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Sarah Palin on Homosexuality in Gibson Interview

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In his interview with Republican Vice-Presidential nominee Sarah Palin, Charles Gibson asked her about the origins of homosexuality:

GIBSON: Homosexuality, genetic or learned?

PALIN: Oh, I don’t — I don’t know, but I’m not one to judge and, you know, I’m from a family and from a community with many, many members of many diverse backgrounds and I’m not going to judge someone on whether they believe that homosexuality is a choice or genetic. I’m not going to judge them.

That seems a pretty satisfactory (though obviously not ideal) answer. Seems she has kept an open mind on the subject even as her church promoted “a conference that promises to convert gays into heterosexuals through the power of prayer.”

UPDATE: Her response this week is consistent with what she said two years ago in the Alaska gubernatorial election. According to the Anchorage Daily News, Palin “said she doesn’t know if people choose to be gay.”

Comments

  1. I think it was a good answer to a stupid question. Any politician who presumed to tell me the origins of homosexuality would make me think they’re full of it. Scientists have theories but there’s really not a solid, agreed upon explaination for homosexuality. This tells me that Sarah Palin is wise enough to know that she doesn’t know everything and she’s open minded enough to not judge people for something she admits she doesn’t fully understand.

  2. It’s a perfectly legitimate, evangelical Christian answer.

    The Bible tells these Christians, among other things, that:
    – no one is free from sin
    – it’s not their place to judge people (though they might judge deeds)
    – Judging *people* is a prerogative of God alone
    And the good ones believe it, and follow it.

  3. She did veto that ban on same-sex benefits…based on state’s constitution…also leads me to believe she would follow same line of thinking on other issues. Note re: Roe v. Wade…her personal opinion may not match actual policy…I so totally respect this woman and her social views, sems to be more open than the Dems…and as a Hillary supporter felt she gave Hillary her do respect…that also am most certainly made many of Hillary supporters feel connected to someone other than the DNC and obama…whether you like HIllary or not…she was owed that much…in fact had it not been for voter fraud and the caucuses..{see youtube on voter fraud} Hillary would have been the nominee, he ended up with some 626 delegates that he otherwise would not and should not have had…that along with the re-alocation of 4 Michigan delegates from her to him…like Sarah’s stances made it well known they wer eher views but I for one am not afraid that they will become “law of land” would love to meet her at some point.

  7. the first gay person I knew growing up tends to make me wonder if it is something physical, as his brothers are not, and all three were raised the same way (and very well), and my friend was rather effeminate, even in the 7th grade (when we met)., and I am told he was that way growing up.
    He jokes that the only person really shocked at his announcement of being gay was himself. I was 90% certain in 8th grade when one of the great looking girls in class walked up behind him and started a search for hard candy in his pockets. even as she dug her hands in his front jeans pockets, he never cracked his voice or flinched while telling us some story.

    He asked if I knew why no one had given him a harder time in school. I think it was because of his “harem”. All the good looking girls were in a group around him most all the time, and no one minded to cause trouble wanted to deal with the wrath of his ladies. The rest like me were fine with him.

    As to a pol who claims to know for certain, I’m with jimmy on that. Right now even scientists are not certain

  8. Someday, I’d love to see a politician take this one by the horns, with an answer like:

    “I’ve no idea — and more, I’ve no idea why anyone would think it’s relevant to any political question. Why should it matter whether sexual orientation is genetic like, say, skin color, or instead learned like faith? How would either change the inherent dignity of every individual person? How would either undercut the common nature we all share as human beings? “

  12. (Nor is it chosen. It appears to be a complex combination of genetics with hormonal events in the womb affecting many aspects of fetal brain development. Something from God, if you will.)

  13. As for the rest of the Gibson interview…

    I think Palin needs more practice. I’ve watched the first couple segments, on (1) her preparedness and (2) foreign policy. No doubt that Gibson exercised a double standard, asking her way, WAY tougher questions than he would ever dream of asking The Messiah. But, Palin is dealt the hand she’s dealt, and she needs to learn to play the game better.

    Example – the questions about whether she has any doubt about her preparedness and qualifications to take over as President, if need be. She basically said no, because she is prepared, because she can’t afford to “blink”. It was a clunky, defensive answer. It would have been smoother if she said that yes, of course she has doubts about all the things she still needs to learn – but then she remembers that she’s more qualified than Obama, and here’s why. (zing!)

    Same with her other questions. I detected a hurt, nervous clunkiness to her answers as she sensed that Gibson was really grilling her (again, double standard) and that she wasn’t hitting quite it out of the park. Well, hopefully she’ll improve. I still think she’s a gutsy, smart woman who would make a way better President or Vice President or Governor or dog-catcher, than the woefully narcissistic, air-headed and unprepared Obama.

  14. Anyone asking the origin of homosexuality with the choices being genetics or ‘choice’, is either ignorant of the research and data, or is purposely baiting the person they are interviewing. I’m guessing that in Charles Gibson’s case, it is actually ignorance.

  18. I wonder if reporters will ever ask a Dem candidate if they thought that Eleanor Roosevelt, who had a husband and a lesbian lover, Lorena Hickok, if she chose to be gay after discovering Franklin’s affairs or if she was born that way?

  19. It was an awful, disingenuous answer to a question that allowed her to show some common-sense, and acceptance. She should have said: “Clearly, it’s not chosen, Charlie. That’s a silly proposition and wholly out of sync with all research, and anecdotal evidence, on the matter. What’s important, though, is that gays are full citizens of this country and should not be discriminated against in any way, shape or form.” That would have been a good answer.

  20. I tend to believe that most people are gay by nature. When my childhood pal came out of the closet, it was no surprise to any of us. He wasn’t effeminate, but he did seem to like The Wizard of Oz a tad more than most of us. He also spoke with the gay ‘cadence.’ We didn’t know what it was but we knew it wasn’t the way the rest of us spoke.

    I’m not gay. I am, however, left handed. I was just born that way. I tend to see most gays in the same light.

    I must admit that I am dubious of some in the lesbian community. One wonders if some of them simply hate men more than they love other women. I don’t get that impression with my gay male friends.

  21. Glad you’re all knowing Stan.

    I’m not gay,* care to tell me the answer?

    *Though having seen Keith Hamilton Cobb on Andromeda, I can see what you guys might see in a guy like him. Damn…

  22. Answer is consistent, and I respect that she was willing to admit that she doesn’t know instead of taking the party line on this one. Interesting though that she wont judge a person for their belief on choice, but I was really hoping she would say whether she judges gay people for being gay.

  23. I agree with Jimmy and Julie….well said..and what does that have to do with any thing?

    I remember when in the 2004 Presidential debates the same question was asked…it was weird then and is now. I Love Capitalism got it right too when he said it also has to do with fetal development and well, to me as I explained to a str8 friend, I gave the same explanation Clint did….its not a choice and is no different then I didn’t one’s color of eyes or skin pigmentation in making me Gay. It is whom I am and a part of me like my eye colors, height, etc. When born again Christians ask me how can I be Gay, I remind them that God made me and God Loves all His Children. That ends the debate right there.

    Now, tell me about issues that a Palin/McCain ticket stands for. That is what I want to know.

    I also agree that I think that the McCain/Palin campaign people have to trust Palin more and let Palin be Palin (like let Reagan be Reagan) and she has excellent instincts and give her the facts and know she has the ability to answer questions, which she does.

    For example, I agree it would have been easier to have said well I consulted with my family about the VP choice and I felt confident that I could handle the job and wanted them to know what we could face and as a family…so, yes, I learn every day in my life as I am sure you do Charlie and I believe my Executive experience as Mother, as a Mayor, as head of the Alaska Oil and Gas Commission and as Governor in charge of an 11 billion dollar budget and my knowledge of energy issues will be surely help guide me should the American people elect John McCain and I the opportunity to serve as President and Vice President. I am always willing to learn and I do every day with my interactions with the American people as I am sure you do Charlie.

    and do it in the Palin down to earth style…..but i hope that they let Palin be Palin.

    I wonder if she will continue to campaign with McCain(which I hope more often then not since it builds excitement) and then to let her campaign in the battleground blue collar “bitter” states, where she will be great.

    I look forward to her interviews with Sean Hannity and if Bill O’Reilly interviews Palin the way he did Hillary. (I thought he was too chummy with Nobama…but that’s just my 2 cents worth)

    I don

  24. Well, well, well. ABC News Edited Out Key Parts of Sarah Palin Interview. Nothing to do with homosexuality. Just anything that might make her appear admirably moderate and informed.

    I like where this is going, in terms of storyline. ABC’s “gotcha” interview tactics are starting to backfire as yet another example of media bias… and of sexism. (Because what they are doing to her, they haven’t done 1/1000th of to Obama or Biden, and wouldn’t dream of doing.)

  25. ILC, Pamela Anderson, Oprah, Matt Damon and those cackling hens on The View don’t like Sara Palin. Apparently, Sean P.Diddy (nee Puff Daddy) Combs doesn’t care for her either. The “world” along with Li’l Kim Jong Il (or at least his body double), Vladimir Pooty-Poot, Mahmoud Aqua-Velvajad, Qafafi and 80% of the French want Obama in the Oval Office. All the more reason to vote McCain/Palin!

    I must say that being a conservative is hard work. Life was easier when I was a liberal. Ah, yes! I am wistful for the days when all I thought America needed to do was to apologize to all of our enemies and give everyone free stuff. This hard work, dedication, snubbings from all the chic parties and self-accountability can be a real bear!

  26. ILC, I’d agree with you, both about there being no simple answer about the cause of homomosexuality, and about your reaction to Palin’s interview with Gibson. In terms of the content of what she said, she did a fine job, but she clearly needs more practice to come off a little more polished. Fortunately for her, Gibson came off as a condescending jerk, but with a little more practice, she could have effectively highlighted that without ever sounding or seeming defensive. Nevertheless, I think this interview is pretty much one in which she breaks even: people inclined to like her, will probably still like her, and people inclined not to like her could find reasons to attack her. With more practice and polish, she can maybe begin persuading more of those undecided voters.

  28. Interesting to see that you’re so supportive of Palin, whose church promotes a conference that promises to convert gays into heterosexuals through the power of prayer.

    And interesting that you’re so supportive of Obama, who directly endorses and supports pastors whose churches preach and promote the same thing.

    In short, since you fully endorse and support it with Obama, you should have no trouble with Palin. The fact that you do indicates that you either are unaware of Obama’s support or simply being hypocritical.

  32. any way, I had agreed with Jimmy and Julie….plus, I said its time the McCain/Palin campaign let Sarah be Sarah..she knows how to handle herself with questions…give her the basic policy views (which she knows any way) and just let her be herself, which is smart, together, one of us and able to handle being a Mom, a Mayor, former head of Alaska Gas and Oil Commission and now as Governor..she has common sense, smarts, and connects with people and shows she is open to listening to other view points.

    Plus, let us remember she didn’t veto a ban on same sex partnership benefits and followed the law….and her view point is she is accepting of others and diversity and I am far more comfortable with the Sarah Palins of the world then you must follow liberal orthodoxy if you are Gay or be branded as crazy and so on…

    I think Charlie Gibson came across as let me tell you how it is and was condescending. I wonder if anyone saw the Washington Post ran an article that there are 4 versions of the Bush Doctrine and what Charlie Gibson quoted has been international law principles long accepted by every nation.

    I believe that Palin got it correct in stating Bush’s world view (and quite frankly every Americans of stopping terrorists that want to destroy our country.) I was also proud of her answer on Georgia and being aggressive regarding Russia.

    Plus as stated her view point on homosexuality seems to be accepting and its not her place to judge…..which is also a very Christian view point….that we are all God’s children and God loves all of us….so I say let Sarah be Sarah and Go Sarah Go!!

  36. I think the word choice should be eliminated from the debate, because I am convinced that even if there isn’t any genetic component at all to what makes a person’s orientation homosexual what makes them gay would still be outside their control.

    I am also leery anyway of “born that way” arguments, because the born that way argument is used as the reason to treat gays with fairness and protect them from discrimination. If they were to somehow learn that gays 100% aren’t born that way, then does that mean it is okay to discriminate? Does it mean there shouldn’t be any protection in the work place or other areas?

    I am pretty convinced that whether or not a person is gay is something that is out of their own control-and that there is likely some genetic but even more likely hormonal factor involved, and I think a lot of the research regarding hormone spikes during pregnancy may influence homosexuality has a lot of possibilities.

    In the end-the debate isn’t really about “choice” or even about how parents or other experiences make a person gay (although I do think there is some good evidence that sexual abuse can warp a persons sexuality-I would still be willing to argue that those who were sexually abused and are gay would likely have been gay without the abuse history-but I am not sure there is any reliable research out there on the topic). I think looking into how much is nature and how much is enivronent (like hormone spikes in the womb) is fascinating though, but I think at this point it is hard for anyone to make a 100% argument for or against nature/environment-I think the best bet is it is probably some combination that needs more research.

    And in the end even if it was an active choice-should it matter when it comes to advocating gays be treated fairly by their government?

  38. Palin is dealt the hand she’s dealt, and she needs to learn to play the game better.

    Agreed. thuogh I don’t think she did bad, I think she will do better the next time around.

    Someone dug up an interview Charlie Gib did with Obama, and the questions were something like:

    “So, you mother movied to Hawaii, and then met this wonderfull dashing man from Kenya…”

  40. oops..I stand corrected on part of my comment. As best I know from reading, Governor Palin vetoed a ban on same sex partnership/domestic partnership benefits since the Alaska Attorney General said to sign such a law was a violation of the Alaska Supreme Court ruling that the state could not ban domestic partnership benefits. Thus, Palin chose to follow the law and that is admirable in that she wouldn’t permit the Legislature to be discriminatory against same sex couples. So much for the alleged claims that Palin is anti Gay. Indeed, her own comments over the years indicate that she will not judge people and believes in diversity in our society. I just sense that she is a fair person and quite accepting of all people, we Gays included.

  41. 3: That’s pretty pointless in a world where (in certain cultures) there are places it is 9 times more likely to have an abortion because the fetus is female instead of male.

    Seems to me that Gibson’s interview pointed out that Ms. Palin is a charming looking opportunist and while politically successful, not very bright in the brains department. I think 8 years of that that has been more than enough.

  42. Palin vetoed the ban on same-sex partner benefits only because she was advised to do so by the state’s legal counsel, who told her that the law would never stand the test of “equal application” required by the state’s constitution. She did not veto the ban because she felt it unfair to gays or because of any feelings of affinity with the gay community.

  43. Look closely at Palin’s answer, she is commenting only by saying she can’t judge people on how they (gay or str9) judge the origins of homosexuality. She is saying nothing, absolutely nothing about how she judges homosexuality. Her answer is evasive.

  44. Your wrong on Obama’s former church. The United Church of Christ is VERY gay friendly. The Rev. Wright is pro-gay marriage.

    Also, why do you not mention Palin’s decision to fire her town’s librarian for not removing a gay-themed book? Palin, obviously, had a problem with homosexuality. But she also has a bigger problem believing that the state has the right to tell Americans what they can and can’t read. That’s a little too Soviet for my tastes.

  45. well I keep trying to reply to gerry and its not working…i hate when comments do not get posted

    Gerry..did you read my post? I said Palin followed the law and she could have signed the legislation and she didn’t..she followed the law..the point of my post. Palin’s conduct is that she isn’t homophobic. Indeed, she has spoken of having many Gay and Lesbian friends and it doesn’t matter a bit to her. I want an elected official to not make law (like the whatever they want to do liberals on the Supreme Court) but to enforce the law and she did what an Executive did and enforced the law based upon the Alaska Constitution.

    I defy you to show me where Palin as an elected official has been homophobic.

    I agree with the most recent topic, which I want government out of my private life and I might add out of my wallet. Palin is the kind of elected leader I want.

    Dumbocrats use being GLBT as a club to keep us in line and then do nothing for our community except screw us over as did Bill Clinton with DADT and DOMA.

  46. Interesting to see that you’re so supportive of Palin, whose church promotes a conference that promises to convert gays into heterosexuals through the power of prayer.

    Which shows that they care to help instead of declining to piss on you if you were on fire. It’s still nothing like the left’s buddy at Westboro Baptist.

    Besides, I seem to recall some wailing and gnashing of teeth, on the left, about “guilt by association”. If Comrade Obama can’t be held responsible for hanging with Wright and Phleger, therefore Palin likewise shouldn’t be held responsible either.

    I’ll take a minister who will pray for me over one who will GOD DAMN me anyday. But that’s just me. Call me kooky.

  47. Call me kooky as well, but hardly anyone on the gay left objects when a man who wants to be a woman has his body surgically and chemically mutilated into a crude facsimile of the opposite sex. If a gay man seeks to become a straight man, and chooses to use prayer as a means to that end, it seems to me a.) that prayer is far less destructive than surgery and hormone injections and b.) his right to choose to try and change should be respected and supported.

  49. NDT – from the NYTimes – two witnesses went on the record stating Palin had tried to get Daddy’s Roommate removed from the Wasilla Public Library. One of those witnesses was her former campaign manager.

    http://lloydletta.blogspot.com/2008/09/sarah-palin-and-book-banning.html

    The new mayor also tended carefully to her evangelical base. She appointed a pastor to the town planning board. And she began to eye the library. For years, social conservatives had pressed the library director to remove books they considered immoral.

    “People would bring books back censored,” recalled former Mayor John Stein, Ms. Palin’s predecessor. “Pages would get marked up or torn out.”

    Witnesses and contemporary news accounts say Ms. Palin asked the librarian about removing books from the shelves. The McCain-Palin presidential campaign says Ms. Palin never advocated censorship.

    But in 1995, Ms. Palin, then a city councilwoman, told colleagues that she had noticed the book “Daddy’s Roommate” on the shelves and that it did not belong there, according to Ms. Chase and Mr. Stein. Ms. Chase read the book, which helps children understand homosexuality, and said it was inoffensive; she suggested that Ms. Palin read it.

    “Sarah said she didn’t need to read that stuff,” Ms. Chase said. “It was disturbing that someone would be willing to remove a book from the library and she didn’t even read it.”

    “I’m still proud of Sarah,” she added, “but she scares the bejeebers out of me.”

  50. This is the same answer, “I don’t know”, GWB gave in 2004 in the debate with Kerry. I guess Republicans just can’t decide on this one though they support conversion therapy for gays that presuppose it is chosen. As for all the gibberish about her not judging people on which way they believe on this….did Gibson even ask her that question? So to summarize; she doesn’t know if sexual orientation is chosen or genetic but she assures us all that she would not judge us on which way we felt about it. How comforting!!

  51. It is still amazing that republicans can’t seem to come to a conclusion on whether sexual orientation is chosen or not. One would think that the experience with their own sexual orientation would cause them to come to a conclusion, or at least an opinion, on this. When this question is posed in the future it shouldn’t be “Do you believe homosexuality is chosen?” but should be put as “Do you believe sexual orientation, being homosexual or heterosexual, is chosen or not?” I believe this would flush them out because this is the real issue. Asking them just about homosexuality implies that there is some big difference between being hetero or homo; when they are different sides of the same coin.