Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Tim Kaine Pays Respects at Pulse Memorial


As noted in prior posts, both the husband and I have met Tim Kaine, Hillary Clinton's vice presidential running mate, a man who in our estimation would make a wonderful vice president and, should something happen to Hillary Clinton, a sound and responsible president.  While a Roman Catholic, Kaine has evolved on LGBT issues and now, like many other Democrats, fully supports federal non-discrimination protections for LGBT Americans, and fully marriage equality.  Consistent with this recognition of LGBT individuals as entitled to all the rights of full citizens and as fully human - a stark contrast from the views of Mike Pence, Donald trump's VP pick - Tim Kaine paid a visit to the memorial for the Pulse massacre victims.  Here are video highlights from NBC News:
ORLANDO - While the political world was wrapped up in the commotion around Monday night's debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, Clinton's running mate Tim Kaine was in a wildly different setting very far away, marking and mourning one of the nation's worst tragedies up close.
The Virginia senator was in Orlando for campaign events, and decided to make a quiet, unannounced stop at the site of the Pulse Nightclub shooting, a visit that aides say he felt very strongly about. Kaine visited the site along with Florida Sen. Bill Nelson, former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, her husband Captain Mark Kelly, and Orlando Police Chief John Mina. They viewed the rainbow-colored wall, read letters and messages from people who lost their loved ones, and left flowers at the memorial.
The stop was a reflective moment for Kaine and a reminder of what his state endured nine years ago while he was serving as Virginia's governor. After surveying the site of the nightclub, the senator approached the small group of reporters gathered at the side of the site with tears in his eyes.
Giffords and Kelly also appeared with Kaine at a debate watch party in Orlando Monday night hosted by the Human Rights Campaign. The couple is starting a six-week long national bus tour to draw attention to gun violence prevention measures.

For LGBT voters, the choice ought to be easy: LGBT friendly Clinton and Kaine or Trump who has pandered to homophobic Christofascists and Mike Pence who is a Christofascist himself.

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