Barack Obama on Civil Rights
• Has stood together with Latino leaders for last 20 years. (Jun 2008)
• Hate crimes related to the immigration issue is unacceptable. (Feb 2008)
• People want to move beyond our divisions. (Jan 2008)
• 2004 DNC speech merged "heritage" with "diversity". (Dec 2007)
• The politics of fear undermines basic civil liberties. (Oct 2007)
• 1980s boss predicted Obama would be heir to MLK's voice. (Aug 2007)
• Racial equality good for America as a whole. (Jun 2007)
• Put the Confederate flag in a museum, not the state house. (Apr 2007)
• Muslim heritage gives Obama unique influence in Muslim world. (Oct 2006)
• No black or white America--just United States of America. (Oct 2006)
• Gays should not face discrimination but should not marry. (Oct 2004)
• Forthright on racial issues and on his civil rights history. (Jul 2004)
• Defend freedom and equality under law. (May 2004)
• Politicians: don't use religion to insulate from criticism. (Apr 2004)
• Miscegenation a felony in 1960 when Obamas practiced it. (Aug 1996)
• The civil rights movement was a success. (Aug 1996)
Affirmative Action
• Keep the promise of equal pay for an equal day's work. (Aug 2008)
• Apply affirmative action to poor white college applicants. (Apr 2008)
• Fight job discrimination to give women equal footing at jobs. (Feb 2008)
• Remove discriminatory barriers to the right to vote. (Feb 2008)
• Benefited from affirmative action but overcame via merit. (Dec 2007)
• Include class-based affirmative action with race-based. (Oct 2007)
• Better enforce women's pay equity via Equal Pay Act. (Aug 2007)
• Blacks should infiltrate mainstream to affect change. (Aug 2007)
• Commitment to diversity by CEOs is advisable. (Mar 2007)
• African-Americans vote Democratic because of issue stances. (Jul 2004)
• Supports affirmative action in colleges and government. (Jul 1998)
Gay Rights
• Opposes CA Prop. 8, one-man-one-woman marriage. (Jul 2008)
• Being gay or lesbian is not a choice. (Nov 2007)
• Decisions about marriage should be left to the states. (Oct 2007)
• Homosexuality no more immoral than heterosexuality. (Oct 2007)
• Ok to expose 6-year-olds to gay couples; they know already. (Sep 2007)
• Has any marriage broken up because two gays hold hands? (Aug 2007)
• We need strong civil unions, not just weak civil unions. (Aug 2007)
• Legal rights for gays are conferred by state, not by church. (Aug 2007)
• Disentangle gay rights from the word "marriage". (Aug 2007)
• Gay marriage is less important that equal gay rights. (Aug 2007)
• Gay rights movement is somewhat like civil rights movement. (Aug 2007)
• Let each denominations decide on recognizing gay marriage. (Jul 2007)
• Pass ENDA and expand hate crime legislation. (Mar 2007)
• Opposed 1996 Illinois DOMA bill. (Mar 2007)
• Supports health benefits for gay civil partners. (Oct 2006)
• Opposes gay marriage; supports civil union & gay equality. (Oct 2006)
• Marriage not a human right; non-discrimination is. (Oct 2004)
• Include sexual orientation in anti-discrimination laws. (Jul 1998)
Voting Record
• Strengthen the Americans with Disabilities Act. (Aug 2007)
• Voted NO on recommending Constitutional ban on flag desecration. (Jun 2006)
• Voted NO on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage. (Jun 2006)
• Ending racial profiling is part of fight for justice. (Jan 2001)
• Sponsored bill for special-needs evacuation plans. (Sep 2005)
• Sponsored bill for a Rosa Parks commemorative postage stamp. (Dec 2005)
• Rated 89% by the HRC, indicating a pro-gay-rights stance. (Dec 2006)
• Rated 100% by the NAACP, indicating a pro-affirmative-action stance. (Dec 2006)
• Recognize Juneteenth as historical end of slavery. (Jun 2008)
• Provide benefits to domestic partners of Federal employees. (Dec 2007)
• Re-introduce the Equal Rights Amendment. (Mar 2007)
• Reinforce anti-discrimination and equal-pay requirements. (Jan 2008)
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