Election 2010: The "Terrific Twelve" For LGBT Voters

By David Mixner -

Well, tomorrow is it. Election Day 2010 and never have the stakes been higher. For two years we have watched and listened to unbelievable rhetoric. Some of it so hateful that it literally takes your breath away. The ability to conduct thoughtful dialogue and exchange of ideas has disappeared from our process. We have arrived at a place in politics where columnist and commentator George Will is looked upon as flaming liberal by some elements of the Republican Party. How scary is that?
You must vote. Really, I am not kidding, you must vote. No excuses. No prevarication. No rationalizing.
There are races around the country where either strong allies of the LGBT community are in close races or where the Republican nominee is so anti-LGBT that we must vote against them. What follows is a list of "The Terrific Twelve." These are candidates who need our support and our vote. Please, please don't let them down. I have not included such personal favorites as NY Senator Kirsten Gillibrand since her race appears to be on solid ground. Obviously candidates like Senator Gillibrand deserve our support too.
The Terrific Twelve:
1. Senator Michael Bennet (Democrat - Colorado): Senator Bennet is a friend of the LGBT community and his opposition is (as we used to say back home) "Just ain't right!" Republican Ken Buck thinks being gay is like alcoholism and that sharing bikes is a United Nations socialist plot. Say what?
2. Attorney General Jerry Brown (Democart - California): He is running for governor and has been a strong supporter of the LGBT community since 1976! He opposed Proposition 6 (Briggs Initiative in 1978) and is crucial to keep the state of California out of supporting a repeal of the Proposition 8 court decision. Think of what could have been accomplished if she had simply donated that money to the state of California.
3. Senator Barbara Boxer (Democrat - California): Took Senator Boxer a little while to come around to full marriage equality but she is now fully supportive. Republican Carly Fiorina is a strong supporter of upholding Proposition 8.
4. Mayor David Cicilline (Democrat - Rhode Island): If Mayor Cicilline is elected to the United States House of Representatives on Election Day he will be the fourth member of an increasingly large "LGBT Caucus" in Congress!
5. Mark Dayton (Democrat - Minnesota): If we are successful in electing Mark Dayton as governor of Minnesota, we are very likely to see Minnesota be the next state passing full marriage equality. Target- backed Republican Tom Emmer is viciously anti-LGBT
6. Senator Russ Feingold (Democrat - Wisconsin): Senator Feingold was, along with the late Senator Edward Kennedy, among the first senators in the United States Senate to come out for full marriage equality. A die-hard supporter of our community, he is currently trailing a Tea Party Republican. He badly needs our votes and efforts tomorrow.
7. Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias (Democrat - Illinois): No one running for office this year can compare with the pro-LGBT platform of Alexi Giannoulias running for United States Senate. His Republican opposition has come out against the repeal of DADT, swears he never met a LGBT person in all his years in the military and proclaimed that the LGBT community doesn't live in the surburbs! Alexi will be a real champion for us in the Senate!
8. Congressman Patrick Murphy (Democart - Pennsylvania): This young articulate former Army officer has been an articulate supporter for the repeal of DADT.
9. Senator Patti Murray (Democrat - Washington): Senator Murray is in a very tight race with Republican Dino Rossi who even opposed the Domestic Partnership law in Washington.
10. Mayor Steven Pougnet (Democrat - California): Palm Spring Mayor Steve Pougnet has a chance to add a fifth seat to that LGBT caucus in Congress. He is running against Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack who voted against repealing DADT.
11. Senator Harry Reid (Democrat - Nevada): There is one reason you should vote for Senator Reid and her name is Sharron Angle. This insufferable Republican candidate running against him should be right up there with Christine O'Donnell as "Right Wing Nut of the Year."
12. Congressman Joe Sestak: (Democrat - Pennsylvania): Sestak is the highest ranking former military officer serving in the United States Congress. As a former Vice Admiral in the Navy he has led the effort for repeal of DADT. He is running for United States Senate against Republican Pat Toomey who is running on an anti-LGBT platform. No more needs to be said, right?

for more from David visit Live from Hell's Kitchen.

-end-