Better to be thought a bigot, by remaining silent--

Than be quoted directly, and let people think you're actually not?



Via CBS: 

A pro-gay marriage group says it's "sorry" Laura Bush wishes to be removed from its $1 million pro-gay marriage ad campaign that launched nationally this week on TV, in newspapers and online. 

The former first lady's spokeswoman said the Respect for Marriage Coalition, co-chaired by the Human Rights Campaign, did not ask permission to use a clip of her 2010 interview with Larry King saying, "When couples are committed to each other and love each other, then they ought to have the same sort of rights that everyone has." The coalition says it appreciates Mrs. Bush's remarks on the subject but will "now move to new and different voices," and will begin running a new ad this weekend. 

Currently, Mrs. Bush's sound bite is featured in the ad along with clips of past administration officials of former President George W. Bush - who opposed gay marriage efforts during his time in the White House - voicing support for same-sex marriage, including former Vice President Dick Cheney and former Secretary of State Colin Powell. Remarks from President Obama are also incorporated.

Actually, I'm going to be really reasonable, for me, about this: the problem with having one's image used by a group is that it gets construed as as an endorsement of that group, and not necessarily just the view that group holds. By drawing the line on this, she's trying not to allow a precedent that says "Anything goes" with respect to how she's represented by other people, and I can understand that.

But on the other hand, it kind of reminds me of how Cindy McCain leant her voice to a NO H8 PSA--but then ended up taking back what she had said. I think it's genuinely sad if a person actually supports a fairer, more inclusive society--and feels like they aren't free to say so. I mean--well, it's not sad, so much as pathetic. (But "pathetic" could be a kind of sad, couldn't it?)   If she feels  a certain way, at least she can own her own opinion. Just having her likeness withdrawn is like "taking it back".