Stephen Harper vows free vote on gay marriage

[Ocean Breeze]

Re: Harper vows free vote on gay marriage

It boggles that the Harper fool would bring up such a topic and now.. Using a topic like this ......which inflames the bigots and the prejudiced is a p*** poor political tactic.

That alone eliminates him as a genuine contender for PM. Anyone that votes for him........is voting to throw this country back into an era long past.

Canada needs to move forward.......and not cling to some outdated /outmoded notions that this bloke is hung up on.

 

[Andygal]

RE: Harper vows free vote

You're going to let him live?

Your a kinder woman then me Cosmo. I'd have banned him in two seconds in your place.

Dude you don't know how lucky you are that Cosmo is so tolerant, unlike YOU.

Who has the higher moral ground here huh?

 

[Ocean Breeze]

Re: RE: Harper vows free vote

You're going to let him live?

Your a kinder woman then me Cosmo. I'd have banned him in two seconds in your place.

Dude you don't know how lucky you are that Cosmo is so tolerant, unlike YOU.

Who has the higher moral ground here huh?

hey andy..... I kinda think that cosmo is planning something..;-) This opera ain't over until the "fat porker " sings.<squeals>. :wink:

 

[Andygal]

RE: Harper vows free vote

No it's not over. And I think I'm going to enjoy it.

 

[Roy]

RE: Harper vows free vote on gay marriage

hmmm...gay marrage is really not an issue to me...but if there is a referendum or free vote for the public on the issue it would be interesting, just to know where Canada stands on the issue. I would support the results of the vote though, it is only democratic. probly be a squeaker eh

 

[PoisonPete2]

RE: Harper vows free vote on gay marriage

I can't remember ever voting on a referendum question. Direct democracy strikes me as a very good idea. Easy to count the bigots then, what? We could have coloured maps of homophobic areas so gays could haul Winnabago right on by and enjoy the honeymoon.

 

[Ocean Breeze]

Re: Harper vows free vote on gay marriage

Easy to count the bigots then, what?

......then what ?? indeed.

(like your idea of a color coded map.;-) Nothing like creating more antagonism, friction,bias and divisiveness in our country. ( certainly would follow the bush schemes.......divide the country on bias /prejudice ......and have we not learned anything from the perpetual mistakes the US is making??

dang........we already have the "French in Quebec vs the majority English. We already have west vs east. (and not only in foot ball) Do we need to splinter the nation even more with these kind of tactics. Harper is simply preaching to his own minority choir- the zealots who cannot tolerate progress and change.- on this one.

what a fecking waste of time,money and resources.... when there are major issues to deal with.

 

[Dexter Sinister]

Re: Harper vows free vote on gay marriage

Well, my attitude to feckless, vituperative (look it up, pig boy) bigots like Hogwild (interesting choice of name, I thought, considering the views and the complete lack of manners and morals displayed, though perhaps it's an insult to hogs) is DNFTT, Do Not Feed The Troll, but for those of you who enjoy slaughtering trolls, go for it. It's not really sporting though, they're pretty much helpless against anyone with real understanding and intelligence, so it's kinda like shooting caged birds.

But to the main theme: I think Harper raised the gay marriage issue not because he wanted to make a campaign issue of it, but to shut up certain members of his party. Whatever his faults, and they are legion, Harper's not stupid and he's got to know that's a non-starter. But I can imagine that under pressure from some of the intolerant bigots who came in from the Reform side of this unholy alliance, he agreed to make the point in public to shut them up, so he did, hoping his casual and offhand reference to it would quickly sink out of sight. I'd bet he won't voluntarily mention it again and will duck reporters questions about it until after January 23rd. If he's still in opposition then, he still won't mention it, and then it soon won't matter much anyway from his perspective because he's going to be out of a job if he doesn't deliver at least a Conservative minority government.

 

[pastafarian]

RE: Harper vows free vote on gay marriage

Damn! Dexter Sinister took "pigboy" from me. Now I've got nothing to say to Porky.

 

[Dexter Sinister]

Re: Harper vows free vote on gay marriage

Aw, you can still use it Pastafarian, I have no copyright on it. It's a clear case of "If the shoe fits..."

And pig boy fits. :wink:

 

[Cosmo]

RE: Harper vows free vote

Dark humour aside, I gotta say that even a negative poster can provide some positive consequences. It's heartwarming to see the number of people, many of whom are straight, so adamant about gay rights and so vocal about anyone who is as unpleasant as pig boy. I think when we ban these guys outright, we miss the opportunity to feel supported by our friends here. Thanks all!

 

[Ocean Breeze]

Re: RE: Harper vows free vote

Dark humour aside, I gotta say that even a negative poster can provide some positive consequences. It's heartwarming to see the number of people, many of whom are straight, so adamant about gay rights and so vocal about anyone who is as unpleasant as pig boy. I think when we ban these guys outright, we miss the opportunity to feel supported by our friends here. Thanks all!

IMHO.......it is more than just "Gay Rights".......It is about HUMAN rights. Far too often we ignore the HUMAN equation of all these petty issues and they really are .........in the final analysis. No matter what political statement harper was making by bringing this to the forefront again..... he has divided people too. ....by categorizing them into "sexual lifestyles." or whatever the in terminology is now. Mankind must begin to evolve beyond this kind of branding. ....as it is the human being that matters. ( well, except for Harper and Bush... :wink: (but ya'all saw that one coming.... :wink:

If he is responding to a religious right wing group.......then he is a bigger fool that he appears on the surface.

 

[missile]

Re: Harper vows free vote on gay marriage

Cosmo & Ocean Breeze have said everything I have wanted to say on this topic,but just didn't have the right words

 

[Jo Canadian]

Re: Harper vows free vote on gay marriage

:lol: Sounds like I missed all the fun last night, I ended up finishing work right when Hog first made his apperance. I'm against feeding the Trolls, but when fed don't they just say the darndnest things?

:lol: This one isn't on the Canadian issue, but try imagine Harpers mug pasted over bushs'.

 

[Cosmo]

RE: Harper vows free vote

lol ... Jo, you always find the perfect cartoons!

 

[Colpy]

RE: Harper vows free vote on gay marriage

It seems our psycho friend Hogwild has left the building.

Sometimes a little piling on is a good thing..............

 

[Reverend Blair]

RE: Harper vows free vote

It's where this debate always leads though, Colpy. It draws bigots and homophobes like flies to shit. Harper knew that when he raised it. The question is why he felt the need to play to that part of his constituency. Is he afraid of losing the redneck vote?

 

[Jay]

Re: Harper vows free vote on gay marriage

But to the main theme: I think Harper raised the gay marriage issue not because he wanted to make a campaign issue of it, but to shut up certain members of his party. Whatever his faults, and they are legion, Harper's not stupid and he's got to know that's a non-starter. But I can imagine that under pressure from some of the intolerant bigots who came in from the Reform side of this unholy alliance, he agreed to make the point in public to shut them up, so he did, hoping his casual and offhand reference to it would quickly sink out of sight. I'd bet he won't voluntarily mention it again and will duck reporters questions about it until after January 23rd. If he's still in opposition then, he still won't mention it, and then it soon won't matter much anyway from his perspective because he's going to be out of a job if he doesn't deliver at least a Conservative minority government.

Very good Dex....For the most part :wink: I look forward to your opinions on these sort of matters. Tell me. Do you think perhaps the Liberals took the position they did on this issue to disrupt the conservatives? There were other options as I'm sure you are aware, and those options probably would have put an end to the issue for good, and the Liberals could have taken credit for solving it with a broader consensus….know what I mean?

 

[Colpy]

Re: RE: Harper vows free vote

It's where this debate always leads though, Colpy. It draws bigots and homophobes like flies to shit. Harper knew that when he raised it. The question is why he felt the need to play to that part of his constituency. Is he afraid of losing the redneck vote?

Not everyone who supports the traditional definition of marriage is a "bigot and homophobe", although our friend Hoggie certainly fits that description. Any decent Christian would "love the sinner, hate the sin", and yes, Harper needs the support of Christians.

But what did Harper say? He said he would allow a free vote. If he is true to his platform, he has no choice but to empower our MPs by letting them vote how they please on what they please.

Do you think he likes the issue? I doubt it.

It is not part of the party's platform.

Were it up to me, I wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole.

 

[Reverend Blair]

Re: Harper vows free vote on gay marriage

But what did Harper say? He said he would allow a free vote. If he is true to his platform, he has no choice but to empower our MPs by letting them vote how they please on what they please.

Do you think he likes the issue? I doubt it.

It is not part of the party's platform.

Harper uses the free vote thing as a dodge, Colpy. It's the same as the abortion issue...he made that an issue that the party wouldn't officially bring up, but made sure the back door was kicked wide open and his party could support it.

The reality is that attempting to repeal the new SSM law is part of the CPC platform. Harper made it so when he said he hold a free vote. So is the abortion issue.

The majority of Canadians vote for parties or their leaders. When a leader tries to keep the will of his party out of the public eye while promising that they can vote their will on an issue, he is giving tacit approval for that platform, no matter how much he would like to keep it out of the public eye.

Not everyone who supports the traditional definition of marriage is a "bigot and homophobe"

Not everyone, but the majority fit into one or both of those categories.

Trying to force your religious beliefs, traditional or not, on those that do not share those beliefs is something that should not be done in a secular state. The existing law ensures that you get to keep, through your religious institutions, your traditional definition.