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Former President Jimmy Carter says the U.S. is ready for a gay president
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GoogleFormer President Jimmy Carter did a recent series of video interviews with the website Big Think. He addresses a number of issues -- debt, Americans' addiction to consumption, his failings as the President.
One question posed to him is whether or not the United States is ready for a gay president. He responds, "I think the entire population of America has come tremendous strides forward in dealing with the issue of gays. And I would say that the answer is yes. I don't know about the next election, but I think in the near future."
"Step by step, we've realized this issue of homosexuality has the same adverse and progression elements as when we dealt with the race issue 50 years ago, 40 years ago," he continues. "So I would say that the country's getting acclimated to a president who might be female, who might obviously now be black and who might be, as well, a gay person. I would say the answer's yes."
CNN's "Situation Room" panel had some interesting responses.
Republican strategist Rich Galen says he's "spent his entire adult life not listening to a theory Jimmy Carter has, so [he thinks he'll] just stick to that," but he goes on to say, "I think at some point, sure ... I wouldn't have bet heavy money that we'd elect a black president in 2010."
CNN contributor John Avlon points out that we have openly gay mayors and members of COngress, eventually we'll have openly gay senators and governors and then eventually we'll have an openly gay president.
Liberal pundit James Carville cracks, "I'm prety sure we haven't had a female president yet. I'm less sure we haven't had a gay one."
What do you think? Is it inevitable? How soon do you think the U.S. could have an openly gay president?
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Photo/Video credit: Big Think
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Since he was the WORST President we ever had, my guess is anything he says is wrong. If he was to say we weren't ready for a gay Prez, then I'd say we were. He really was that awful a President, but Obama is starting to make him look good.
Cue the comments that will prove that Jimmy Carter is wrong.... NOW!
Oh wait, I was already too late for the first biggot...
175 of our House Representatives do not think gays and lesbians should be allowed to openly serve and protect their country - I seriously doubt they would want a gay president. However, I think in 30 years or so, its definitely a possibility (If it happens sooner, even better).
Carville is a wise and astute man that I agree with on a number of issues. This being one of them.
There is quite a body of research that indicates both Buchanan and Lincoln were gay. Check it out. If not both, likely one or the other were gay.
Just a couple of years ago there was a book out that proclaimed Lincoln was gay. Several people, including Lincoln scholars tried to discredit that. Now the concensus by research scholars seems to be coming back to the understanding that Lincoln was indeed likely gay.
And the telltales signs of Buchanan being gay are quite obvious. Yet, like so many issues of the day, the notion of having a President be gay has been suppressed by those in polite society who liked keeping information like that part of their cache of political secrets.
Content yourself with that opinion, Alex, as the US melts down into a third world economic power due to the economic policies and theories that began with Reaganomics.
Jimmy Carter has done a lot of good work as an Ex-President, and I believe he is right about this. It will take time for sure, but why not have a gay President. Talk about a role model for the Gay youth of America!!! We are now getting very capable gay representives in all levels of service so the Top Job is just an eventuality.
The thing to remember is that being Gay will not define that president. It will be what he/she stands for and what they intend to do as our leader. Sexuality is just a part of a person, it is NOT who they are. I look forward to a president that is gay.
Maybe Jimmy Carter say's that because HE"S GAY!!!
To the person who said that a person being gay would not define him as a President. I say bull.
It will be the same as Obama. To his constituents the only thing about him that seems of importance is that he is Black. If a person says they don't like him the first thing yelled is that person is a racist.
Even his constituents can't look beyond his skin color to see anything else about they man. They can't fathom that people can have a problem with what he stands for that has nothing to do with what color his skin is.
The same will be with a gay president. He won't be a President who happens to be gay -- he will be the GAY PRESIDENT. And every person who doesn't like him or her will only have a problem with him because he or she is a bigot.
Before any minority can expect others to see their proclaimed candidate as anything else -- they first need to look beyond it themselves. Not everyone that voted against Obama voted against him because he was gay. Some actually voted for him because of the issues he stood for. Or I will go as far as some people voted against him just because he is a Democrat.
Not anytime soon. But i think in ohhhhh maybe 50 years. It took a while just to get a black president. I think the next will be a woman president.
Obama is worse than Carter.