How do GAY REPUBLICANS endore this man???

Senator John McCain wants gays and
lesbians to think of him as being gay-friendly, or, at least,
gay-comfortable. For instance, he has kept mum on gay nuptials in
California set to begin next week. And a recent appearance on Ellen
DeGeneres' daytime talk show where he gently spars with the
openly-out DeGeneres on marriage was suppose to appear respectful of
gays.

For gay rights group Human Rights
Campaign (HRC) that was not enough. In a new video and campaign,
posted at its hrc.org website, the nation's largest gay rights group
argues that McCain is no friend of GLBT people.

The video hits major anti-gay moments
in McCain's voting record and concludes that a “President McCain
will mean four more years of anti-gay policy in the White House.”

The group includes a report titled:
“Senator John McCain: A Record of Opposing the Interests of GLBT
Americans.” The report is a comprehensive look at the Senator from
Arizona's stand on every major gay, lesbian, and transgender issue.
McCain opposed the federal Employment Non Discrimination Act, a bill
which sought to end GLBT discrimination in the workplace. His was
the deciding vote against the bill. Three times – 2000, 2002 and
again in 2004 – he voted against expanding the federal hate crimes
law to include sexual orientation. McCain continues to believe gays
and lesbians should not serve in the military and supports the
military's policy of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'. In 1996, he voted for
a federal DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act) which prohibits gay couples
from receiving federal rights and benefits – even if they are
legally married. In 2006, McCain supported and campaigned for a
state constitutional amendment to ban any recognition of gay couples
in his home state of Arizona (the first to fail). Senator McCain has
voted to confirm President Bush's conservative judges to the Supreme
Court.

“We've witnessed President Bush over
the last seven years repeatedly side with ultra-conservatives and the
religious right at the expense of protections for GLBT Americans.
Judging by his record, a McCain presidency would be another four
years of more of the same,” said Human Rights Campaign Vice
President David Smith in a press release.

HRC, however, was buoyant in its
endorsement of Sen. Barack Obama. In a prepared statement, HRC
President Joe Solmonese said of the endorsement, “Senator Obama has
consistently shown that he understands, as we do, that, GLBT rights
are civil rights, and human rights... I know that Senator Obama's
vision is one of equality, fairness, and justice for all of us.”

Obama welcomed the endorsement. The
HRC press release included his statement, “The Human Rights
Campaign has been at the forefront of the fight for GLBT equality and
opportunity, and I am proud to have its endorsement. Too often, the
issue of GLBT rights is exploited by those seeking to divide us. But
at its core, this issue is about who we are as Americans.”

Despite its endorsement, HRC does not
give Obama a perfect score on GLBT issues. HRC's Democratic
Presidential Report Card noted that the Senator does not support gay
marriage, opting instead for civil unions.