Leppert Defends Defense of Marriage Act

IttyBitty Wussy

Leppert can "stand for the principle" or don't stand for it, but that wasn't the question. The issue is whether section 3 is constitutional or not.

Although I care about my Senator's principles, I care more that he can understand the question.

Chevytexas

I like IttyBitty's point: he's decided to 'disagree' with the President; that doesn't mean he actually understands Constitutional law. Nor do I, I just don't like not getting tax deductions my straight friends have. Or leaving SS survivor's benefits to my loved one. Or a THOUSAND other things that are already Constitutional for only a fraction of the nation. I'm always polite to the man in public but sometimes I just want to give him a Purple Nurple soooo bad. Or put him on the phone to Jack E. Jett.

Jay D

As to preachers and politicians...it seems the more frequently and righteously they attack gays and gay social issues, the more profoundly they fall when their inevitable outing occurs. Just saying.

scottindallas

I think he could fix a lot of what is wrong with the interstate Highway system. I-40 should really go through the Grand Canyon, it'd be an engineering challenge, but nothing he can't handle. The US really needs a Mississippi River corridor, a 16 lane superhighway right on the banks of the river. And along our coasts, you know the PCH, that's nothin, I forsee an Atlantic Autobahn, just off the continental shelf, they can put the high speed rail there. See, this really will save a fortune, but accessing these FREE park lands and unclaimed ocean-land. Leppert IS The man for the FUTURE.

scottindallas

Faggots, wetbacks and towel heads are the real threat to this country. Not the rapacious bankers and huckster politicos who distract us with appeals to the basest instincts in the basest people.

Mikal214

Quitter. He's not much better than Palin. I hope his political opponents just loop footage of him waving to the gays from his parade float.

I at least hope he goes and buys a new suit other than his undertaker duds.

Annie Williams

So that's one standard-isssue partyline talking point response he has down. Will he manage to memorize the others or will he have to write them on his hand like that other tea-bag quitter, Palin? What will his new twitter handle be when he's no longer mayor? "ImaTryToChangeMySpotsLeppert?"

Jack E. Jett

Fuck him and his quitter, lazy ass. He is simply trying to get his head in the right position for some major tea bagging. I hope they are big and hairy.

Montemalone

For some reason, I picture him as more of a republican page type o guy.Young, idealistic, willing to take one from the team...

MushMouth1

You know the obvious response to this is such low-hanging fruit I'm not even going to waste my time with it

Montemalone

Then when does he plan to ban D-I-V-O-R-C-E?

Guest

Or marriage between infertile couples or people who otherwise don't plan to have children.

Anonymous

At a breakfast this morning, Leppert expressed appreciation for the way that China has been so successful in building new projects in their cities. He also bragged on major investments from the past such as the Interstate Highway System and dams in the west as making our life better today, as he talked about the need to finish the Trinity River project. I bet neither position will sit well with his new Tea Party friends. One could never get the Interstate Highway System built in today's enviornment.

Ned Flanders

He's a construction guy. He likes building stuff. Now, if he could figure out a way to build a high speed rail (or even moderate speed) between Dallas and Austin than maybe I'd be interested. Otherwise, not so much.

MattL1

Actually Leppert, we need leaders in Washington who don't think Twitter is a proper forum for expressing positions on complex legal and political issues.

maze

I wish more politicians would go on Twitter and Facebook and any other social media that arises. The internet is the last bastion of freedom not just in this country, but in the world and it's the one place where politicians are forced to interact with people. They can't hide behind a microphone at a press conference and take prepared questions from lapdogs and they can't hide behind the doors of $1500 plate dinner parties. Hell, they should be made to go on social networks, they work for us, not the other way around.

MattL1

I can't think of a politician that DOESN'T use social media. The problem is that they use it in the exact opposite way you are describing. When was the last time a politician tweeted you back? They use it to put out little "sound bites" that somehow pass for analysis. Then, instead of hiding behind a microphone, they hide behind the computer screen.

I don't mind politicians, or any public figure, using social media. I just don't like the idea that their every little 140-character utterance is supposed to supplant more expansive means of expression as the chief vehicle for explaining their positions on the important issues of the day.

Or, I have a headache and am just cranky...

maze

Nah, you're not just cranky, that's a good point.

Montemalone

They are twits, so they think twitter was made just for them.

Guest

Ronald Reagan never defended the Defense of Marriage Act in court.

Therefore, DOMA is bad.

DallasBA

Isn't he a member of the First Baptist Church in downtown Dallas, where "gay is not OK?"

Coleman

Oh cool, yet another reason not to vote for him when he runs for the Senate.

Jay Hawk

He's not gonna win the senate race. Too many better-known names on the GOP ballot. Should have paid better attention when Ron Kirk ran. Wait, he may not have lived here then. Never mind.

Oak Cliff Townie

That was then this is now ...

I am sure he has a talented public relations team preparing a total image of him make over . All will be exposed before it can be used as election fodder . Then the usual folks will make the lets put that behind him speeches .And those subjects will be over and done with OLD NEWS so to speak and are not on the table for discussion any more. Any one who Bring up the least little item will be attacked . And told to MOVE ON this is today.

He ain't no Democrat is All some folks need to know should he become the party's candidate in November 2012....

Montemalone

His only chance is to stand next to a picture of Darth Cheney, and say: "See. I'm less creepy than this guy for sure".

Jay

I think its a push.

Wylie H.

It will also be interesting to see how he spins his demonization of Harlan Crow as a "greedy Park Cities millionaire" for complaining about the unfairness of having to compete against the unfairness of Leppert using cheap public money and tax exemptions to compete against his own privately financed hotel.

Enrique De La Fuente

What does his Chief of Staff have to say?

Montemalone

"Thank you sir, may I have another!"

Wylie H.

I don't think it is fair to say that this is what Leppert actually believes. More than most politicians, I think it is pretty clear that Leppert's political positions and decision making are guided by self-serving opportunism, rather than a moral compass.

Simply put, he will say and do whatever he believes will gain him maximum advantage.

Montemalone

All the more reason to make sure he never holds office again.

Downtowner

This is the same guy who marched in the gay pride parade twice. And of course, the mayor had ZERO PROBLEM with Obama's Build America Bonds that financed his fiscally conservative Convention Center Hotel. This man is such a hypocrite, it amazes me.

Wylie H.

With respect to the Convention Center Hotel, remember he actually went beyond that.... he tried to get Federal stimulus money to build the entire thing.

Ellum08

Does the Observer have any of those fabulous photos of Ex-Mayor Tom riding in the gay parade the two times he was a participant?

Robert Wilonsky

Here's some coverage about Leppert's decision to miss the most recent parade -- with a photo from his appearance at the '07 event.

http://www.dallasvoice.com/lep...

Anonymous

It will be interesting to watch him spin himself into Tea Party Republican after using his time as mayor to do nothing but feast on pork and spend public money on project better left to the private sector. Honestly, he is everything that is wrong with politics. He doesn't stand for anything and he will perform mind-numbing cartwheels with logic to appeal to the appropriate electorate.