With broad conservative support of policies that discriminate against gay and lesbian Americans, McCain’s suggestion of a free and equal country was inappropriately timed.

Bryce Neuman, Daily Texan

Submitted by Evergreene Digest Contributing Editor Ken Mitchell

In his concession speech last Tuesday night (Nov 4), Sen. John McCain took the opening moments to recognize the step forward that this election represents for civil rights. “Let there be no reason now for any American to fail to cherish their citizenship,” he declared, saying that the country was “a world away from the cruel and frightful bigotry” of the past.

While McCain’s congratulatory remarks were the result of good intentions, the context is unfortunate — marginalizing ongoing struggles for civil rights and overstating America’s advancement toward equality.

As expected, race and ethnicity were consistent talking points, and recent research suggested that age discrimination affected a surprising number of voter opinions. Evidence of sexism was also strong, just as it is in every day life outside the political realm. With broad conservative support of policies that discriminate against gay and lesbian Americans, McCain’s suggestion of a free and equal country was inappropriately timed.

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