yet not SO good it will blind you to the fact that there's still an actual column coming every Wednesday. ... [ W ] hatever smug verbiage I'm selling, I want you to comment, bitch, moan, call me fat and ugly, and basically help me feel alive again.' — Village Voice columnist Michael Musto in his debut blog posting, Jan. 9. See blogs.villagevoice.com/dailymusto.
'The current wave of support for Barack Obama from Democrats, independents, and even some Republicans is partly based on his vision of a new political discourse that breaks with the petty, destructive polarization of the past 20 years. Whether Obama can build up his foreign policy credentials sufficiently to reassure an anxious general electorate remains to be seen. But Hillary herself, with her thin, spotty record, tangled psychological baggage, and maundering blowhard of a husband, is also a mighty big roll of the dice. She is a brittle, relentless manipulator with few stable core values who shuffles through useful personalities like a card shark ( 'Cue the tears!' ) . Forget all her little gold crosses: Hillary's real god is political expediency. Do Americans truly want this hard-bitten Machiavellian back in the White House? Day one will just be more of the same.' — Openly lesbian writer Camille Paglia at Salon.com, Jan. 10.
'Let me ask you something. As mayor of New York, would you live in an apartment with three gay guys? I'm not gay. I don't hate gays. But I don't want to live in an apartment full of them. They'll bitch and cry and all. That doesn't bother Giuliani. It doesn't bother Giuliani to put a dress on to do Saturday Night Live. I don't trust him. I don't think he's electable. ... Why do you break up with your wife and move in with gay guys?' — Hustler magazine publisher Larry Flynt to Vanity Fair, Dec. 20.
'I will vote for Hillary if she is the nominee of my party, because I want Democrats appointed to the Cabinet and the Supreme Court. But I plan to vote for Barack Obama in the Pennsylvania primary because he is a rational, centered personality who speaks the language of idealism and national unity. Obama has served longer as an elected official than Hillary. He has had experience as a grass-roots activist, and he is also a highly educated lawyer who will be a quick learner in office. His international parentage and childhood, as well as his knowledge of both Christianity and Islam, would make him the right leader at the right time. And his wife Michelle is a powerhouse. The Obamas represent the future, not the past.' — Openly lesbian writer Camille Paglia at Salon.com, Jan. 10.
'Except on gay marriage, [ Barack ] Obama has hit all the right notes on the gay rights issues of the day, and he has refused to pander. He has chastised conservative black pastors and white evangelicals alike for opposing gay rights and aggressive HIV prevention. He even refused the demand from gay activists that he reject the support of Grammy-winning gospel singer Donnie McClurkin because he claims to be 'ex-gay.' Obama is the only candidate who talks regularly about gay rights, including civil unions, in front of national audiences, and he is the candidate best suited to reach out to independents and Republicans in the general election and in fulfilling the promises he has made as a candidate. If you can vote in the Democratic primary of your state, there is no better candidate on gay rights than Barack Obama.' — Syndicated gay-press columnist Chris Crain in a Jan. 3. filing.
' [ The worst part is ] the boredom. You're outside 24/7 in the mud with absolutely nothing to do except talk to people. So, yeah, there were times when I lost my mind.' — Todd Herzog, openly gay winner of the most-recent season of TV's Survivor, to Chicago's Windy City Times, Jan. 9.
