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The Betty Blog

Should I Not Support Hillary Clinton . . .

August 10, 2007

Should I Not Support Hillary Clinton . . .
Because She Doesn’t Support Gay Marriage?

Not everybody likes it that “Betty’s List” announced a reception supporting Hillary Clinton. Fact is, not everybody likes it that we announced the ceremony at the AIDS Memorial Grove celebrating Nancy Pelosi’s 20 years of service. Not many folks take the time to write and express their opinions, but some do. This blog entry is about one I am particularly inspired by.

“I can’t believe you are promoting this [the fundraising reception for Hillary Clinton at Trader Vic’s on Sunday, August 12th] after she confirmed she does not support gay marriage,” Millie wrote. “Civil unions are . . . Please do not send me anything supporting Hillary Clinton. Thanks . . .”

She did sign the message. I’m appreciative of that, because I don’t respond to anonymous missives. I’m also grateful that she took the time to write. Below is my response. The name is changed so that it does not in any way reflect the identity of the writer. I did adjust the text of my reply in a few places, so it’s not verbatim.

Hi, Millie, I appreciate your sharing your opinion, and thank you for taking the time to do so. Trust me, you don't need to educate me about the gay marriage issue and how it is related to civil rights.

We don't currently have anything else on our schedule of e-mails going out that's related to Hillary Clinton. It could happen in the future, though, that we do, and if so, I won't be able to separate your e-mail out of our big list . . . that long list of thousands and thousands of e-mail addresses. That means you will receive it. You'll have to decide if that means you want to unsubscribe or not. I hope you won't unsubscribe, but if you decide to do so, I respect your choice.

Here’s what I think. Unless there is a "Note from Betty" included near the top of a message we send, then you can think of our role as "just the messenger," sort of like your local newspaper that may run ads about or even stories about candidates that you don't support. When there is a "Note from Betty" in a message, that note functions sort of like an editorial on an editorial page.

Yes, it's true, subscribers stop their subscriptions to newspapers all the time because they don't like the contents. (You may know that I have about 25 years in the newspaper business, so I often think about the world in general and my work in particular with that backdrop in mind.) One of the great things about being American is we don't have to subscribe and we truly can turn off the tube.

Now, it is also true that my name is included in the Host Committee list on the Hillary Clinton event coming up this Sunday. It is there representing me personally and not "Betty's List." As I said earlier, the editorial page function happens in the "Note from Betty" position and not in the content. An exception to this, one could make a case, is if the message is announcing a “Betty’s List” event.

It is also true that I would love for Hillary Clinton to become our next President. But I also know that I will, no doubt, support whomever is selected as the Democratic Party's candidate.

I’m keeping in perspective, though, that there's no way I will ever agree with all of the positions a candidate, or anyone in my life for that matter, takes on every issue – even ones that directly affect my life. That is not going to prevent me from participating in the political process when I feel it's the right thing to do.

Considering your message to me once more, what's most fun to me is observing how people choose to use or not use media outlets - "Betty's List" being, in my view, one of those. And what I'm enjoying a great deal, in this case, is it gives me a good reason to take out my media advocate hat . . . which I sometimes miss wearing, now that my primary hat is all about building community here in the Bay Area's LGBT community.

For years, I use to fly all around the US and the world talking with professors and teachers and students about the role of media in our lives. I don't do that anymore, really, but it's fun to recall that I once did and that it was then the passion of my life, just as living, being and participating in LGBT community here is my passion now.

I think maybe this reply from me to you would make a great blog entry, so perhaps I'll expand on it more in "The Betty Blog." But not tonight. I'm off to do some photo editing of some great shots from an outing with friends to Bodega Bay last weekend. I'll probably be doing some more photo editing here at my desk on Sunday evening while that Hillary Clinton reception is happening downtown at Trader Vics.

Why? Well, I’m a little burned out on crowds, believe I've already done my part for this event and don’t need to be there in order to feel connected. What’s more, I’m happy with my memories of being there with Hillary during official functions in the Green Room and on the lawn when she was First Lady during the latter of my time living and working in Washington, DC . . . in the newspaper business.

Fact is, I'd like nothing more than to see Hillary become our first woman President. I'd love to see Bill in the role of First Man . . . or whatever language turns out to be the prevailing usage at that time.

Anyway, very best to you from me, and thanks for sharing with me, usually just the messenger.

All best,
Betty

Now, what do I really think about the Gay Marriage issue? Well, that's the subject for another day. Rest assured, when I do get around to writing about it, it's going to be a lengthy passage and sure to raise some eyebrows.

(White House Photo)