Aug 08, 2008  |  By: CHRIS JOHNSON  | COMMENTS     

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a strong supporter of gay issues, suggested she wants a Texas congressman with an anti-gay voting record to become the running mate of Democratic presidential contender Sen. Barack Obama.

Pelosi voiced her support for Rep. Chet Edwards as the party’s vice presidential candidate in several recent interviews.

On ABC’s “This Week” Sunday, Pelosi called Edwards “an extraordinarily talented person” and “a champion for veterans in the Congress.”

In another interview Sunday, Pelosi said she “wanted people to be aware of the extraordinary credentials of Chet Edwards.”

But Edwards, who represents Waco, Texas, in Congress, has one of the worst records on gay issues among House Democrats. The Human Rights Campaign gave Edwards a score of 25 out of 100 for his voting record during the 109th Congress.

In 2006, Edwards voted in favor of the Federal Marriage Amendment, which aimed to amend the U.S. Constitution to prohibit same-sex marriage. The lawmaker also voted last year against the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.

Pelosi’s office declined this week to elaborate on her comments regarding Edwards.

David Mixner, a gay Democratic activist, said Edwards is not a serious choice as Obama’s running mate because the lawmaker doesn’t bring much to the Democratic ticket.

“I think that was almost an internal thing — I don’t think anyone is taking that seriously,” he said.

Pelosi also said on “This Week” that Obama has other options for his running mate, including Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.), Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) and former presidential contender Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.).

Other names also are being discussed as possible running-mate contenders, including Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.).

HRC gave Bayh an 89 on its most recent scorecard. He voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment in 2006, and in 2002 voted to support a measure that would have expanded the hate crimes law to include sexual orientation.

Bayh also co-sponsored in 2002 a resolution to amend the Senate rules to prohibit employment discrimination in the Senate based on sexual orientation.

Bayh told the Indianapolis Star on Tuesday that Obama had not asked him to be his running mate.
Also rumored to be in the mix is Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine (D), who has a mixed record on gay issues.

Dyana Mason, executive director of Equality Virginia, a non-partisan gay activist group, said Kaine has been “quite helpful” on issues important to the organization.

On March 4, Kaine signed a law enabling the Virginia Health Department to establish a registry for living wills and advanced medical directives. People in same-sex relationships can file a directive with the registry designating their partner as the person to make medical decisions on their behalf.

In 2006, he re-issued an executive order prohibiting discrimination in state employment on the basis of sexual orientation. Also during that year, he urged Virginia voters to reject a state constitution amendment that prohibits same-sex marriage.

In 2001, Kaine said he does not support same-sex marriage or civil unions, but noted he favors offering “civil benefits” to gay people in long-term relationships.

Mason said she’s concerned, though, about the possibility of Kaine being Obama’s vice president because Virginia Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, a Republican with an anti-gay record, would replace Kaine.

“We could be faced with a different administration with certainly a different level of support and approach for our community,” she said.

Mason said Bolling helped write the radio ads for the campaign promoting the state constitution’s ban on same-sex marriage. She also noted as state senator, Bolling never voted in favor the legislation that Equality Virginia supported.

Obama’s campaign office declined to comment for the article.

Sen. John McCain, the presumed Republican presidential nominee, also has yet to select a running mate. Two frequently mentioned contenders, however, are Republican Govs. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota and Charlie Crist of Florida.

In 2007, Pawlenty vetoed the state budget because it contained language that would have allowed the same-sex partners of state workers to buy into the state health insurance plan.

Crist opposes gay marriage and signed a petition to get an anti-gay marriage state constitutional amendment on the ballot this fall. But he last year said the Florida Republican Party should “probably not” put more money into the petition campaign for the initiative.

The Florida governor said he is “fine” with civil unions and was undecided about whether or not to repeal Florida’s ban on gay adoption. He said he does not support protection against employment discrimination based on sexual orientation.