Maryland Democratic Leader -- You and I are "idiots"

[Brian_Expat]

"The far left is playing into the hands of the far right. They’re idiots."

Maryland Senate President Mike Miller, a Democrat, on the nine gay couples who sued challenging the state’s ban on same-sex marriage (Baltimore Sun, Jan. 21)

With "friends" like these. . .

[gator_in_Ontario]

1. With "idiots" like us

who needs morons? I'm not following the honorable senator's logic....

[RaleighNCDUer]

2. What makes him think the couples are "far left"?

He's never heard of Log Cabin Republicans?

It's a rights issue, not a left/right issue.

[marylanddem]

3. Miller is slime

always has been and always will be.

[freestyle]

13. Slime from a poorly functioning sewage treatment plant.

Miller is easily the sleaziest, slimiest person in Maryland politics. He alwyas has been, and always will be. His record of bigotry is well documented. Unfortunately, his sleaze goes so deep that the other Democrats in the Maryland Senate don't remove him from leadership. Pay little attention to this fool. Oddly enough, in the process of settling some scores a few years ago, Miller changed the makeup of the Judicial Proceedings Committee in such a way that enabled the anti-discrimination bill to make it out and become law.

[xchrom]

4. that would mr gay tax-paying, hard working,

at risk for discrimination, can't visit my partner in the hospital, can't properly inherit, idiot to you, bub.

[TaleWgnDg]

5. Well, not quite, Brian_Expat. You see, I can empathize with

Well, not quite, Brian_Expat. You see, I empathize with Maryland Senate President Mike Miller's (Democrat) political position because same-sex marriage is a divisive, emotional, polemic issue. However, his use of language and his demonizing leaves a hell of a lot to be desired.

Yes, the issue is divisive! Yes, it may bring about Democrats being targeted who champion GLBT rights. So goes minority issues. Politicians hate divisive issues! Hate 'em. They see votes evaporate. Loss of power.

On the other hand, does Miller think that GLBT couples should wait until this religion-into-law far right cyclical swing of America is over? Perhaps, wait until saner times to bring up civil rights? Constitutional rights? Rights that impact GLBTs, their families including their own children and their children's children and on down the line? How long should this wait be? How many more lives will no legal protections impact?

Frankly, I said I empathize w/ Miller; however, someone in the Maryland legislature, or elsewhere, should set Miller on a more even keel as to a reasoned ability to weigh and ponder what and why he is a public servant to all the residents of Maryland.

Anyone want to pen a letter, email to Miller reminding him about minority rights? Here's you go:

http://www.mdarchives.state.md.us/msa/mdmanual/05sen/html/msa01619.html

BTW, here's the story at:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-te.md.politics21jan21,1,5208594.story?coll=bal-home- ("Ruling could have impact on fall elections in Maryland," by David Nitkin, Baltimore Sun, originally published, January 21, 2006)

See also: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=221&topic_id=25468&mesg_id=25526 . . . and . . . http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=221x25468
.
.

[carl_pwccaman]

6. At the risk of strategy....

It is a bit difficult to sort things out, though...

Just when is the ideal time, and what is the ideal way, strategically, to move ahead, and to move ahead on other important issues as well, and to assist one's allies in solidarity?

It isn't idiotic to sue if one is under a financial burden because of a law that is applied unequally to different citizens, but it can be imprudent, strategically, couldn't it?

Hospital visitation and tax laws on inheritance, for example, could be tackled immediately, as of higher priority than a license for marriage. Perhaps strategically that would be better. Perhaps not. The effect of controversy is to force an issue. It can work well, or it can backfire, it can take some time.

Without demonizing those who see strategic issues differently, I think we can disagree.

[Brian_Expat]

7. Miller is a pussy

If he cannot assemble a case for equality under the law in a state where his registered voters outnumber the opposition 2:1, then he deserves to lose. Plain and simple.

[dsc]

8. No they don't

Democrats outnumber Republicans but you are forgetting about the rest of the electorate. I admit to having no idea how many non or third partisan members of the electorate are in MD but some certainly are.

[Brian_Expat]

9. The point is that the Democrats are willing to bend over to the GOP

Even when they have a substantive advantage. Some "allies."

[dsc]

10. they may be bending to their electorate

which is my point. Unless we know what the rest of the state is, we have no idea who has an advantage.

[Brian_Expat]

11. If they're bending to their electorate, then they should drop the pretense

that they're "on our side."

I'm tired of coy bullshit politics.

I'm tired of the fact that Democrats have more political capital to sign DOMAs and anti-gay laws than in fighting the Republicans.

With an opposition party like this, who needs the GOP?

Maybe we should just let the Dems complete their death spiral and support a party which is going to form some sort of opposition to the Republican agenda, and which we can count on to at least put up a token fight on such key issues.

[dsc]

14. they aren't the opposition party in MD

But if you think any political party is going to stand up for minority rights on a consistent basis I think you fundamentally misunderstand how Democracy tends to work. We will win the marriage issue in court not in a legislature. That is how it happened in every place it did except Spain.

[readmoreoften]

12. I'm an idiot. Fine.

Idiots have free reign to slap people and spit on them. We don't know any better.