Box Turtle Bulletin
News and commentary about the anti-gay lobby“Now you must raise your children up in a world where that union of man and box turtle is on the same legal footing as man and wife…”
News and commentary about the anti-gay lobbyDecember 10th, 2008
[Jim has also written about this change in the marriage landscape]
We told you of an agreement between Senate Majority Leader hopeful Malcolm Smith and three renegade Democratic Senators which would buy their support by assuring them that gay marriage would not be allowed to be presented for a vote in the New York State Senate. Now it seems that Mr. Smith has had a little conversation with his integrity and that his integrity won.
Newsday is reporting that the deal is off:
“We’re prepared to wait if we have to to come into the majority,” Smith said. He was flanked by senators Neil Breslin of Albany and Liz Krueger of Manhattan when he made the announcement.
Smith said the three renegades were motivated by “personal interests.” He also said he wouldn’t subject civil rights issues to negotiation, referring to a proposal backed by many Democrats to legalize gay marriage.
“That issue should never be a part of a negotiation,” Smith said, and should be subject to the legislative process.
The article suggests that the role of “integrity” was played by other members of the Democratic Caucus who had to remind Smith about what he believed. Nonetheless, this is a significant and brave step for Smith and for the Democrats. And I commend them for finding their courage and taking the risk.
The three rebels may decide that if they can’t get their way, they’ll turn power back over to the Republicans. But I think a more likely scenario is that they know that such a vote would be political suicide and that in the end they will support Smith. And, if so, there will probably be a vote on marriage equality in the relatively near future.
So now it is up to Empire Pride to lobby the other Democratic Senators and to work with Log Cabin to try and pull enough Republican Senators to get a “yes” majority. Those readers living in New York should begin to consider what steps they can take to help.
(hat tip Good As You)
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lurker
December 10th, 2008
What I find particularly appalling is that the NY Times article about this – in their “blog” section – vaguely hints about the problem with this deal being power-grabbing, no mention of the sell out on civil rights.
Duncan
December 11th, 2008
Much as I disagree with these three senators, they are standing up and defying their party for their beliefs. But now they have a chance to show that it was not a bluff and they put their beliefs above their careers by handing power back to the Republicans. We’ll see.
Tavdy
December 11th, 2008
One possible problem now is that, if Diaz & Co. want to be kingmakers, they’re stuck with the Republicans. I wonder what the future electoral implications would be if they hand the Repugs the state senate on a platter?
The alternative would be a hung parliament with neither party having control, but I’m not sure if that’s possible in US-style politics.
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