NY Daily News: Spitzer Promises to Introduce/Back Same-Sex Marriage Bill

[Maven]

I think it's gonna happen for NY, people. Even the Repukes quoted in the article make it seem like a foregone conclusion.

The defeat of same-sex marriage in court last week opened the door to an old-fashioned legislative brawl over the state's marriage laws.

And with the front-runner in the governor's race, Eliot Spitzer, promising to introduce and back gay marriage legislation, advocates on both sides of the issue say New York could become the first state in the nation to enact gay marriage through its Legislature.

"This is New York, not Kansas," said Assemblyman Dick Gottfried. "I don't know if this is going to pass next year or in a few years, but it's inevitable."

Same-sex marriage backers are putting pressure on Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and, particularly, the openly gay members of his caucus to move the bill to the front burner of the tightly controlled Legislature.

...

In a sign of shifting public opinion, Republicans seem to see little political advantage in pressing their opposition to gay marriage. John Faso, the Republican nominee for governor, praised the court's ruling, but has not attacked Spitzer's support for same-sex marriage. Advisers say Faso's not planning to campaign on the issue.

...

Meanwhile, power is flowing almost visibly from the state Republicans to Democrats, and with it money. While the state GOP expects to report raising about $750,000 in the first half of this year, the state Democrats' top fund-raiser, Assemblyman Mike Gianaris, said the party will report raising more than $1.7 million — more than it raised in all of last year.

Full article here

[saltpoint]

1. Good for Spitzer. I don't think any straight folks in the Empire State

will be grievously undermined in their marriages and relationships if lesbian and gay folks in the Empire State also are allowed the same privileges.

Plus, Spitzer is going to win almost unanimously. Landslide blue in New York this fall.

[aquart]

2. I knew I liked him.

I LOVE that he's spitting the Republicans right in the eye by taking it on as an issue.

I don't wanna think how many Democrats don't have the guts to do that. Funny, I accepted him as my candidate without really thinking about it. Now, suddenly, I'm interested.

[closeupready]

5. That's called "inspiring the base", and

it's something most dems today have forgotten how to do.

Go Spitzer! :)

[Ian David]

3. My proposal for a "Protection of Marriage Amendment"...

Define marriage as "A state-regulated civil union, between two consenting, adult, human beings, no more closely related than second-cousins, neither of whom are married to anyone else, committed to the idea of forming a life-long, loving, bond to care for one another and for their family."

[sui generis]

4. we like to say there's more "important" business at hand

but the truth is that marriage equality is a defining test of what America means. Equality, equal protection, and the right to privacy are critical to defining us as a nation of free individuals.

Bigotry is bad enough when based on skin color, but when you base it on an invisible abstract, it's downright dangerous, to everyone.

[GodlessBiker]

6. Oh, please, let this happen. It's really amazing.