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NYC Mayoral Debate Goes Gay


NYC Mayoral Debatex390 (Screen grab) | Advocate.com

A hot topic entered Tuesday night’s mayoral debate in New York City when candidates Michael Bloomberg and William C. Thompson Jr. were asked whether they thought President Obama has done enough for gay rights.

“No,” replied Bloomberg, the incumbent mayor running on the independent and Republican Party lines.

“Yes,” said Thompson, the city comptroller and Democratic nominee.
 
Last week, Thompson received an understated endorsement from the White House.
 
Thompson prefaced his answer with the qualifier, “He’s been there nine months,” but strictly speaking, only a one-word "yes" or "no" answer was allowed because it was the lightning round portion of the debate.

Relevant to LGBT issues in New York state, moderator Dominic Carter of NY 1 News also asked the candidates, “Would Rudy Giuliani be a good governor?”

”Yes,” said Bloomberg, to an audible gasp from the crowd. Thompson said “no.”

Giuliani, the former New York City mayor, is considered a potential Republican contender for governor in 2010. He opposes same-sex marriage, which Mayor Bloomberg supports.

Carter also asked about the state senate, “Is Pedro Espada a better senate majority leader than Joe Bruno?”

”No,” said Bloomberg, preferring Bruno, the Republican former majority leader, who announced his support for marriage equality after retiring last year.

Thompson said "yes," in a statement of support for Espada, the Democrat whose temporary switch of allegiance to the Republicans disrupted senate business for weeks in June, and scuttled the season’s high hopes for a vote on the marriage equality bill.

On a lighter note, the candidates were asked whether they ever had a manicure or a pedicure.

"Not recently, but, yes," said Thompson.

"No," said Bloomberg.

"Never?" asked Carter.
 
"Don't think so," said Bloomberg. "Do it myself."

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Reader Comments
  • Name: Stevemd2
    Date posted: 10/15/2009 1:56:05 AM
    Hometown: baltimore

    Comment:

    Believe it or not, and be very very careful not to just take words at face value, but there are some decent republicans. the party is not totally corrupted by our the right wing christian Taliban. BTW, talking with our Rabbi the other day re Israel. His comment on the ultra-orthodox - some who have called for the extermination of gay people. The Rabbi said that if those people ever got their act together and took over the Israeli govt, you would just have another taliban extremist state. Same as what would haPpen here if the right wing repubs - most of them are - ever got control The real dangers are the governor's races in 2010, because in over 30 states, the gov has large control over the redistricting process, and could turn perhaps 25 US congressional districts to the repubs from the dems before 2o12. And the other danger is the senate, where for most bills, you need 6o votes to win. And they approve supreme court lifetime appointments.

  • Name: corvo
    Date posted: 10/14/2009 7:24:37 PM
    Hometown: venezia

    Comment:

    Note carefully what the candidates were actually saying. Bloomberg, a corporatist who has proved that it's possible for Wall Street to be at home in either party, acts independently of his party du jour and thus actually has the freedom to express support for full gay rights. He doesn't have to answer to Mitch McConnell. His opponent, on the other hand, has to answer to the local and national party machinery, and thus cannot criticize Obama's record on gay rights, or for that matter Bruno's antics.

  • Name: Jeff
    Date posted: 10/14/2009 2:02:07 PM
    Hometown: Cincinnati

    Comment:

    Wow, what's happening here? The Republican is more committed to equal rights now and the Democrat is not. It's like an alternate universe on Dr. Who!

  • Name: Ken Pflueger
    Date posted: 10/14/2009 2:00:22 PM
    Hometown: Simi Vallye

    Comment:

    Just how does Bloomberg's support for Giulani gain him the "gay vote." Clearly Bloomberg is playing politics as well and sending mixed messages about what he truly believes relative to support for gay issues. At least it sounds as if Thompson is being honest.

  • Name: Ben
    Date posted: 10/14/2009 12:13:01 PM
    Hometown: NY

    Comment:

    Looks like Thompson thinks he can get elected without the gay vote. We'll see.



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