Spitzer in Debate w/ Suozzi: "This [same-sex marriage] is about equality"

[Maven]

The debate, which was carried by NY1 and other cable stations statewide, was seen by political analysts as a make-or-break moment for Mr. Suozzi, who has been lagging far behind Mr. Spitzer in public opinion polls and fund-raising. Mr. Spitzer agreed to just this one debate, and it was held seven weeks before the Sept. 12 Democratic primary, at a time when many voters have yet to focus on the race.
...
During the debate, the two Democrats did concur on a few matters: They opposed a timetable to withdraw troops from Iraq, confirmed that each had smoked marijuana before, and had no problem with allowing children to have cellphones in schools.

...
Yet Mr. Suozzi did some parsing of his own. He said his opposition to gay marriage had “a lot to do with semantics,” explaining that he supported giving the same rights to gay couples that married couples have — yet, as a Catholic, he saw marriage as a sacrament for a man and a woman.

Mr. Spitzer said that answer was not acceptable. “Semantics is not what this is about — this is about equality,” he said. more...

You know what you can do with your semantics, Mr. Suozzi.

[saltpoint]

1. Point to Mr. Spitzer.

The Republican Party is competing in the Snowball-in-Hell Division of this race for NY Governor.

Get ready for that landslide Spitzer victory party VERY early in the evening on Nov. 7th.

It will take longer to pour a glass of champaigne at Spitzer's victory party than it will for the Associated Press to project him the winner by landslide proportions.

[Nite Owl]

2. Souizzi lagging behind?

Bit of an understatement, he has a 69 point lead.

I saw most of the debate and came away very happy that I live in New York.

[sabbat hunter]

3. i agree with suozzi

that marriage is a religious ceremony.

that all couples who want to be together in the eyes of the law should get a civil union. that civil union will give all couples equal rights. if a couple then wants to get a relgious marriage on top of that, it would be up to the couple and what ever church/temple, etc they belong to.

[Maven]

7. Unfortunately, that won't fly.

As I've explained at other points in the past, "marriage" is a perfectly legal term. The word "marriage" is used in countless statutes and decisions at both the state and federal levels. We can't change the language now just to satisfy these "ideal world" scenarios. If you'd like to refer to it as "civil marriage," that's fine. But it's marriage, just the same.

[zalinda]

4. The only thing that could hurt Spitzer

was the fast question and answer about medical marijuana.......should it be legal and he said no.

zalinda

[Maven]

10. Yeah, I didn't get that either

Especially since they both admitted to having smoked marijuana recreationally.

[mtnsnake]

5. IMO, Eliot Spitzer might just be the future hope of the Democratic Party

This is just one example why.

Unless something happens to come up that derails his momentum, I can see this guy as a future president. He's smart, personable, and tough as nails.

[AX10]

6. I will not support Suouzzi for any public office.

If he is beholden to the same Catholic Church that raped children and then endorsed Bush, I will not support him for anything.

[sabbat hunter]

8. so you wont vote for

any catholics?

not a very progressive viewpoint if you ask me.

JFK was a catholic, was he beholden to the church?

was john kerry?

[newburgh]

9. It's a shame there's not another candidate with some more support

These pre-determined races are the same as monopolies. No reason for debate, the potential winner driving the dialog. It's unfortunate here that Suozzi doesn't understand the basic premise that bringing some consideration of religious beliefs into a discourse about public office muddies any of his possibly better positions on other issues.
I've been impressed with Mr. Spitzer's indictments in the trading industry, but from someone who is active on a local level, he's done nothing to aggressively attack the culture of corruption that goes on in our local communities in spite of tireless requests. Stopping in our community on a campaign tour he promised more money towards small city development- a clueless remark, especially in our city, in light of the fact that any additional money would end up in the hands of nefarious characters instead of for the good of the community.