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The Star-Ledger posted the dismal headline today regarding the NJ marriage equality bill: A surprisingly dark day for gay rights in New Jersey. Steve Goldstein from Garden State Equality sums it up pretty well, saying
Many of us in the progressive movement just want to throw up…Democrats put out one hand out to ask for money, and with the other they stab you in the back.
Talk is that the combined reelection loss of Gov. Corzine (D), the lack of momentum from ME and NY (although NY legislative leaders promise to vote by end of year) and a big power play by the Roman Catholic Church has resulted in legislative “leadership” spouting off unbelievably craven nonsense
Finally, there were discouraging noises from Sen. Steve Sweeney, a South Jersey Democrat who will take over as Senate president in January, replacing Sen. Richard Codey (D-Essex).Sweeney suggested that the legislature should leave this issue aside for now, and focus instead on the economic crisis. It was pure political nonsense, because the legislature is not even considering major economic bills.
A great opinion piece on Sweeney’s craven lie here. Apparently, the votes are there if legislators are allowed to vote their consciences.
Meanwhile, the Washington D.C. Council is expected to pass marriage equality legislation tomorrow. If that happens, it’ll be interesting to see whether the New Jersey legislature rallies behind the new bellwether or whether they magically neglect to acknowledge that there still is in fact plenty of momentum for equality. Don’t forget that Washington State voters just ratified full domestic partnerships at the ballot box.
Garden State Equality has another rally planned for this Thursday in Trenton demanding that the marriage equality bill is posted this legislative session. “Just show up at 110 W. State Street, Trenton NJ 08608, beginning at 8am, and lend your voice to the chorus of people who respect both religious freedom and equality under the law.” An email from GSE stated that legislators asked GSA to stage this rally, so perhaps there is yet hope. Contact your legislators and let them know that not voting on the bill is not an option, that legislators who choose to turn their back on civil equality will get no help from the Americans they are betraying when reelection rolls around.
11 Comments
ConservaDems keep running scared…And keep showing how Democrats can lose next year by NOT giving the base reason to vote. That was why Corzine lost, the combination of his Wall Street “centrism” and President “Fierce Advocate” turning off progressives kept voters at home this month. There’s still time for Dems to change course and give progressives (including us queer folk) reason to go and vote for them next year, but they need to first get up and deliver some real results.
Winning marriage equality in New Jersey would be a good first start.
2010 electionsPerfect time to do some serious cleaning up…
WussesWhen the Dems come with hands open looking for money, tell them to call the National Association for Marriage. That’s what I plan to do if a marriage bill fails in the NYS senate.
If I lived in NJ,If I lived in NJ, I would campaign against all incumbents unless they could demonstrate how they were on record trying to get the vote on the floor.
I would tell the incumbents, a la Sweeney,that we’ll “leave this issue aside for now”. That is, the issue of their needing money, volunteers and votes for reelection.
Hilarious email from Democracy in AmericaIs this whistling in the dark, or do they just not get it?
Honestly, it’s not DFA’s fault…They’re the good guys here, pushing for a strong health care bill and progressive candidates. It’s the nitwits at the DNC, DSCC, and DCCC that don’t get it, as they’re the ones that keep pushing the ConservaDems that keep obstructing progress (including progress on our civil rights).
FaultI’m not blaming DfA, although they are sounding pretty naive. In that sense they just perpetuate the idea that there’s nothing wrong with democrats stabbing LGBTs in the back and we can have great election outcomes no matter what. Do they really think democrats will “get out there and vote” if they feel betrayed?
MOre like gutless, spinless, yellow backed Dems
YeahThe democrats have betrayed us all over the place.
Overturning a veto in Vermont, passing Equality in Maine and New Hampshire, passing the everything but marriage bill in Washington and passing Federal Hate Crimes Bill, a couple of city-wide things, including the latest push in DC. And it’s been the dem governor of NY who has been riding his congress hard over their failure to pass a marriage equality bill and the reason why NJ is looking bleak is because of a Republican governor coming in.
Now, I agree with what was intended. That conservative minded dems and scared dems in positions of leadership have forestalled greater and achievable victories, but the base of achievability is percentage of democrats. Always has been (since the 1960s), always will be unless another 1960s party switch occurs.
I actively encourage needling these craven bastards drunk on privilege that they fear even the attempt, but trying to paint it like the dems are all fail no succeed erases the hard efforts of a great number of democrats who have made this year such a banquet year for gay rights.
Also, it’s really hard to join in these days with the “dems always suck for waiting” considering the giant choruses of “wait” and “give up X fight because we won’t win” that have erupted in the gay blogosphere since Maine.
Oh yeah, dems suck for making political calculations we deem inaccurate and we won’t support them nor these other action for they have not taken into account these various political calculations…
Push for what you can certainly and push certainly, but you got to acknowledge what’s gone right otherwise you end up with a whole community on death’s doorstep just because they lost one of the 5 states they gained in the last year while passing a host of other legislation even in cities in the Deep South like Charleston (OMG).
where have i ever said that all dems have failed to succeed? nowhere.far from it. most of what i write is actually about the positive progress made by (mostly) dems. but you must admit that when national dem organizations ignore that some dems are failing spectacularly on the same subject yet again after making promises and taking our money and time, then it makes them look kinda bad. and remember, i’m coming at this from the context of what is happening in new jersey.