New York Governor David Paterson took some time today to reinforce his groundbreaking gay marriage edict. For those of you not paying attention, Paterson ordered all state agencies to accommodate out-of-state same-sex nuptials. Sensing a shit storm on the horizon, Paterson deflected calls that he's acting out of order…
[Paterson said he] will continue to push for it in the future, this was not an “end run around the Legislature” but merely his interpretation of current laws on the books.
“I’m following the law as it always has existed,” he said.
Asked to respond to critics of the directive, he said, “I would suggest that if they went back and read the law, that they would come to a different interpretation themselves, even if they disagree with the concept of marriage equality.
“If I didn’t take this action,” he added, “I would leave this state open to law suits. I would leave the state treasury open to monetary damages.”
While we surely agree with Paterson's remarks, not everyone in New York agrees. For example, Rev. Duane Motley of New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms has already started rallying his troops against Paterson's initiative. Motley, however, has far less power than Senate majority leader Joseph Bruno, who has yet to decide how he'll approach the matter. Said the Republican: "I’m not going to second-guess it because I haven’t seen it. I don’t know the ramifications of this.”
Nor do we, Bruno, but we're hoping you don't get too hot and bothered over it.
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Well, Paterson just did what Spitzer and Pataki thought should be done, but left up to the legislature. Good for him.
As I stated previously, Poor Guv Patterson - apparently he couldn't read the document he was signing.
I think he can see alot better than RPCV.
Bruno has my sympathy. He's dealing with a crack-smoking Guv who, IF he could have read the document, can't or won't understand what it says.
Ridiculous.
But enough about RPCV.
I think the Rev. + his "troops" need to be rallying together for much more important causes than this. Miserable bastards.
I have it on good authority that RPCV is a crack ho so he's prone to coming onto websites sounding like Whiney in her bad days.
Nah Crazy Love & Fredo777,
He is a just an high minded white guy who tries to be intellectually racist. And living in DC and probably quiet as a church mouse with all those blacks there.
Don't you hate a girl who has all this internet mouth and no physical action?
I really admire Paterson's dedication to gay rights, and I hope this all works out for him!
Patterson is right, he is just following the law. NY does not have a DOMA statute, and so must recognize every marriage that is licensed by any other state. Failure to do so would certainly get the state into the losing end of litigation.
Of course, the federal DOMA act itself is facially unconstitutional. It violates both "full faith and credit" and "equal protection." A federal judge will certainly say so within a few years. But that's another story.
Reverend Motley's reaction is completely predictable. The "religious right" see an opportunity here to raise some money. They never seem to miss an opportunity to raise money.