Many are all atwitter trying to spin for their Democratic candidate today.  They continue the in-party attacks and have taken their eyes off the big prize.  While we bruise up each other, we are leaving a dangerous candidate to tour the country, redefine himself, and waltz into the White House.

What we must remember is that John McCain will not just be President.  He will get to put forward cabinet members, advisors and potential judicial nominations.  The most important of these could be his nominations for the Supreme Court.  

We have seen the damage that can be done on the court with Bush’s nominations.  Young, conservative, and antigay, they will be around to stop forward social movement for years to come. 
And McCain will have the same effect. 

A gay, conservative political science professor named Christopher Latimer had this to say about why John McCain remains the most dangerous candidate for our community and all progressive social justice movements:  

“Even if McCain is not actively hostile toward the LGBT community, his cabinet and judicial appointments could have a far greater impact than opposition to a ban on same-sex marriage.  

McCain’s selection of attorney general would be significant. The attorney general is the final arbiter when it comes to pursuing legal discrimination claims. Given McCain’s opposition to adding sexual orientation to the Federal Hate Crimes Bill or the Employment Non-Discrimination Act this could have far reaching effects. 

The singular most important difference between a Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton presidency vs. a McCain presidency concerns the Supreme Court. McCain has expressed his disdain for activist judges and has praised President Bush for nominating individuals who strictly interpret the Constitution. This is code for conservative.” 

The last thing we need are more of these conservative judges who want to turn our country back into the 1950’s “Leave it to Beaver” society- where women and minorities know their place and gays are back in the closet.   

Many of the Supreme Court Justices that are progressive are on the verge of retiring, so the next President will have the chance to shape the court for generations to come and further tip the balance to conservative, religious based decision making.  That is something we should all be mindful of. 

So while I think that having a long primary for the Democratic candidate is fine, we must all remember not to destroy or weaken whatever candidate does win.  There is far more at stake than Democratic egos.  The power to reshape the court and redefine our country’s laws is something that must not fall into McCain’s hands.

Waymon Hudson, the Homo Politico, is founder and President of Fight OUT Loud, a national non-profit organization dedicated to empowering the GLBT community to fight discrimination and hate         www.fightOUTloud.org