Just because Democratic State Sens. Loretta Weinberg and Raymond Lesniak have asked Senate chief Richard Codey to bring the gay marriage bill to the floor on Thursday doesn’t mean he will. But as the clock ticks down to Jan. 19 and Gov. Jon Corzine’s exit, and a vote still absent in the State Assembly — where Democratic Speaker Joseph Roberts, who supports the bill, refuses to bring it to a vote until the Senate does — here we are, still playing hot potato with people’s rights.
(Pictured: Garden State Equality supporters marching past the Statehouse in Trenton last month; via Star-Ledger)
terrwill
C’mon Queerts, know its a slow news day but you know there is about as much chance of this measure commin to the floor for a vote as Fred Phelps and Pat Robertson declaring they have been Gay lovers for the past 60 years………
The legislators in NJ have much more important things to do such as going after the owner of the tee shirt shop on the Jersey shore who employed the Jersey Shore cast. Yes this is a true story:
http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/nj_to_probe_store_where_jersey_shore_GYvGK6QMHzigzDxN5bkvYM
This is the grossest example of abuse of power that I can ever recall seeing State Sen. Vitale, pissed that MTV won’t pull the show is now going after the shop the cast worked in EIGHT MONTHS AGO………..
Brian NJ
They have nothing to be afraid of in voting for gay marriage. But if they do not vote for gay marriage, they will be missing an opportunity to energize the base and attract more democrats to the state. They have to remember this simple axiom: ANTI-GAY MARRIAGE PEOPLE NEVER VOTE FOR DEMOCRATS ANYWAY. In other words, NOT ONE VOTER will change their vote if the gay marriage bill is passed.
But if you hurt the base, it will drive people away from the polls and democrats will loose votes because gays, their families and friends will be likely to stay home the next election cycle.
Jake the libertarian
@Terwill
Thats hot dude. Wrinkly bigot ass, bouncing in the moonlight! LOL
Robert, NYC
2010 is going to be a rude awakening for the Democrats, especially in New York state and they can’t possibly expect to take our collective votes and donations for granted any more. If they do, they are delusional. We’ve suffered three major losses in 2009, the biggest being in New York State, expected but not by such a large margin. Getting rid of the 8 conservative “wannabe” republicans from the democratic party won’t be an easy task either.
I’d be surprised if the bill gets to the floor in New Jersey and even more surprised if it passes, but I hope it happens. If it doesn’t, then we know where we stand and we also know we can’t trust the Democrats any more. So we’ll have to be extremely careful who we vote for in November and beyond.
terrwill
No. 3 · Jake the libertarian: You are no longer on my list of fav Queerts, I now have that frightning image etched in my mind and I doubt I will ever be able to erase it…….. : P
schlukitz
God-fearing, agnostic or atheist…I don’t give a damn.
All together now…pray, bitches. Pray. lol
terrwill
Hey Schlukitz,
Haven’t seen you around since last year! : P
Hoping you and yours have a real happy and healthy new year!!
terrwill
As to Gay Marriage in New York: FORGET ABOUT IT, IT AIN’T GONNA HAPPEN!! The sad solid facts are as follows:
The recent vote showed two insormountable facts:
1- Too many of the Dems are cowards and have basicaly said FU to the Gay money that has poured into their campaigns. They basicaly took the money and ran.
2- More dire for us is that the NOT ONE REPUBLICAN WILL EVER SUPPORT GAY MARRIAGE IN NY.
terrwill
#8 cont.
2- More dire for us is that the NOT ONE REPUBLICAN WILL EVER SUPPORT GAY MARRIAGE IN NY. Reason being is that Mike Long the chairman of the conserative party in NY has put out the word that any republican who even sniffs supporting Gay marriage in NY, he will run a candidate on the conserative line. As he did in NY #23, they proved they are willing to sacrifice a seat to prove how serious they are.
Sorry, thats all folks……………..
Robert, NYC
Terrwill, you’re absolutely right, NYS will NEVER get marriage equality for the forseeable future. As I said before, its going to be an uphill battle to unseat 8 conservative democrats, that’s a huge number and lets face facts, the majority of their supporters far outnumber us. I’m not at all hopeful for this country at all because I just don’t see the political will on the part of the Dems to do anything good for equality. They’d rather cave in to bigotry and religion than risk losing their seat. The message on the wall is quite clear, our money doesn’t count or our support. I didn’t hear one key democrat condemn the recent defeat on marriage equality in NYS and if there were any, who were they and what did they say? Further, what are they going to do about it? Its up to us to get the message across to the Democrats in 2010 and beyond…..don’t take us for granted any more, if they want our support, let them earn it first, either put up or shutup. None of the useless gay organizations, HRC, Empire State Pride Agenda and others are going to tell them that since they’ve bought into the delay m.o. that the democrats always use when it comes down to the wire. I don’t think it would be any different in the absence of the economic crisis, the wars and health insurance reform, do you? They’d find a way to delay, regardless.
schlukitz
No. 10 · Robert, NYC
the majority of their supporters far outnumber us.
And that, my friend, was our founding fathers worst nightmare.
That the Democratic Republic they created would turn into a mob rule mentality!
Robert, NYC
Hi Schlukitz, Happy New Year! Yes, I’m afraid you’re right, however, it seems to me that the 14th amendment isn’t addressing any of it. I can’t name one democrat who is doing just that either. Obama of course refuses to acknowledge that we, in a democracy with supposedly equal protection in spite of the majority, should have full equality and if he thinks civil unions are about equality, then he’s not as smart as I once thought he was. For the sake of consistency, he should also be against miscegenation of which he is a by-product and oppose full equality for African Americans if he’s against our full equality. Separate and apart is NEVER equal. He’s learned absolutely NOTHING about discrimination, an other example of ignorance.
Trenton
A shame that Joe Roberts the gay speaker of the New Jersey Assembly is the one to not show the leadership on this issue. When one of our own won’t do it why do we think others will. A sad day for New Jersey.
Steve
Mike Long the chairman of the conserative party in NY has put out the word that any Republican who supports Gay marriage in NY, will have a Conservative party opponent in the next election. That opponent would split the Republican vote, and essentially give the election to the Democrate.
Could we put out the word that, any Republican office holder who opposes gay marriage in NY, will have a Conservative-party opponent? IF the gay community were to support Conservative-party candidates to oppose Republican party office holders who oppose equal marriage rights, that might tip the Republican out of office. “The enemy of our enemy is our friend”, and all that.
Steve
With most districts being gerrymandered, safe districts, the most effective way to put an incumbent out-of-office might be to run a fringe candidate to split that candidates base. To defeat a Democrat incumbent, run a Progressive. To defeat a Republican incumbent, run a Conservative. The Progressive or Conservative might not have any serious chance of winning, but the presence of that candidate in the race could spoil it for the incumbent.
Whether the incumbent is D or R doesn’t much matter. Whether the incumbent supports and votes for our issues, does.
If several minority groups start using this strategy, the Progressive and Conservative party candidates might actually become competitive.