Herron Says He's Against Banning Gay Adoption Too

As Health Care Vote Looms, Cooper Still Undecided

Barrett Bill Flounders as Lawmakers Run for Cover

Is May Town Center Riding Out on a Rail?

By Jeff Woods in Politics, Woods

Mon., Oct. 12 2009 @ 3:14PM

It took Roy Herron three days, but he finally has responded to Pith's request for his position on gay adoption:

"The fundamental question is this: what's best for the children? I don't yet see evidence that the Bredesen administration's policy is doing wrong by Tennessee's children. I'm told that not enough married couples are adopting special needs children. Those children don't need more laws making adoption harder and condemning them to being shuffled from foster home to foster home."

OK, so this means that of all the Democratic candidates for governor, only Mike McWherter wants to make it illegal for gay couples to adopt children, thus consigning untold number of orphans to languish in state custody to satisfy the intolerant demands of social conservatives.

Will this hurt McWherter in the Democratic primary? If so, how badly? Discuss.

Related Content

More About...

12 comment(s) / Post a Comment

Crusty the clown says:

Sex Cauldron? I thought they closed that place down.

Posted On: Monday, Oct. 12 2009 @ 3:32PM

Common Sense says:

Really Woods? Your headline does not reflect what Roy actually said. He didn't give you a yes or no.

Posted On: Monday, Oct. 12 2009 @ 3:43PM

JaStep says:

I don't see a clear answer. What will he do as governor? Will he oppose this legislation?

Posted On: Monday, Oct. 12 2009 @ 4:03PM

Christy says:

I've gotta go with Common Sense on this one. The headline's inaccurate. But honestly, Herron's waffling around is more annoying than if he'd actually come down on one side of the issue.

Posted On: Monday, Oct. 12 2009 @ 4:57PM

Henry Walker says:

Herron's backhanded endorsement of the Bredesen administration's policy (which allows gay couples to adopt) followed by saying we "don't need more laws making adoption harder" isn't as direct as he could/should have been but clear enough. McWherter stands alone.

Posted On: Monday, Oct. 12 2009 @ 5:01PM

Interested Citizens says:

Good to see Herron come out in support. I think that McWherter is completely out of touch here. Should he get the nomination his position will play well in the general, but in the primary I don't think it's going to cut it.

Also, I just don't think that the TN media people are paying attention to this anyway, so it's unlikely to become a huge issue outside of TN political bloggers.

Posted On: Monday, Oct. 12 2009 @ 5:19PM

sueyyyy says:

Someone has a firm grip on the obvious. Maybe McWherter is out of touch because he just emerged from his father's side to run for Governor. Besides helping in his Dad's campaigns and whoever his Dad said help, isn't this his first campaign as a candidate?

Posted On: Monday, Oct. 12 2009 @ 6:41PM

meredith says:

You can't say the word "gay" in Tennessee without also saying "Satan" in the same sentence, or you'll be condemned by the right-wing nutbags. Herron made his view clear to me, and good for him!

Posted On: Monday, Oct. 12 2009 @ 8:49PM

BoydBBiggs says:

McWherter's stance may hurt him in the Democratic Primary. Sadly, however, it would probably help him if he makes it to the general election. You can hear the Republican ads now about Democrats wanting to allow homosexuals to adopt kids as part of their "agenda," and the next step will be textbooks in our schools titled "Brendan Has Two Mommies," and blah-blah-blah.

In a general election in Tennessee, lowest-common-denominator, ignorant-ass pandering is generally a winning formula.

Posted On: Tuesday, Oct. 13 2009 @ 9:36AM

senor says:

The only people McWherter's position will hurt him with are reporters at the Scene, the Tennessean and the microscopically small number of gay voters. It will probably help him in the Democratic primary

Posted On: Tuesday, Oct. 13 2009 @ 10:15AM

Will Barrow says:

Senor, I hope for your sake that little bitty mind of yours is the smallest thing you possess. BTW, do you drive a big truck?

Posted On: Tuesday, Oct. 13 2009 @ 10:56AM

Anonymous says:

senor - you're forgetting about all those 'wide-stance' republicans.

Posted On: Tuesday, Oct. 13 2009 @ 5:10PM