Your morning jolt: Handel says gay parents not as ‘legitimate’ as hetero ones
If you’re gay and your ears are burning, there’s a reason.
The recovery may be sputtering, and your school system may be running on empty, but in the Republican primary for governor, gay adoption and domestic partnership benefits have suddenly become a dominant issue
State Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine, former congressman Nathan Deal, and former state senator Eric Johnson are all pointing to former secretary of state Karen Handel’s history on those particular issues.
Which led Doug Richards of 11Alive to conduct an interview with a reluctant Handel on the topic — in which she says she doesn’t consider gay parents as legitimate as heterosexual ones, and indicates she’d back legislation to outlaw gay adoption.
Here’s a hefty excerpt:
Q: Do you view committed gay relationships as being less legitimate than committed heterosexual relationships?
A: As a Christian, I view relationships and marriage as being between a man and a woman.
Q: But what about the legitimacy of the relationship? Do you have any gay friends? Do you know gay couples?
A: Of course I do. Are we going to spend our whole day talking on this issue?
Q: I want to know how you feel about this.
A: I’ve been very clear. And you know, as a Christian, marriage is between a man and a woman. I do not think that gay relationships are — they are not what God intended. And that’s just my viewpoint on it. Others might disagree with that. But I would also hope that if you look at what is happening in our state, we’ve got issues we need to be focused on in Georgia . We have a constitutional amendment against gay marriage. And it’s something that I supported wholeheartedly. We have that, and let’s get dealing with the other issues that we also need to deal with in Georgia. And the press can help with that. (Laughs).
Q: Frequently, folks in the Legislature kind of threaten to — there are always rumblings in the Legislature that they may outlaw gay adoptions. You’re against gay adoption.
A: I am against gay adoption. But remember — I mean, if there is legislation on that, certainly I will follow that and look at it. But in the end, ultimately courts are going to be the ones to have to make the decision on that and it’s always in the best interests of the child. Do I think that gay parents is in the best interest of the child? No. But we do have our court system that deals with many and most of those issues.
Q: Would you favor outlawing gay adoptions?
A: Yeah, I would consider that, absolutely.
Q: Do you know any gay couples with children?
A: Not that I’m aware of.
Q: So you think gay couples are less qualified to function as parents than straight couples?
A: I think that for a child to be in a household — in a family in a household with a situation where the parents are not married, as in one man and one woman, is not the best household for a child.
Q: Is it better or worse than a single parent household?
A: Doug, I’m really trying to be straightforward with you but I’m not going to debate all the nuances. I’ve made it abundantly clear that I think that marriage is between a man and a woman. And that’s what I believe, and I don’t know what more you would like me to add to that.
Q: I guess I want to know why you think gay parents aren’t as legitimate as heterosexual parents.
A: Because I don’t.
Q: (Pause) Well, I realize that.
A: Well, Doug, we’re not going to spend the whole day discussing this issue. And you know, it ’s really kind of disappointing — we invited you on this (leg of the bus trip).
Q: I know.
A: So we’re going to need to move on.
No doubt you’ve seen the poll by the AJC and the Georgia Newspaper Partnership that shows Roy Barnes cruising in the Democratic race for governor and Karen Handel and John Oxendine on top of a struggling melee of seven candidates.
But a Rasmussen poll released this morning has a wholly different picture of the GOP primary – for the first time suggesting that Oxendine isn’t a shoo-in for a runoff berth:
A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in Georgia finds Deal and Handel each earning 25% support. State Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine, the early leader in the Republican race, runs a close third with 20% of the vote.
Eric Johnson, who recently stepped down as a state senator, trails in the four-way race, capturing 13% support. Three percent (3%) prefer some other candidate, and a sizable 14% are undecided.
On the Democratic side of the governor’s race, House Minority Leader DuBose Porter of Dublin has been touring the central portion of the state, releasing the names of prominent supporters as he goes.
The lists have been topped by members of his own House caucus. But one name stands out – Senate Majority Leader Robert Brown of Macon, a top-tier African-American of influence in the state.
PolitiFact today comes to the defense of Ken Hodges, Democratic candidate for attorney general, who has been accused by primary rival Rob Teilhet of “badly botching” the case of Kenneth Walker, an unarmed Columbus man killed in 2003 by a white sheriff’s deputy.
During a Sunday debate, Hodges condemned Teilhet’s use of a 30-second TV ad featuring Walker’s mother:
“The death of Kenneth Walker was a tragedy, and my heart continues to be with the family. The fact that my opponent wants to exploit the family’s grief and use it for political purposes is, quite frankly, disgusting.”
But apparently one candidate’s exploitation is another candidate’s fair game.
The Hodges campaign has released the radio ad below, presumably for play on stations aimed at African-Americans. It features the grandmother of a murder victim:
The script:
Mary Jenkins: I am Mary Jenkins from Albany, Georgia. I’m not here to talk about Ken the candidate, but Ken the man.
Narrator: Mary’s grandson was gunned down outside a school dance. Ken Hodges sought justice for his murder.
Mary Jenkins: I am a part of the Civil Rights era, when blacks and whites were separate. And, so it never occurred to me that a white man would be coming to my defense in a case against someone who had killed my grandson. He was very compassionate. He is a person who, who looks for justice for all people. He wasn’t just a prosecutor, he was a friend.
Narrator: There’s a reason ambassador Andy Young, former chief justice Leah Ward Sears, Civil Rights activist Lonnie King, and Gwen Keyes Fleming have all endorsed Ken Hodges to be our next Attorney General – his passion for justice and his compassion for every victim. Paid for by Georgians for Hodges.
State Sen. Ralph Hudgens (R-Hull), a candidate for state insurance commissioner, cites his failure to disclose a $100,000 personal loan as proof of his own humanity, according to Jim Walls of Atlanta Unfiltered:
The State Ethics Commission was asked Tuesday to investigate Hudgens, a candidate for state insurance commissioner, for allegedly buying $334,000 of advertising without saying how he paid for it.
Hudgens’ campaign closed the June 30 reporting period with $254,000 cash on hand, so complainant Eliot Rosenberg wanted to know where the money came from.
In a telephone interview, Hudgens said today that he got confused about state law and thought he not was required to file another campaign disclosure until shortly before the July 20 primary. He said he has realized his mistake and faxed and mailed three new “48-hour” disclosures, which include a $100,000 personal loan and a few other checks from donors, to the State Ethics Commission.
“I made a mistake, just like these other people have made mistakes,” he said, referring to his opponents.
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253 comments Add your comment
Tom
July 15th, 2010
9:48 am
Basically, what we’ve really learned from those interview snippets is that Doug Richards wants a gig at TMZ.com
John K
July 15th, 2010
9:57 am
Whenever Republicans want to avoid the issue, they can always pull out the ol’ “Gays are coming to getcha!” card. Scare Georgia’s backwards fundie voting block right into lockstep.
Esmee
July 15th, 2010
9:58 am
The answer “because I don’t” is acceptable from a parent to a child. No one else. If this is how someone who is trying to run a state is answering questions, they are not qualified for public office. Period.
lmno
July 15th, 2010
10:07 am
The Republican Candidates for Governor all seem to be shouting the same message.
“I hate taxes the most! I hate Gays the most! I love guns the most! I hate the federal government the most!”
Its really kind of a joke. Its very uncivilized. Seems like children running for Elementary School Council President.
“Do you hate homework? Me too!”
Ga Values
July 15th, 2010
10:08 am
Deal will say anything to get elected, just remember along with Maxine Waters & Jesse Jackson, Jr. he was selected as 1 of the 15 most corrupt in Washington and that is really saying something about his character.
**Rep. Nathan Deal (R-GA)**
Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL)
Sen. Roland Burris (D-IL)
Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA)
Sen. John Ensign (R-NV)
Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL)
Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA)
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
Rep. Alan B. Mollohan (D-WV)
Rep. John P. Murtha (D-PA)
Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D-NY)
Rep. Laura Richardson (D-CA)
Rep. Pete Visclosky (D-IN)
Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA)
Rep. Don Young (R-AK)
ga teacher2
July 15th, 2010
10:09 am
Are we not in America? Do we not have the freedom to believe as we choose? Does Ms. Handel need to give a ‘politically correct’ answer to this question, or would you like to hear what she really thinks? So shut up and stop attacking somebody for expressing what they believe. It’s our right as Americans!
John
July 15th, 2010
10:14 am
It is amazing h0w out of touch the Republican candidates are with the voters. Georgians are concerned with jobs, education, and making sure we have enough revenue to fund public safety, the schools and other vital state services. The Republican candidates for governor want to dwell on trivia like gay marriage and on illegal immigration which, although important, doesn’t affect us nearly as much as education cuts.
John K
July 15th, 2010
10:17 am
“So shut up and stop attacking somebody for expressing what they believe. It’s our right as Americans!”
As a teacher do you not understand that Freedom of Speech means that one can speak their mind and others can respond to what was said?
Conservative Thinker
July 15th, 2010
10:22 am
John K & John-
I’m not a Handel supporter, in fact I have voted for someone else. None the less, the reporter brought the issue up, not Handel. Was she supposed to blow off the questions? I have no problem with being critical when it was deserved. This time it isn’t.
Ben
July 15th, 2010
10:26 am
I’m sure ga teacher2 also thinks that Strom Thurmond was just being a good American when he fought against civil rights in the ’60s. Gay marriage and gay rights are not “trivia” either. It’s a right and wrong issue. It’s one thing to be politically correct and another to be a Christian bigot. No wonder our state is always so far behind.
John K
July 15th, 2010
10:27 am
Conservative Thinker: This did not come up out of the blue. The gay issue has been tossed around by the GOP candidates for at least the last month.
Will Jones - Atlanta Jeffersonian Exegesis
July 15th, 2010
10:32 am
Handel is a cypher, a null set. With every advantage in this world gained from her tying herself to the Quayles, she couldn’t be bothered to raise a child as part of the divine plan for life, herself, and now hopes to hypocritically and with gross irony condemn same-sex parents’ adopting the orphaned and abandoned (even without stipulating the absence of any pedophilia or molestation toward the adopted child) to gain some political advantage over the rest of the Gay Old Pervert field of candidates. Lacking a GRTL endorsement and now endorsed by the equally sick “Make the raped bear to reward the rapists” Sarah Palin, Handel and all other endorsed by the abominable GRTL should lose to DuBose and Carol Porter for the sake of all good and decent Georgians. D.V.
Joseph A. Mustich, Justice of the Peace
July 15th, 2010
10:32 am
Unfortunate comments for the 21st century.
Onward to full civil and marriage equality rights,
Joe Mustich & Ken Cornet, Justices of the Peace,
Washington, Connecticut, USA.
In CT Ken and I perform non-religious civil marriage ceremonies for couples all the time, many of whom have been together for 20, 30 and even 45 years. So kudso to CT where we legalized civil unions in 2005 and marriage equality in 2008.
(The sexually phobic middle-aged flat-earthers need to find another issue to focus on and just stop being anti-marriage.)
Conservative Thinker
July 15th, 2010
10:34 am
Absolutely John K, I was simply referring to the story of this blog, as I thought you were.
Dave Dawg
July 15th, 2010
10:34 am
Handel: Why are you asking me a real question – aren’t you supposed to be playing nice?
Reporter: Because that’s my job.
Handel Supporters: The reporter is a jackass for making her state her position.
Everyone Else: Quit trying to have it both ways, Karen.
Aquagirl
July 15th, 2010
10:34 am
Esmee @ 9:58, you hit it dead center. When you can’t offer a reason beyond “’cause I said so” you should be addressing kids, not other adults.
Doug Richards struggled valiantly to get a coherent reason out of Handel and failed, mainly since she doesn’t have one. Fortunately for Handel, that’s not an obstacle for many Republican voters.
Where's Orval Faubus when you need him?
July 15th, 2010
10:36 am
I agree with Karen that the issue of gay marriage and adoption will ultimately be decided in the courts. Unfortunately, once the Supreme Court decides gays deserve the same rights as everyone else (the darned old Constitution working for everyone and all), Karen and her ilk will look like Orval Faubus standing in the schoolhouse door.
Jon
July 15th, 2010
10:42 am
Handel must have taken notes from Palin on how to answer those questions from the “Gotcha” media…
Interesting Post
July 15th, 2010
10:46 am
I find it amazing that when Karen Handal was on the Fulton County council, her views were different. Only a fool would voter for her.
Nads
July 15th, 2010
10:50 am
I’m ashamed to know that I’m surrounded by anyone who supports this woman and her disgusting, spineless, bigoted pandering.
kinsi
July 15th, 2010
10:53 am
Karen Handel doesn’t know of any gay couples with children? Maybe she should actually meet some before making such an ill informed opinion.
UR RIGHT
July 15th, 2010
11:01 am
Years ago “state righters” used the state constitution/rights and the BIBLE 2 discriminate against blacks anf others. . When the US SUPREME COURT ruled against them, they- the SR – refuse to follow the court decisions.
Question for Ms. Handel:
If the SC ruled against MS. H, would she still fight the court decision? Or would she respect the rule of law not her beliefs?
steven
July 15th, 2010
11:04 am
@dave dawg,
I’m not thrilled at your name, but I love your comment.
@ga teacher2,
I’m especcially not thrilled at the thought of you teaching future Georgians. All the worse if you’re a politics or social sciences teacher.
Flip Flop
July 15th, 2010
11:05 am
Can anyone name something Handel has actually told the truth about?
Nan
July 15th, 2010
11:07 am
Ben
Please do not use the Civil Rights Movement to make you agreement for gay marriage. African Americans were discriminated against base on there race. Race is not a behavior, like homosexuality.
Gman
July 15th, 2010
11:10 am
Only in Georgia, can a person without a college degree be considered a serious candidate for governor…
Dunwoody Mom
July 15th, 2010
11:12 am
Perhaps Ms. Handel should check out how many “hetero” parents are charged with abusing/murdering their children.
CrazyInGA
July 15th, 2010
11:13 am
As a married woman with children, I don’t think Ms. Handel is an execllent example for children. So, her opinoin of gay parents not being legitimate is overstepping her legislative experiences at best and down right stupid at worst.
Her opinion of any parental situation is very lacking.
RDR
July 15th, 2010
11:15 am
You know how you can tell it’s political season? Republican candidates are pandering to the fears of their lowest common denominator.
Somone's Mom
July 15th, 2010
11:18 am
Nan: African Americans were discriminated against base on there race. Race is not a behavior, like homosexuality.
I am sick and tired of this ignorant and out-of-date argument. Being gay is NOT a choice. Did you wake up one morning Nan and decide that you would be straight? Did you say to yourself… “gee, people hate gay people so I’d better be a straight person!” If you did, then you are a bigger idiot than your comment portends.
Matt's Mom
July 15th, 2010
11:18 am
Someone needs to remind Karen Handel that not all Georgian voters are Christians. Furthermore, I know plenty of same-sex couples that are wonderful parents. Given that she came from an abusive household I find it odd that she wouldn’t see the benefit of having two loving parents raising a child, regardless of their sexual orientation.
Pull My Finger
July 15th, 2010
11:19 am
Most legitimate research indicates that children do better in homes with both a father (man) and a mother (woman). I’ve done my research…….do a little of your own and you will see. Handel’s got my vote!
Chris
July 15th, 2010
11:21 am
It’s hard to believe that there’s any candidate worth voting for come November. Can we just go without a governor for awhile?
Bill
July 15th, 2010
11:21 am
Someone’s Mom, putting your parts in the wrong places is a CHOICE……
Hummon
July 15th, 2010
11:22 am
Hey, Jim G. your lead could use refining. How about this: “If you’re gay (or if you’re straight and you’ve seen enough parenting by gays to know that the argument that they’re not as legitimate as heterosexual parents is plain old bigotry) and your ears are burning, there’s a reason.”
I guess that’s a little clunky
Steve
July 15th, 2010
11:24 am
You know, let these fundamentalist retards pass laws denying gay Americans their rights. It’ll just speed up getting them to the Supreme Court to be struck down as unconstitutional once and for all… not because we have “activist” judges, but because (and hear this)it is UNCONSTITUTIONAL to deny someone’s fundamental rights.
BABY SAY
July 15th, 2010
11:24 am
HANDLE GIT PUB. HANDLE WIND. OX DROPING AN HADLE UPPING.
Rival
July 15th, 2010
11:26 am
Nan,
Some people, like me, believe sexual orientation to be as innate as race. I can’t change who I want to be with just like a black man can’t change his skin color.
My partner and I are educated, have good jobs, pay taxes, and obey the law.
It’s too bad that there are politicians and voters more concerned about what happens in our bedroom than what happens on the streets, in the classroom, in the economy, etc.
My kids are healthy and happy, by the way.
I was born in Atlanta and have lived here my entire life. I’m getting so sick of Georgia, with its backwoods politicians, lack of vision for transportation, eductation, and the economy. My household is seriously looking to take our $150K+ annual income to another state.
CrazyInGA
July 15th, 2010
11:27 am
I’ve done much reasearch and have the experience to boot; since she doesn’t have children, she should have said I don’t have an opinion about gay parents. It takes more than research, mom and dad to be a parent. It takes love, understanding and know how. Just because you are a man and woman doesn’t make you good parents. And it doesn’t give you a leg up on being the best parents, just ask Karen about her childhood.
ND
July 15th, 2010
11:27 am
“Do we not have the freedom to believe as we choose? Does Ms. Handel need to give a ‘politically correct’ answer to this question, or would you like to hear what she really thinks?”
Everyone has the right to believe as they choose. If someone is running for office, though, they need to be able to back up their opinions. If you’re against gay marriage and adoption, cite facts and statistics defending your view and there’s no problem. If a candidate can’t defend a simple opinion like this with facts, how can we expect them to back up their opinions on more complicated subjects with facts?
Unfortunately, this is par for the course for both parties in this country, and aside from the select few like the 11Alive reporter, nobody bothers to call them out on it.
Nads
July 15th, 2010
11:29 am
Hey Pull My Finger,
Great point! Assuming that that statistic is true, should we start outlawing both divorce and single parenthood?
Will Jones - Atlanta Jeffersonian Exegesis
July 15th, 2010
11:30 am
Rival
July 15th, 2010
11:26 am
Let’s just elect DuBose and Carol Porter instead.
Sick & Tired Of Being Sick & Tired
July 15th, 2010
11:31 am
I just wish Georgia had enough educated/knowledgeable voters that would vote based on the qualifications of the candidates instead of who has the best and most damaging commercials against their opponents.
The State is still overall perceived as being backward thinking and still trying to bring back the “good ‘ol days”. NEWSFLASH:…THAT AIN’T HAPPENING NO MATTER HOW MANY BIBLICAL SCRIPTURES YOU CAN READ/QUOTE/THUMP…
I’m just tired of these politicians pandering to South Georgia. Hell….if the metro Atlanta area wasn’t as economically vital as it is to the State, the State would still be just like Alabama and Mississippi….trailing behind!!!
Road Scholar
July 15th, 2010
11:31 am
Does Karen Handel’s giggling after answering questions bother anyone else?
Deal is a madman. Ox is a crook. Heaven help us!
Tiago do Leme
July 15th, 2010
11:32 am
Eu sou confusioso agora. Quem vai ganhar? Ox ou Handel?
Bob
July 15th, 2010
11:34 am
Of course there are bad heterosexual parents. The point is whether the state can or should put its official sanction on an inherently wicked activity. That is the issue. A man and a woman with a child may not be doing what they should–may, in fact, be acting very wickedly. But the relationship is not itself wicked. Sodomite perverts, on the other hand, are inherently wicked, and should neither be allowed to usurp the term “married” or the term “parent” (unless, of course, one of them actually did bring the child into this world).
It is laughable to read these idiotic posts claiming a fundamental right to violate God’s law. You have no right to sin and commit crimes, much less a constitutionally protected one. Not that a warped black-robed idiot won’t claim to find one out of thin air, but that does not make it a right or constitutional. Your perversion distorts your thinking ability.
Somone's Mom
July 15th, 2010
11:36 am
Bill: Someone’s Mom, putting your parts in the wrong places is a CHOICE……
What are you? In 8th grade? Why are people like you obsessed with what gay people may or may not do in the privacy of their bedroom? That has NOTHING to do with it. Attraction and love are not ALL about sex. Maybe to you… but not the rest of us. Perhaps you should get off of your parents computer and read a book.
Nan
July 15th, 2010
11:36 am
Rival
As passionate as you may be about your belief, the fact remains that sexual orientation is a choice, and race is an inherited trait that cannot be changed; therefore, the Civil Rights Movement should not be used as an agreement for gay marriange. Martin Luther King, jr. was an ordain minister who through his writing and speeches revealed his strong belief in the Word of God which discourages homosexual behavior.
Aquagirl
July 15th, 2010
11:37 am
@ Finger, that traditional set of parents worked out so well for the DEAD five year old. At least the child wasn’t exposed to teh gayz!!111!!! before dad strangled the life out of him.
http://www.ajc.com/news/dekalb/father-charged-with-killing-569077.html
SR
July 15th, 2010
11:38 am
I agree with: Handel doesn’t know any gay couples with children, she says, so she needs to get to know some before she can make a truly informed decision on the matter.
I also agree with Orval… She and her ilk will look very antiquated once the USSC decides the matter.
And Nan you have to be kidding me! Have you never studied bio-psych and come to knowledge about how much of human behavior and emotion is chemically driven? Have you not studied social and developmental psychology to come to knowledge about how much of a child’s psycological makeup is determined very early, before age 3, and is therefore so early in life that they might as well have been born that way?
Honestly, straight people, are really quite in the dark when trying to grapple with this decision of how “responsible” a gay person might or might not be for choosing their orientation. It would be nice if they’d acknowledge that to themselves and the world, and stop allowing their ignorance to be a driving force that might be negatively affecting the lives of others.