You want political courage. Read this article. Watch this video.

[rinsd]

Thursday September 20, 2007 13:56 EST
The courage of Mayor Jerry Sanders

This is the way necessary social change happens. It starts out unthinkable, and then one day it's inevitable.

I'm not going to spend much time describing San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders' statement about why he changed his mind and supports gay marriage. Watch the video, below. (Don't watch it if you can't afford to have a good cry this afternoon.) Sanders, a Republican, explains that he planned to veto a City Council resolution supporting efforts to overturn California's ban on gay marriage, but he changed his mind when the resolution reached his desk. Things get dramatic at about 1:55 in the video:

"The arrival of the resolution to sign or veto in my office late last night -- please excuse us -- forced me to reflect and search my soul for the right thing to do. I've decided to lead with my heart, which is probably obvious at the moment, to do what I think is right and to take a stand on behalf of equality and social justice."

He tells reporters that his daughter Lisa and members of his staff are gay, and explains: "In the end, I could not look any of them in the face and tell them that their relationships -- their very lives -- were any less meaningful than the marriage that I share with my wife, Rana," Sanders said.

http://www.salon.com/opinion/walsh/politics/2007/09/20/jerry_sanders_video/index.html

He is still a Republican in far too many ways but today I was very proud of him.

[rusty quoin]

1. A conservative with conscience.

[goodgd_yall]

2. Clinton, Obama, Edwards and the rest should take this guy's lead

Granted, it would probably lose each one of them votes and isn't the politically expedient thing to do. And Sanders' change of heart may not lose him (many?)votes. But it certainly is inspiring to see a political figure jump off the ledge for the sake of conscience.