Will the SF Gay Marriage ceremonies matter in the Pres election?

[cally]

The Rebubs are saying that it will be a big issue for them. I just don't see it. I just can't imagine anyone going to vote against a candidate because of this issue. Many will vote for a candidate that supports GLBT rights. I think Newsom did a favor for the Dem party. This takes some of the focus off of activist judges and Massachusetts and instead focuses on liberal SF. I think most believe that SF is a little crazy anyways so why should this surprise anyone.

Disclaimer: I'm posing this as a political question. I'm thrilled by the thousands of marriages in SF. Newsom is my new hero. I just want to discuss the politics of this decision.

[Fight_n_back]

1. If it matters...and I mean this

if this election ends being a referendum on Gay Marriage instead of a repudiation of the worst president in American history then this nation has no place for me.

If an amendment against gay marriage passes then Im outta here. Real estate is super cheap in Mexico anyway and I won't give two shits about their politics (until Ive been there for a couple weeks anyway)

I don't want to live in a stupid place and I don't want to be here for the collapse of what could have been a paradise on earth.

[FloridaPat]

7. Forget the amendment. If Bush gets back in I will have to

seroursly have to consider leaving. They've destroyed this country and I'm not sure the Democrats can stop it. The public will need to be informed and with our news media the way it is, I think that's impossible.

[Fight_n_back]

15. If the Democrats can't beat a nearly retarded failure

who has been caught lieing to get us into a war that has made his friends rich then it has no reason to exist as a party.

If the Democrats can't beat this man at this time, a man who everyone now knows is a coward and a liar then, really, what good are they? This is the MOST important election of my lifetime. Even more important than Nixon/RFK (ooops...coincidentally shot and replaced by the second choice HHH). If Democrats can't muster the wherewithal to save the nation from this craven maniac and his band of loony criminals then its time to fold up shop and turn to the British Labor Party or something.

[cally]

16. Yep

This election is about the future of our country--jobs, security, social security, health care, and the environment. Bush is such a threat to all of our future. I know the repubs will try to minimize that debate by focusing on gay marriage. They've done the same thing too many times before. It's their election strategy-divide and conquer. If Dems can't stand united and for principles then we lose. I'm close to making the same statement as you Yang. Dems must have learned some lessons and have the ability to fight this obvious political ploy.

Now the personal. Unfortunately, I believe that rebubs plan to make gay/lesbian marriage there current social issue to bring out their base. We all have to stand up for basic human rights. If we lose, we all need to take the blame.

[Bill of Rights]

2. Republicans are saying

that their most conservative members feel that GAY MARRIAGE is the most important issue this election season.

I am wondering how quickly a constitutional amendment can be written, voted on in the congress and sent out for radification in the states. Specifically, I am wondering if people will do a couple of things during the November 2004 election: vote for a president and vote for a constitutional amendment against gay marriage.

Rove has promised prominent conservatives, such as Ralph Reed that GWB will come out in support of the amendment by the end of this month.

I think the whole timing sucks. I am a gay woman who is furious with the SF mayor. He won the election against a more lefty Green candidate. He was fearful of a recall so he decided to shore up his support with his Gay constituents. Gay voters make up 17% of San Fran. I think he is a small time politician who feared losing his job. I think he is selfish and short-sighted.

[cally]

5. Did you see the Newsom interview on ABC tonight

I was arguing with a family member about why there should be gay/lesbian marriage and that civil unions were not equal. On came Newsom who said that everyone deserves the same rights. Thirty years from now anyone who opposes GL marriages will be embarrassed. My family member looked at me and then said that he completely supports marriages now. Newsom arguments work for many folks.

[foreigncorrespondent]

13. I feel very sorry for you.

Newsom is a hero in the democratic ranks, and a hero amongst the gay community WORLD WIDE!

In case you didn't notice, but the SF marriages have been doing some bloody good. Did you hear about thew King of Cambodia? After seeing the marriages in SF he decided Cambodia needed to approve same sex marriages, so he went and did it.

While the marriages taking place in SF won't help Sappho and I get back together anytime soon, I still get bloody well choked up with every image I see of happy newly weds who happen to be gay.

Newsom is a hero, not someone who should be attacked by people with in his own party. He is one of the few democrats with real guts to stand up to the right wing and show them up for the bigots they truly are.

[karabekian]

17. an interesting thing about some conservatives along this line

they are against the gay marriage amendment because they do not want the constitution changed.

[theorist]

3. It will matter if the Republicans make it matter.

Many true conservatives will (by definition) take issue with a proposed Constitutional ammendment, and if there is no ammendment brought up, the uber-fundies will draft Roy Moore.

The one great thing that will come out of this debate is a long, ugly list of self-proclaimed bigots. I feel that anyone who argues against same sex marriage is attempting to rationalize bigotry. It is indefensible!

Also, does anyone have a problem with the term "activist judges"? What does Bush think the role of the judicial branch is? To just lie down and be an arm of the executive branch. Hmmmm....

[tobius]

4. Congressman Franks and Sen Boxer think that it will.

The Equal Protection Clause means that gay marriages will be found costitutional, there is no question on that point.

The concern is that during an election year Newsome's actions, Sandoval county's in NM,and other's no doubt, plus the Mass Supreme court ruling demanding action this year will make it an issue this year and this election cycle. This will help the call for a Constitutional Amendment to be galvanized now, rather than after the election.

edited to replace rangell w/ franks, wrong issue!

There are two ways to slide easily through life; to believe everything or to doubt everything. Both ways save us from thinking.
Alfred Korzybski (1879 - 1950)

[cally]

8. George Will wasn't sure

(I know but I find GW usually fairly honest in his opinions.) He stated that when Daly came out for Gay/Lesbian marriage that there is mainstream support for it. It may not be the divisive issue many think. Many of the polls show this. Most do not support Gay marriage but few plan to vote on this issue. Again, I just don't see voters in New Hampshire going to the polls to vote for the * because SF and Mass may allow gay marriage.

[rustydog]

6. It does NOT matter...But Bush* will make it an issue...

That way, we'll be debating gay marriage, not lies about WMD and 5 hundred plus dead and over 20 thousand wounded soldiers because of that lie.

[FloridaPat]

9. If the repubs set the tone of the election and the Democrats

let them get away with it, that's all we're hear. It usually takes years to pass an amendment, if ever. I'm still waiting for equal rights for women to pass.

This does not belong in the consititution. Just like buring the flag does not belong there. It's an issue they can bring up that most white men will back Bush because they seem to be afraid of gays. The Dems just better get their act together.

[K-W]

10. You are completely forgetting step 1

Step 1: Convince the nation that George Bush is a compassionate conservative and that there is really no major difference between him and the dem candidate. Both are pro education, both are pro enviroment, both are for fiscal responsibility. The dem candidate and his special interest groups trying to convince you otherwise are just the liberal elite trying to trick you.

Step 2: Prey on minor unimportant issues with emotional significance to get people to vote for you.

[girl gone mad]

11. It won't be the divisive or decisive issue that..

Republicans hope it will be. Even very conservative, pro-life members of my family do not have strong opinions about gay marriage.

Heteroseuals don't stand to lose anything if gay marriage is legalized, so I don't believe it's an issue that will drive them to the polls.

Personally, I blieve the momentum is on the side of gay rights. Gay advocates and conservatives alike have been warning of a backlash at least since Ellen came out, and that backlash has not materialized.

The backlash to feminism and civil rights was in large part due to the perception that white men were losing jobs to minorities and women and losing their status in society. Because gay marriage can't be percieved as a real and tangible threat to jobs, safety or status, I am not sure where the backlash would come from.

[mike1963]

12. Well, Wolfie Blitzer's poll today was interesting

"Should same-sex couples be allowed to marry?" (Not sure exact wording but that's close)...
74% yes
25% no

And he did give the results on air at the end. I think it's not a huge deal to most folk.

JMO
;-)

[arewethereyet]

14. of course it will

and its all negative for us no matter what we do.

Newsome has done a foolish thing.