McCain at Funeral of Mark Bingham, Gay Hero of 9/11
I have always thought that the real measure of someone’s attitude toward gay people was not whether he supports the legislative agenda of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) or mouths the appropriate political correct slogans of gay activists, but how he treats individual gay men and lesbians.
John McCain has a long record of treating individual gay men not just fairly, but also with class and honor. We saw that most recently on the Ellen DeGeneres Show where he respectfully handled the eponymous hostess’s questions on gay marriage and as he wished her “every happiness” in her relationship with Portia de Rossi.
That wasn’t the first time he showed class via-Ã -vis a gay person. In September 2001, he flew from Washington to attend a memorial service at the University of California/Berkeley for Mark Bingham, a gay man and one of the heroes of United Flight 93. Along with his fellow passengers on that doomed plane, Bingham stormed the cockpit, preventing it from being used as a missile to destroy either the U.S. Capitol .
This was not the first time Bingham had risked his life for others.
Speaking at this hero’s funeral, John McCain recalled Bingham’s support for his 2000 White House bid and cited the Gospel of John in praising him for laying down his life for his fellows, calling it, “A love so sublime that only God’s love surpasses it.” He added:
I never knew Mark Bingham. But I wish I had. I know he was a good son and friend, a good rugby player, a good American, and an extraordinary human being. He supported me, and his support now ranks among the greatest honors of my life. I wish I had known before September 11th just how great an honor his trust in me was. I wish I could have thanked him for it more profusely than time and circumstances allowed. But I know it now. And I thank him with the only means I possess, by being as good an American as he was.
While John McCain may be far from perfect on gay and other issues, we do know him to be a man of honor. He treats men and women fairly.
His attendance at the funeral of Mark Bingham as well as his eulogy for that great American shows, he honors the service and sacrifice of our heroes — regardless of their sexual orientation.
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So, by this analysis, it’s OK to support those who want to marginalize gays, cozy up to Falwell or his ilk, tell Ellen he doesn’t support her right to marry the woman she loves. As long as he attends the funeral of a gay, rugby playing, 9/11 hero, all’s well.
No thanks.
Comment by David T — June 29, 2008 @ 7:40 pm - June 29, 2008
Did you even read the post?
Comment by Attmay — June 29, 2008 @ 7:47 pm - June 29, 2008
#1 - David, please tell us exactly where Barack Hussein Obama was during this time?
(Crickets)
Checkmate.
Regards,
Peter H.
PS - I echo ILC & TGC in their sentiments about you.
Comment by Peter Hughes — June 29, 2008 @ 8:12 pm - June 29, 2008
“he honors the service and sacrifice of our heroes — regardless of their sexual orientation.”
That would only be true if he knew that Bingham was a gay man. While the gay press made much of that fact, how common was that knowledge outside? Perhaps he did, or perhaps it wouldn’t have made any difference but do we really know that?
Peter, I know it makes you feel all he-man when you celebrate an imagined victory with the overused (Crickets) Checkmate but if you’re the only one that views it as a contest then aren’t you just playing with yourself?
Comment by Dave — June 29, 2008 @ 11:55 pm - June 29, 2008
Dave, how could he not have known given how open Bingham was about his sexuality?
Comment by GayPatriotWest — June 30, 2008 @ 1:02 am - June 30, 2008
Gee, isn’t it nice to have some old homophobe stand over your grave and mouth kind words so he can get elected while stirring the ashes of 9/11? It is so funny how you guys will take such crumbs and roll over like grateful dogs.
[GP Ed. Note - Ah, such lovely, typically liberal bile for a Monday morning.....]
Comment by Pinky Bear — June 30, 2008 @ 6:14 am - June 30, 2008
“he honors the service and sacrifice of our heroes — regardless of their sexual orientation”
I think you’re being a little generous on that one. While I think McCain is probably more gay-friendly than many of his Republican colleagues, I think he falls short on “honoring” the service of gay American heroes in uniform.
He wrote in 2007, “I do believe that any policy requiring the Armed Services to accomodate a particular lifestyle of whatever description is misguided.” He still equates sexual orientation with “lifestyle” even though we all know that sexuality is not the sole determinant of lifestyle.
He then said, “open homosexuality within the military services presents and intolerable risk to morale, cohesion, and discipline.” Any “open” sexuality presents risks. But the Army teaches risk management, not simply risk avoidance.
You’re right, he did display a lot of class on honoring Mark Bingham, but that doesn’t negate his statements regarding the service of gay men and women in the military. So in one instance, he was right, but he continues to be wrong in another.
Comment by Pepe Johnson — June 30, 2008 @ 9:18 am - June 30, 2008
#4 - Dave, if anybody knows anything about playing with one’s self, it would be you.
And frankly, my use of the word “checkmate” is not overused and in the previous case, totally apropos.
Deal with it.
Regards,
Peter H.
Comment by Peter Hughes — June 30, 2008 @ 10:13 am - June 30, 2008
What are the minimal qualifications for being a homophobe? There seem to be so many that it must be an awfully easy club to join. Is being straight qualification enough?
Comment by heliotrope — June 30, 2008 @ 11:48 am - June 30, 2008
Heliotrope, All I can say is Bingo! You hit the nail on the head. I guess if you are straight, the only way to prove you aren’t a homophobe is to bow down to every whim and desire the gay spokes men demand. It’s easy if you are a woman, simply become a fag hag - or fruitfly - which I think is the current nomenclature. As a straight man - you’re just screwed.
As to John McCain, no one is perfect. I do find that his attitude and respect towards gay people is so much more admirable than simply mouthing the right words. Btw, I haven’t heard Obama come out and say that as a senator or a president he will fight to ensure that Same sex marriage is the law of the land. I’ve heard the same two step, marriage should be between a man and a woman and oh yeah, the CA supreme court was right in it’s decision.
Comment by Leah — June 30, 2008 @ 11:57 am - June 30, 2008
#9: “Homophobia” is defined by party membership, not actions. In this case, membership in the Republican party, regardless of actions = bigot.
Orwell was right, and so was P.T. Barnum.
Comment by Attmay — June 30, 2008 @ 11:58 am - June 30, 2008
[...] McCain at Funeral of Mark Bingham, Gay Hero of 9/11 [...]
Pingback by GayPatriot » McCain, CA Marriage Initiative & Federalism — June 30, 2008 @ 1:10 pm - June 30, 2008
Leah and Attmay: Thanks for the help. Is heliotropethehomophobe too long for a handle?
Oh, yeah, where do I learn the handshake and secret words?
Comment by heliotrope — June 30, 2008 @ 2:34 pm - June 30, 2008
We’ve had politicians who’ve talked the talk, but then didn’t back our legislative priorities. It was called the Clinton Administration. Still, that was better than previous Administrations, Democrat and Republican, who were openly hostile to gay rights in both word and deed.
But it’s not 1992. And it’s not wrong to expect more, today, in 2008.
McCain offers no progress, no change from what we’ve seen before.
Comment by Erik — June 30, 2008 @ 6:57 pm - June 30, 2008
I would rather have a politician who supports gay men and women in our military, and anti-discrimination laws, and recognition of gay couples, than one who feels comfortable attending at a gay hero’s funeral.
Comment by marc paige — June 30, 2008 @ 11:15 pm - June 30, 2008
I won’t argue that he can display class. So can any politician. I’m sorry, simply tolerating the fact we exist doesn’t cut it anymore. That’s not groundbreaking; it’s the absolute minimum that I would think one should demand from anyone who wants his vote.
There are plenty of Republicans who are actually gay-supportive. Being able to celebrate a hero (gay or not) should just be expected, not something that someone needs accolades for.
I really want to like McCain. He’s a little more moderate on some things. He’s a federalist above at least some other things. He had the chutzpah to tell off the “agents of intolerance” back in 2000. He’s Barry Goldwater’s successor (not that that has any significance other than symbolic). But I’m sorry, I just can’t get past his positions on LGBT issues, not after his little public snuggle with ProtectMarriage.com, at least.
And let’s not even go into the other 180’s he’s taken of late (or at least 270’s—perhaps even 360’s**).
I’m just not sure what to make of him anymore.
Comment by PSUdain — July 1, 2008 @ 3:57 am - July 1, 2008
**Political 270: politician swings around publicly through a different viewpoint, but ends up at some third point that may or may not be an amalgam of the previous two
Political 360: pure showmanship. Politician does a little public position twirl, but the public only gets to see the part up to 180 degrees.
(Just trying to communicate what I meant when I used those two phrases.)
Comment by PSUdain — July 1, 2008 @ 3:58 am - July 1, 2008
And then:
It is so funny how gay liberal victims will take the blowjobs from liberal candidates for cash donations and votes then roll over like grateful dogs when they pass laws against us. And yet, somehow, Repbublicans are the bigoted homophobes. B-b-but the liberals pat us on the head and tell us what good little faggots we are!!! Exactly. You’re nothing but a photo op.
Most people would call that two-faced. I know I would.
Comment by ThatGayConservative — July 1, 2008 @ 4:39 am - July 1, 2008
Ranks right up there with squealing like Ned Beatty billions more for AIDS research and then dropping $60 on a bareback flick on the way home.
Comment by ThatGayConservative — July 1, 2008 @ 4:40 am - July 1, 2008
AIDS already gets more federal research money than cancer.
Source: My dad, a doctor, and head of the radiation oncology department at a prominent Southern hospital.
Comment by Attmay — July 1, 2008 @ 1:55 pm - July 1, 2008
Mark honestly believed in McCain. You have to remember that Mark wasn’t an advocate for gay rights. Mark lived his life how he wanted to live it and let no one stand in his way. He didn’t stand up and scream I’m Gay but he didn’t hide it either. The ripples of Mark’s life were felt after 9/11 when he showed it made no difference on that plane if you were straight, gay, black or white… they all acted as one. McCain thanked Mark for that but I think his stance on the gay lifestyle today is the same as it was 8 years ago. I only wish that after coming across Mark’s life and seeing what kind of human being he was that maybe his outlook on the gay people would change and lighten up just a little.
Comment by Rick Clark — July 29, 2008 @ 9:21 pm - July 29, 2008
McCain did know that he was gay - he presented Bingham’s boyfriend with a flag at Bingham’s memorial service. For the record…
Comment by Sofia — September 11, 2008 @ 9:45 am - September 11, 2008
[...] spoke at the memorial service for one of them, Mark Bingham. I acknowledged that few of us could say we loved our country as well [...]
Pingback by GayPatriot » McCain Mentions Mark Bingham in 9/11 Statement — September 11, 2008 @ 8:18 pm - September 11, 2008
Hello.
This is a dated comment.
To this day I am inspired by Mr. Bingham’s sacrifice, among the others of that day. We are born as individuals; we are not constricted to any norms from any socio-economic model.
I would love to walk in Mark’s footsteps, if anyone can. I appreciate that Americans continue to remember his name.
Comment by William — April 1, 2009 @ 12:31 pm - April 1, 2009