Gay Marriage Vote To Backfire On Democrats?
by Aaron Margolis, July 22nd, 2008 at 01:00pm
House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi is trying to force a vote on the out-of-state gay marriage bill, which is leaving some democrats feeling a bit shafted.
“He has no concern for the members,” said one legislator, who requested anonymity. “This is stuff we should be dealing with in the first year (of the session). It’s a lose-lose for anyone facing a challenger.”
Another irate Democrat compared DiMasi unfavorably to his predecessor, former House Speaker Thomas Finneran, saying the controversial vote could alienate support for the embattled North End Democrat.
“Finneran always did things to protect the membership,” the lawmaker said, “and he (DiMasi) has only worked to protect himself.”
Even pols who support the repeal of the 1913 ban on out-of-state residents from marrying here are concerned about the political timing, which renews the roiling gay marriage debate and provides opponents with fresh fodder only months before voters decide who to send to Beacon Hill.
How bizarre. It’s bad timing only because it brings back the gay marriage debate? While this certainly isn’t great timing for gay marriage supporters and supporters of the repeal, I would suggest that it’s bad timing because it takes time from the legislature to worry about problems within the borders of the Commonwealth rather than trying to advance the gay marriage lobby. We have the rising costs of health care and energy and the Legislature is going to take time to worry about whether or not out-of-state gay couples can get married in Massachusetts? Please… this is a complete waste of their time.
Meanwhile, the state Senate has voted in favor of raising taxes on all cell phones, and voted against requiring convicted child rapists to register with the Sex Offender Registry Board for life, against 10-year mandatory minimum sentences for the first offense of rape of a child by force, and against prohibiting convicted sex offenders from operating ice cream trucks. Is our biggest problem right now whether or not out-of-state gay couples can get married here? I don’t think so.
Let’s worry about our own problems first before worrying about the problems of people that don’t live in the Commonwealth.
Bad political timing? It’s only bad political timing if you believe supporting the repeal could have adverse effects on your re-election.
Entry Filed under: Beacon Hill, Dimasi Watch, Election 2008, Gay Marriage, Legislation, Mass Dems, Sex Offenders, Uncategorized
3 Comments Add your own
1. crusader88 | July 23rd, 2008 at 9:00 pm
Great timing in my opinion. Now the pro-marriage forces may finally get our revenge and be able to strike back! We need to show the godless Democrats that we aren’t going away and won’t stop revering and fighting for the natural family because they threaten us with the possibility of being labeled bigots.
2. V | July 24th, 2008 at 7:44 am
Can we stop using the word Gay please?
3. Right Democrat | July 28th, 2008 at 8:25 am
Democrats need to move away from the exotic social issues and return to being the party of working families. Gay marriage is definitely going to harm Democrats in most of the country this year as most Americans still believe in traditional family values. The focus should be on the economy instead of fringe issues.
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