It may be possible that McCain was not ready to give a response to Ellen, and if McCain is going to give a response in an environment that seems to be pro gay-marriage, he should know exactly what he is going to say. Of course, a reasonable response would be that McCain should have known he was going to be asked about that. I don't have an answer on that one.

One more comment, there seem to be a lot of Ellen video clips on this website recently.

One more comment, there seem to be a lot of Ellen video clips on this website recently.

What?

The main reason people oppose same-sex marriage is the belief that homosexuality is inherently a psychological disorder. You think McCain wants to touch that third rail?

The main reason people oppose same-sex marriage is the belief that homosexuality is inherently a psychological disorder.

Is there a source to cite for this one? Homosexuality hasnt been listed as a psychological disorder for over a generation.

Now while its cited as a disorder in many religious interpretations, it is considered a sin first in those interpretations.

Good job recognizing the underlying truth behind the partisan spin. It's so easy to see the OTHER party's shallowness, as Peggy does.

That shallowness makes for endless blogging on both sides of the political spectrum, pointing out the other side's shallowness. How long will it take them all to wake up and notice that both sides are right?

Part of the challenge for McCain is that neither gay marriage nor gays in the military are issues that appear to matter to him that much while they matter to his party a great deal. A more rational, honest and courageous response for McCain regarding civil unions, for instance, would require him to admit that they don't personally bother him but that he couldn't have won his party's nomination if he had been honest. Or he could try to take the libertarian route, but then he would have to explain being a libertarian on that issue and not on others.

I'm not convinced that George Bush cared about the issue either. However, Bush always seemed to buy into the Rove strategy of taking whatever position is necessary to win an election, whether you believe that position or not.

McCain can't articulate his position on gays in the military because polices rooted in hatred, bigotry and fear never require nor allow for cohesive or rational arguments. So, where McCain has tried, he wrongly denied that the military classifies homosexuality as a defect while also claiming that gays in the military are "an intolerable risk to morale, cohesion and discipline."

Dodging some issues affects even presidents regarded as fairly successful or mostly consistent in their views. Ronald Reagan insisted that a "rising tide lifts all boats" but when wages for the bottom 20% of wage earners stagnated during his eight years, he had no answer to articulate.

Ronald Reagan also failed to take a courageous stance on the fight against AIDS, long ignoring plea after plea that the public health issue was huge

McCain has to deal with the fact that a high percentage (more than one-third) of conservative evangelicals responded to a Pew survey that they not only disapprove of homosexuality, but that they do not want to have to be around homosexuals at all. The claim may be "hate the sin" and "love the sinner" but that is not reality for many out of the Republican party's most committed base.

AKH: "The main reason people oppose same-sex marriage is the belief that homosexuality is inherently a psychological disorder."

Foltz: "Is there a source to cite for this one?"

Dude, if you have to ask that you must not know anybody who disapproves of homosexuality. People who disapprove of homosexuality think homosexuality is messed up in the head.

Homosexuality hasn't been listed as a psychological disorder for over a generation.

Different subject. I have an eye appointment - later.