Been an interesting week or two. I mean you have the racist comments made by Tim Hardaway (see comment ‘What Is A Real Man’) and that got followed up by that fun conservative shock jock,  Ann Coulter (see comments ‘She is Feisty’ and ‘Commentators Racism’) and then the unpublicized meeting of Senator Hilary Clinton and Gay Rights groups, (see comment ‘Sssh, it’s a secret’) capped off by none other than our favorite GI Joe, Chief of the US Joint Chiefs, General Pace and his take on morality. (see comment ‘Immoral? Says Who?’) Finally it ends with a repeat performance by the darling of the Democrats, Senator Clinton who in front of Gays talks about standing with us, then later when asked about General Pace’s comments ducks the question completely.

“Well, I’m going to leave that to others to conclude,” she said. (full Story)

I mean come on Senator Clinton. How can you claim to be for Gay Rights, claim that if you are President Gay’s will have an open door to the Oval Office, and yet at the first sign of homophobia, you cut and run? (Must be a Democratic Party thing, to always want to RETREAT) Sort of like your stand on Iraq. One minute you stand firmly with the President against Saadam and now, running for President you claim your support was somehow forced by the lies?

Let’s get a few things out and in the open. General Pace shouldn’t have said what he did, until at least he had retired from active service. His job is to project the military view, based on Military doctrine, and studies. It is not for him to project his personal views and opinions. It does state that in the supposed Military Code of Conduct that he adheres to, or at least claims to. However, give the guy credit. He made his statement and stands by it, while admitting that it was wrong for him to speak it, not in that he believes it, but that it was out of order for him to state it, given his current role in the Military.

That you have to admire.

Same perhaps for Ann Coulter. She is a mouth and no doubt about her bigotry and racism, (see comment ‘Being Feisty Costs Money’) but she does speak her mind. Something she has the right to do, and for which I have no beef about. I think for me, her outburst and the subsequent applause by the group she was speaking to is more offensive than her use of the word ‘faggot’.

Then we have Senator Hilary Clinton who addresses a Gay Rights Group, of which she keeps it secret. She doesn’t publicize it at all, and in that speech she claims to stand with us, that she wants to be a partner with us in our battle for equality. Nice words, but here she is today, backing off of taking the lead in responding to General Pace’s comments.

I always thought that a President should at least, have the ability to lead, not to follow. I also think that a President needs to lead by example, not by just some fancy words. Either she truly believes we are equal or not, she owes it to those who might support her to be honest and upfront with her support or lack of it.

Hell even if she doesn’t think his comments were out of order, at least have the guts and courage to say that. To duck the question that was put to her, is showing not leadership, but showing she is NOT Presidential material. Give Edwards credit, for at least rising to the occasion, but where are the rest? Where is Obama? McCain?

If you agree, have the guts to say so. If all that matters is that you don’t want to offend, that you want to run a nice safe campaign, then frankly, you should step aside to let someone who can lead, take charge. The issues facing America and the world are huge and complex. A President who sidesteps issues, who waffles, who is too in-tune with polls and public opinion isn’t a leader, nor is it someone who can solve any of the real issues that face the world today.

How can someone who speaks with a forked tongue, expect to lead?

Education, Welfare, Health, Security, are all issues that will confront the next President. They will require tough and hard decisions in order to insure the survival of Democracy itself, in the world, and how can someone like Hilary Clinton be trusted to even tackle those issues, when she says one thing to Gays, but refuses to have any backbone and stand up for us when it counts?

It is early in the season, but Hilary Clinton shouldn’t be a contender for President. She simply doesn’t have the ability to lead, even when the opportunity is handed to her on a silver platter. But I suppose she’ll just claim its all part of the right wing conspiracy.