The Advocate: Gillibrand's Blunt Response on GOP's Plans: "They Will Fail"

By Lucas Grindley

New York senator Kirsten Gillibrand knows how which applause line works with an LGBT audience. 

During a forum on LGBT rights in New York, a member of the audience asked about presidential candidate Michele Bachmann's desire to reinstate "don't ask, don't tell" and amend the U.S. Constitution to ban same-sex marriage.

“I heard she wants to turn the clock back, bring back 'don’t ask, don’t tell,'” a voice can be heard asking in video of the event. “There’s a push among the Republican Party to have a national act against marriage equity. Is it a possibility?”

“No, they will fail,” was the U.S. senator's brusque response. Then Gillibrand gathered her papers in a stack and tapped them on the podium as if ending a newscast as the audience cheered loudly.

“What a great answer,” the moderator, state senator Daniel Squadron, can be heard saying over a microphone.

The forum was held on Tuesday and was titled “After 'I Do': What's News for LGBT New Yorkers?” Watch complete video of the event below, with Gillibrand taking the podium about 28 minutes into the first recording.

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