Gore: Opposition to gay marriage = tyranny

Pam Spaulding catches this Al Gore quote from last month:

Any force that tries to make you feel shame for being who you are, and loving who you love, is a form of tyranny over your mind. And it must be rejected, resisted, and defeated.

Before any critique, praise, or talk of strategy, just read it again. Note the breath of fresh air it represents both in message and, perhaps more importantly, in tone.

This isn't some namby-pamby politico-dance around an issue that divides much of America. This is an assertion of values that even those who disagree may at least respect.

Noting that Gore supported Clinton's Defense of Marriage Act, Pam asks whether the former VP is setting himself up for another run, and whether he's "willing to reframe the message for a party that continually runs screaming from the issue." She writes:

Remember, Gore... has stated that he favored separate-and-unequal civil unions, so it’s a far cry from Russ Feingold’s open support for marriage equality. That said, Gore was a strong supporter of the Employment Nondiscrimination Act (ENDA).

Again from his speech before the Human Rights Commission: "Love is transcendent and fulfilling and powerful and any force on earth that endeavors to make you feel that you should be ashamed for feeling genuine, deep love for another of your choosing is a form of oppression."

Whistling dixie or serious reframing? (Pandagon)

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