Governor Sarah Palin tolerates us. Pardon us if we don't return the favor.

Watching these debates is really a masochistic exercise, especially if you're like me and find yourself hypnotized by those insipid line graphs at the bottom of the CNN screen and the speaker's voices start sounding like the adults in the Peanuts cartoons.

But watching the Vice-Presidential Debate tonight I did hear a few things. I heard Sarah Palin make a cheap personal attack at Joe Biden regarding the Iraq exit strategy. I heard her flat-out not answer several questions and try to talk her way around answering several others. I also would have pulled my hair out, had I any, whenever the Undecided Voters Gauge swept upwards when Palin turned on her folksy charm and ABSOLUTELY NOTHING OF SUBSTANCE CAME OUT OF HER MOUTH.

But that's neither here nor there. What I really have to talk about here is the fact that moderator Gwen Ifill did throw a question at the two candidates regarding same-sex benefits and gay marriage. Just listen to the difference in the language that Biden and Palin used, despite the fact that they were essentially (so claims Palin, anyway) saying the same thing.

When Joe Biden spoke about ensuring basic Constitutional rights regarding hospital visitation, property ownership, spousal insurance coverage, etc., he spoke of support, of civil rights, and of every American being guaranteed what is promised to them in the Constitution regardless of sexual preference. He said, "it's only fair".

What did Palin speak of?

"Tolerance."

Yes, the extent of her support of our basic human rights is that she is tolerant of us and "our choosing". She tolerates our existence. She tolerates our whining for the abilities to see our partners in the hospital or buy houses together. She's tolerant of our preposterous demands that our relationships be protected and our loved ones be provided for as hers are.

Governor Palin, "tolerance" just doesn't cut it, and if you expect that the LGBT people of this country are going to settle for your tolerance, you're even crazier than I thought. 

When asked about gay marriage, Biden was adamant that he and Obama support full civil unions for gay couples, but then made it clear that he does not support gay marriage, as he feels that is a definition best left up to local governance and faith communities. I disagree, but I appreciate his putting it simply and clearly and making that distinction.

When it came to Palin, she said that she does not support gay marriage. Full stop.

Aside from that, if this woman gains office I'm going to drown a kitten. She is literally transforming into Tina Fey's impression of her as the debate progresses. She winked at the camera. She said "doggone". She gave a shout-out to a class of third-graders. I'm shocked that she didn't drag that baby out again. Someone please stop the insanity.

To watch the video of the candidates discussing this topic, click through the jump.