Newsom now a national figure | SF Chronicle

[Ediacara]

Newsom now a national figure
Same-sex marriage decision turns him into lightning rod

Marc Sandalow, Rachel Gordon, Chronicle Staff Writers
Sunday, February 29, 2004




To the few who paid him any attention outside the Bay Area, Gavin Newsom seemed like a most un-San Francisco sort of mayor.

Clean-cut, well-heeled and relatively moderate, he hardly fit the caricature of a man who would preside over the free-spirited capital of the Left Coast. Conservative Democrats praised him and even Republicans looked with wonder to the mainstream product emerging from the Golden Gate.

Then, on his 36th day in office, Newsom ordered the city to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Immediately, the whole world began to pay attention. The stereotype was fulfilled. And today, the 36-year-old Newsom ranks, perhaps after Chicago's Richard Daley and New York City's Michael Bloomberg, as America's best known mayor.

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[tedoll78]

1. As of last week,

I wanted this man to be our president one day. Should he ever run, I will basically indenture myself to work for him. He's as close to political deity as I've seen in my brief lifetime. At least, for me he is.

[Ediacara]

2. I agree :-)

And I think most DUers agree too. And not only does he take the principled stand 36 days in, but he's good looking too. There are big things in the future for Newsom!

[bearfan454]

3. Gosh darn right !

I applaud the man totally.

[CHestonsucks]

4. Who'da thunk it?

Imagine! Standing on principle articulated in the state Constitution.

I thought that's what CONSERVATIVES did.

He's got his detractors, though. All sorts of right-wing frauds like professional hausfrau, Musgrave from Colorado.

They're fit to be tied (and probably secretly are). A nice, Irish-Catholic boy standing up for those horrid homosexuals.

What next? Tolerance for Muslims?