Heavyweight Fight

I'm not much for how people "feel." Thats what Compassionate Conservatism has never appealed to me. Its also why religion has no place in politics. Jesus makes everyone too touchy feely. If you don't like something, bitch about it at your pancake breakfast.

I incorrectly called Prop 1 in Maine, but Maine has incorrectly chossen a side of history. Like Alabama before it, hopping on the supressive side of liberty never fares well for a national reputation and as a New Englander, this is gravely disappointing.

Its not disappointing because gay people want to love each other. Its not disappointing because as a society we're saying thats wrong. As I say, I don't really care much for how people feel emotionally. Its disappointing because equal protection under the law (the 14th amendment...of the U.S. Constitution) is being spit on.

No state shall ... deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

Either you're an American, and you get the rights, or you don't get the rights. Its fair to say that in many cases - there is no equal protection under the law.

Let's be direct about this - the 14th doesn't allow gay marriage. If you want to deny marriage to homosexual couples feel free, but you then must deny rights to all marriage couples. That is after all equal.

So why aren't the pro-equality forces playing hardball? Why aren't we calling out the Maine folks for being as hateful as segregationalist southerns 50 years back? Why aren't we making the claim that they have garner themselves and this nation with a black mark?

As MLK once said "all we say to America is be true to what ya said on paper. If I lived in China, or even Russia or any totalitarian country maybe I could understand...[denial of right] (the rights denied in each situation are different)...because they haven't committed themselves to that over there. but somewhere I read about the Freedom of Assembly, somewhere I read about the Freedom of Speech, somewhere I read about the Freedom of Press, somewhere I read that the "greatness of America is the right to protest the right."

Some of those are directly appopriate (obviously) but the spirit of his message is exactly on point. If the Constitution means something, then this will not stand. Maine has decided today that the American Constitution doesn't work for them, and they've denied it. I hope the pro-equality forces will keep in mind the next portion of that final speech as they carry on..."And just as I say we aren't gunna let any Dogs or Firehoses turn us around, we aren't gunna let any In-junction turn us around."

The man gave that speech with a fever and stomach pains. The things he spoke out against were vicious and vulgar. Our fight is cleaner, but our want should be no less. The civility of this nation has come along way. We can't give up on its founding documents now just because no ones being picked off in the street. Pro-equality forces had better start sharpening their elbows and learn a thing or two about hardball because if you play clean in politics you're just waiting for someone to come do your work for you.

Follow Up:

And this is exactly what I'm talking about. As taken from the website of the National Organization for Marriage.

"Language to avoid at all costs: "Ban same-sex marriage." Our base loves this wording. So do supporters of SSM. They know it causes us to lose about ten percentage points in polls. Don’t use it. Say we’re against “redefining marriage” or in favor or “marriage as the union of husband and wife” NEVER “banning same-sex marriage.”"

Click the link, read the "talking points." They know they can't call what they are asking for by its true function because they loose votes.