Sunday, November 23, 2003
‘Same-sex Benefits get voters’ blessing; most OK gay marriage’: How close is the public to accepting gay civil unions and ultimately gay marriages? Very close, according to this new Herald poll. ... Let the democratic and legislative process work -- and the rights will be more firmly entrenched within society than any court-imposed decision. ... Finneran and Romney’s plan for a constitutional amendment is going no where with these numbers.
... Can you imagine how divided the country would be today if the U.S. Supreme Court, rather than chipping away at the edges of the Civil Rights issue, ordered passage of the Civil Rights Act? The fact is the act was passed, after difficult debate, by elected representatives and now there’s no, zero, nadda debate about how it was imposed. Its passage is a source of pride, not contention. ....
.... Which brings me to Jeff Jacoby, who flat out opposes gay marriage, somehow trying to connect the gay marriage debate to partial-birth abortion. .... My reaction too: Huh? ... (In case you don’t/didn’t notice, there’s a blatant inaccuracy in Jeff’s lede: “Many people welcome the ruling -- but many more don't.” .... Hmmmm. ‘Many more don’t?’ That’s not what the Globe’s own poll says. ...)
Anyway, Hub Blog’s view on letting the democratic process work seems to mirror Jacoby’s view. But only on the surface. The difference is this: Roe v. Wade is still a contentious issue precisely because it was imposed by the courts. Even though poll after poll shows Americans favor the right to an abortion, anti-abortionists are still obsessed with that controversial ruling, holding out hope that what was imposed by the courts can be reversed by the courts via politicized judicial appointments. ... I think it was the pro-abortion Justice Ginsberg who expressed reservations about the Roe ruling, for the issue would be mute now if the democratic process had been allowed to play out. ...
Finally, here’s a free political tip for Democrats:
How much of the GOP’s support -- and donation base -- is composed of hard-core anti-abortionists who are still upset about Roe and who still think it can be reversed? ... Here’s the free tip: Make sure elected representatives are involved in shaping gay rights/marriage legislation, otherwise the issue will become a lightening rod for fanatics for decades to come. ... If I were a GOP consultant, I’d be praying for a court-imposed solution, for purely political reasons.... That’s also why I think Tom Reilly gets it: A court-imposed solution is bad politics for Dems.
... Can you imagine how divided the country would be today if the U.S. Supreme Court, rather than chipping away at the edges of the Civil Rights issue, ordered passage of the Civil Rights Act? The fact is the act was passed, after difficult debate, by elected representatives and now there’s no, zero, nadda debate about how it was imposed. Its passage is a source of pride, not contention. ....
.... Which brings me to Jeff Jacoby, who flat out opposes gay marriage, somehow trying to connect the gay marriage debate to partial-birth abortion. .... My reaction too: Huh? ... (In case you don’t/didn’t notice, there’s a blatant inaccuracy in Jeff’s lede: “Many people welcome the ruling -- but many more don't.” .... Hmmmm. ‘Many more don’t?’ That’s not what the Globe’s own poll says. ...)
Anyway, Hub Blog’s view on letting the democratic process work seems to mirror Jacoby’s view. But only on the surface. The difference is this: Roe v. Wade is still a contentious issue precisely because it was imposed by the courts. Even though poll after poll shows Americans favor the right to an abortion, anti-abortionists are still obsessed with that controversial ruling, holding out hope that what was imposed by the courts can be reversed by the courts via politicized judicial appointments. ... I think it was the pro-abortion Justice Ginsberg who expressed reservations about the Roe ruling, for the issue would be mute now if the democratic process had been allowed to play out. ...
Finally, here’s a free political tip for Democrats:
How much of the GOP’s support -- and donation base -- is composed of hard-core anti-abortionists who are still upset about Roe and who still think it can be reversed? ... Here’s the free tip: Make sure elected representatives are involved in shaping gay rights/marriage legislation, otherwise the issue will become a lightening rod for fanatics for decades to come. ... If I were a GOP consultant, I’d be praying for a court-imposed solution, for purely political reasons.... That’s also why I think Tom Reilly gets it: A court-imposed solution is bad politics for Dems.
