Democrat Works Against Marriage Equality In NY Special Election
The special election to choose a successor to Republican U.S. Representative John McHugh just got a lot more depressing for progressive Democrats in New York’s 23rd congressional district. For years, they’ve been working to counter the right wing politics of McHugh. Now, McHugh is resigning his seat in the House of Representatives in order to become President Obama’s Secretary of the Army, giving the Democrats a real chance at victory. However, the Democratic nominee, Bill Owens, seems determined to support many of the same policies that led Democratic voters to oppose Congressman McHugh in the first place.
A case in point is the issue of marriage equality. This year, the majority of New Yorkers who support legalization of same sex marriage have been working to get a legalization bill passed through the New York State legislature. However, a couple of Democratic State Senators, trying to gain the favor of homophobic voters, switched their support to the Republican caucus in order to block the legislation. New York’s state government was thrown into disarray. Nothing could get done. The simple operation of basic government services was put at risk by a small number of Democrats opposed to same-sex marriage.
As a congressional candidate, Bill Owens has placed himself in alignment with that group. Owens has declared his opposition to same-sex marriage.
Some Democrats may say that Owens has no choice, that he has to oppose marriage equality in order to win the election. What’s the point, though, of electing a Democrat who adopts the agenda of the Republican Party for the sake of political convenience?
Besides, the facts of the 23rd congressional district special election show that Bill Owens is under no pressure to oppose marriage equality legislation. The Republican in the race, Dede Scozzafava, has announced that she supports marriage equality.
Owens could easily adopt the same position as Scozzafava, and thus move the discussion forward toward how to bring about legalization of same-sex marriage. Instead, Owens is deciding to run to the right of Scozzafava, to try to demonstrate that he is more Republican than the Republican.
I can’t predict whether this tactic will serve the Owens for Congress campaign well, but it’s clear that this kind of right-leaning campaign approach will not help the Democratic Party hold on to the votes of progressive Americans.
If Democratic politicians keep up their opposition to marriage equality, the National Equality March this October could prove to be an event that begins to peel progressives away from the Democratic camp.
Not only has Dede Scozzafava said she supports marriage equality, she’s SPONSORED THE LEGISLATION and VOTED TWICE, AGAINST HER PARTY, TO SUPPORT IT.
This isn’t even a close call. Dede is pro-choice and pro-marriage. And she’s spoken and VOTED consistently with social progressives.
The DCCC picked Owens because they wanted another Darrel Aubertine. I’m a strong Democrat, but I’m with Dede.
Separate but equal is simply an unacceptable viewpoint.
Dems for Dede!
I never thought I’d ever vote Republican, but if I lived in New York’s 23rd I’d be voting for the Republican. Oh yeah.
By putting efforts to improve safety of workers in our society, “Alan J.Gerson” has made a valuable service to the society..
Check out his website..
http://www.gerson2009.com/main.cfm?actionId=globalShowStaticContent&screenKey=cmpContent&htmlKey=issues&s=gerson
yes dude.. ALan Gerson has done so many things..
Good morning, Mr. or Mrs. Sock Puppet, writing two comments from the same proxy server on the Indian subcontinent. Who are you really?
anyway what above people saying is correct Alan J Gerson is much much skilful and hardworking and experienced than other candidates for NYC council Dist 1 election 2009
chk the links for proof:
http://council.nyc.gov/d1/html/members/home.shtml
http://www.gerson2009.com/main.cfm?actionId=globalShowStaticContent&screenKey=cmpContent&htmlKey=issues&s=gerson
Says the third “person” to write from the same IP address.
gerson is a distinguished man
Congratulations, you moved to the computer down the hall!
Mr. Gerson, please tell your staffer(s) to knock it off. This article doesn’t have a thing to do with you, and it’s just embarrassing.