Former Supporter on Laura Bush's Gay Marriage Flipflop: "Where Were You" During "Eight Years of Unremitting Policy Hostility"?

Present Greece trip notwithstanding, some aspects of ancient history are better off ignored: In a previous lifetime, my partner Charles corralled the Austin 12 who met with presidential candidate George W Bush to enlighten him on gay issues and offer their support. Ten years and a big shift later, he offered this comment to the Washington Post when asked about Laura Bush's recent publicity-friendly, posterity-ready flipflop on gay marriage, which she suddenly likes.

"As a longtime family friend, who respects Laura greatly," Charles Francis told me, "I can only say, 'Where were you when we needed you?'"

"For me and other gay friends and original gay and lesbian supporters who put it out there for President Bush, this comment comes painfully late," Francis said. "The actual legacy, and legacy is what we are talking about, is eight years of unremitting policy hostility for any gay issue mixed with personal warmth, which made this so difficult. This culminated in a willingness to write [our inequality] into the Constitution itself. Laura Bush never helped us, and we tried many times."

Since this posted on the paper's "Post Partisan" page, the response has been overwhelming against Charles' point of view, even among lgbt commenters.

Comments

[D]

I don't understand. What is there to disagree with in Charles' statement? They used the gay marriage issue to win elections over and over. How much lower can you get than to tramp on someone's civil right for political gain? Makes you wonder what she is using it for today?

[Bob Smith]

Charles is right. Moral courage requires every one to stand up for their beliefs and for their friends. Laura Bush failed to do that.

[digbydolben]

Laura Bush's concept of a First Lady's role is not the same as Hillary Clinton's or Michelle Obama's. It's as simple as that. In her view, she was not a public figure, and her personal view didn't count. Now, I suppose, she just wants to make some money for her and her dumb-ass husband's old age. In her more contemplative moods, she probably wonders why WE were so stupid as to re-elect that "dumb-ass husband" whom she probably can barely tolerate.