"The invariable refrain… is that social issues don’t matter and both parties simply use them to divide the electorate and pander to special-interest groups. As a straight white guy, it might seem that way, but if you’re gay, a racial minority, disabled, or a woman, your civil rights are under attack from Republican administrations, judges and legislators—these are not pet causes. You might tell a pollster you care more about the economy because you need to make a living, but the idea that we can create a bipartisan or non-partisan presidential ticket and it won’t matter whether we choose an anti-choice, anti-gay-rights Republican like Chuck Hagel or a pro-choice, pro-gay rights liberal like Michael Bloomberg is absurd. It’s insulting to victims of discrimination."