Community | May 24, 2011 | 43 comments

Conservative lawmaker, Iraq veteran !!!CRUSHES!!! GOP gay bashing

source: http://www.rawstory.com/rawreplay/2011/05/watch-conserv...

KB723
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“If this was five, six years ago, I probably would have voted yes,” he admitted — but “everything changed,” Kriesel said, after he was wounded in Iraq.

“It woke me up. It changed me,” he explained. “…Happiness is so hard to find for people. So they find it — they find someone that makes them happy — and we want to say you can be together, you can love that person, but you can’t marry them. That’s wrong. That’s wrong and I disagree with it.”

“This amendment doesn’t represent what I went to fight for,” Kriesel insisted, before holding up a photo of a gay soldier who was killed in Iraq.

“I don’t know about you guys, but I cannot look at this family, look at this picture, and say ‘You know what, corporal, you were good enough to fight for your country and give your life, but you were not good enough to marry the person you love.’ I can’t do that. I cannot do that and I won’t do that. If there was a ‘hell no’ button right here, I would press it. That would be the one I would press.”

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43 comments // Conservative lawmaker, Iraq veteran !!!CRUSHES!!! GOP gay bashing // Video

  • UtopianSky
    • +1
      UtopianSky  

    • It's nice to know that there are a few members of the GOP with functional heads and hearts.

      Now if the rest of his party will just get a clue then the world can be a beter place.

    • 1 year ago
  • pegasus_460
  • artemis6
  • KB723
  • jubal
  • artemis6
  • mapczar
    • +5
      mapczar  

    • I am all for equal rights for everyone including gay people and I apologize for going off on a tangent here but I disagree with this Senators REASONS for his position. Gay people should have all the rights that are granted to everyone in the Constitution.

      I must object to the idea that people fighting and dying in Afghanistan are doing so for our freedoms. They are not. They are fighting and dying for empire. They are fighting and dying for nothing represented in the Constitution.

      I am sorry, but we must stop the myth that ALL military adventures are defending the Constitution -- they clearly are not.

      I am saddened that our citizens are dying for corporate interests and that other people, some innocent in foreign lands are dying in our name. We must stop these wars for resources. We must insist on Congress declaring Wars and remove this authority from the President.

      Full Disclosure: Veteran of Vietnam and Gulf War.

    • 1 year ago
  • cutthecrap
    • +1
      cutthecrap  
    • mapczar:

      Great observation and bringing the issue away from pure emotionalism.... it's so easy to get lost in the Patriotic sentiments and lose our heads to what is really going on with these criminal wars.

    • 1 year ago
  • shanklinmike
    • +1
      shanklinmike  

    • Oh fuck yeah! Other than him being a statist, he did AMAZING on this speech! He has no right to bash gays with my stolen money anyways! Leave peaceful people alone! Gays, and everyone, have the same right to nonaggression.

    • 1 year ago
  • GeneSurber
    • +8
      GeneSurber  

    • The republicons are so hypocritical. They go on and on about "freedom" and "liberty" and the constitution, but then turn around and try to legislate the most private aspects of an individuals life. It is astonishing to me that so many people are fooled by this party of hypocrites. They would have the nation believe that they are "principled" but when one takes a closer look at the principles they espouse, it is quite obvious that principles have nothing to do with their actions what so ever. They are just mean spirited thugs.

      I applaud Kriesel for his heartfelt words. It's a shame that his follow 'cons couldn't bring themselves to behave with the same level of decency he was able to rise to.

    • 1 year ago
  • Natalie_Alford
  • chew_chew
  • Leen61
    • +7
      Leen61  

    • KB,
      I saw this on Rachel a couple night's ago. She interviewed the parents of the dead solider whose pic this man passed around. The speech was very moving indeed. Kriesel felt that his fellow soldier, even though he is gay, should have the same rights he does. His words about fighting for this country and then not having the freedom to marry who you want is just wrong. What was sad is the fact that after this speech, they still voted for the amendment that marriage is only between a man and a woman. Here's the video from Rachel. You can see how sad the parents are about their son being dead and about this anti-gay marriage amendment. Kriesel's speech didn't touch the GOP at all. They are heartless..

      http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/#43145501

    • 1 year ago
  • KB723
    • +3
      KB723  
    • Leen61:

      Thanks Leen, I am thinking in the background I saw part of this video... Now I and others can see the whole vid un interupted... Nice to see you, have a great day... =)

    • 1 year ago
  • Leen61
  • DougChristian
    • +4
      DougChristian  

    • That was beautiful, thanks KB. This is why I am confident and the gay community should be reassured that the ultimate outcome of this issue is only a matter of time. The arc on this goes in only one direction. Once you've made the realization that this guy has there's no going back.

    • 1 year ago
  • KB723
  • Blesardo
  • KB723
  • KB723
  • eden49
  • KB723
  • PzLuvHappeniz
  • KB723
  • Milieu
    • +1
      Milieu  

    • Just a stinkin' minute. He voted as a human being O-N-C-E.
      I'll give him a grudging "atta boy" this time, but he also knew it was a symbolic vote. Cynical? Yes,

      Where is he on other important issues?

      Even Bat$#!T CRazy Ron Paul has ONE position correct.

      Sorry, I trust a self-described Conservative Republic Syndicate member as far as I can throw him.

    • 1 year ago
  • Cruzankenny
    • 0
      Cruzankenny  
    • Milieu:

      Fortunately, we are only addressing this issue and if we can't compartmentalize, then there is no room for discussion on any of the issues facing us in 1 year and five months.

    • 1 year ago
  • gypsysailor
  • cutthecrap
  • uShine
  • KB723
  • jennilamb007
    • +6
      jennilamb007  

    • Thank you for posting this and to littlwarrior for letting me know about it. This is fantastic. I applaud this man for all he has done and for speaking out.

    • 1 year ago
  • littlwarrior
  • KB723
  • northernexpat
    • +9
      northernexpat  

    • It's nice to see a Republican actually acknowledge equal rights for the LBGT community. This should never be a right or left issue. It is a human rights issue.

    • 1 year ago
  • KB723
  • xhuffpo
    • +12
      xhuffpo  

    • As a vet, I am proud of this man, he truly understands what is being fought for by our military, freedom is not just for some but for all.

    • 1 year ago
  • KB723
  • littlwarrior
    • +10
      littlwarrior  

    • I commend this man for his integrity and courage, to stand up to the GOP as a member of the GOP that is no small feat. Of course courage from him after just a moment to research him comes as no surprise. We should all be humbled by his strength, and dignity. I hope he has humbled his conservative peers.

    • 1 year ago
  • KB723
  • littlwarrior
    • +3
      littlwarrior  
    • KB723:

      I have to say this man is a truly moving man, I really hope to see more of him on the national political scene. Did you know he lost both legs in Iraq, and that he also served in Bosnia? This man is what the republican party says they are about, its just the rest of them are lying their little asses off, but it would seem this man tells the truth. He is a man of great value and integrity. If I were to guess I would say men like him are the republicans only chance of survival in the coming years.

    • 1 year ago
  • KB723
  • littlwarrior
    • +4
      littlwarrior  
    • KB723:

      Well I can tell you I think it should be shame, they should all go home tonight and know shame. For none of them are even worthy to share the air this man breathes, and yet soon we will see them presume to be his better because of their grand "moral values."

    • 1 year ago
  • KB723
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