Let's see how long she gets to be a Republican.It's kind of funny how Republicans have turned their backs on the family unit just because it's not their typical family unit. Strong families united by marriage are the building block of society to them and the decline of the family unit is supposedly responsible for America's social ills. You would think they would be foaming at the mouth to rebuild all family values as an inclusive thing to bring more people into the tent.
How could I deny anyone the right to have that incredible bond with another individual in life? To me, it seems almost cruel.but to me, she gets to the heart of the issue with this one:
... speaking against the vocal majority on behalf of the rights of the minority. To me, it is incumbent upon us as legislators in this state to do that. That is WHY WE ARE HERE.Often, arguments for marriage equality highlight the unfairness of denying an expression of love and commitment to homosexual couples. Whie I completely agree with the sentiment (and I'd cut out the "almost"; it is flat-out cruel), that doesn't seem to me to be the central issue. The central issue, surely, is that marriage inequality denies a reasonable, basic right (and its emotional, social, financial, and legal advantages) to a large population of adults.
JOSH: You know, it's going to seem to some people like you did it 'cause your daughter asked you to.posted by Navelgazer at 12:14 PM on February 9, 2012 [17 favorites]
BARTLET: You know, Josh, I think if you ever have a daughter, you're going to discover there are worse reasons in the world to do something.
The West Wing - "Ellie"
“I have defined doing the right thing as treating all persons with equality,” Saland said. “And that equality includes the definition of marriage. I fear that to do otherwise would fly in the face of my upbringing.”And from here:
With his position still undeclared, Senator Mark J. Grisanti, a Republican from Buffalo who had sought office promising to oppose same-sex marriage, told his colleagues he had agonized for months before concluding he had been wrong.From here:
“I apologize for those who feel offended,” Mr. Grisanti said, adding, “I cannot deny a person, a human being, a taxpayer, a worker, the people of my district and across this state, the State of New York, and those people who make this the great state that it is the same rights that I have with my wife.”
"You get to the point where you evolve in your life where everything isn't black and white, good and bad, and you try to do the right thing," McDonald, 64, told reporters.From here (by Sen. Alesi):
"You might not like that. You might be very cynical about that. Well, fuck it, I don't care what you think. I'm trying to do the right thing.
"I'm tired of Republican-Democrat politics. They can take the job and shove it. I come from a blue-collar background. I'm trying to do the right thing, and that's where I'm going with this."
I went out, and as I sat there I knew I was voting against what I believed. I knew I was voting against what was in my heart. I knew I was voting against what I thought was right not just for me, not only for New York, but for America.posted by griphus at 1:01 PM on February 9, 2012 [12 favorites]
It was very, very hard for me.
Some people say it was theatrical. If that was theatrical I’m in New York so I’m going to get my SAG card. It was very hard.
I did promise myself I would never vote “no” again, no matter what the circumstances were.
If there is a child on the south side of Chicago who can’t read, that matters to me, even if it’s not my child. If there is a senior citizen somewhere who can’t pay for their prescription drugs, and having to choose between medicine and the rent, that makes my life poorer, even if it’s not my grandparent. If there’s an Arab American family being rounded up without benefit of an attorney or due process, that threatens my civil liberties.
It is that fundamental belief -- It is that fundamental belief: I am my brother’s keeper. I am my sister’s keeper that makes this country work. It’s what allows us to pursue our individual dreams and yet still come together as one American family.
B. Obama - DNC 2004 Keynote speech
"You get to the point where you evolve in your life where everything isn't black and white, good and bad and you try to do the right thing," McDonald, 64, told reporters.posted by lalex at 1:02 PM on February 9, 2012 [2 favorites]
"You might not like that. You might be very cynical about that. Well, f--- it, I don't care what you think. I'm trying to do the right thing.
"I'm tired of Republican-Democrat politics. They can take the job and shove it. I come from a blue-collar background. I'm trying to do the right thing and that's where I'm going with this."
I viewed your eloquent and heartfelt speech on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbmbdWK6338) and, though I am not in your district, I wanted to express my appreciation for your vote in favor of basic fairness and equality. Washington is a better state for your efforts.If you live in WA, or in her district, and you want to do the same, you can contact her office from this page.
Please tell we you left the "not" out of that sentence. Because it isn't too soon in any measure to call people against equality of marriage what they are: immoral bigots who have no respect for common decency yet alone the civil rights and the American constitution.I did leave out "not" but intended to express the same basic meaning, just with an implied eye-rolling sarcasm. But even a straight reading still works because it's a fair reflection of political reality; there is a huge double standard in this country. You can get away with saying (or at least implying) the most vile, bigoted, or hateful things in this country if only you justify them in the name of religion. Conversely, rare is the politician who will dare that person a bigot, for fear of offending the politician's own religious constituents.
So she came to the right conclusion about an issue because of the wrong reason? She has a gay daughter, and that's not reason enough?I don't have quarrel with the basic premise that what counts is her support for marriage equality, not how she arrived at it. Fair enough, put a 'W' in the win column. Agreed.
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posted by obloquy at 11:22 AM on February 9, 2012 [1 favorite]