Garden State Equality Angry Over Angelini’s Gay Marriage Absence

I love this story, Save Jerseyans.

According to our friends at MoreMonmouthMusings.net, the “Garden State Equality” (GSE) organization is apologizing to its members for having endorsed Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini (R-Monmouth) in last November’s election. 

Why, you ask? Apparently hurt feeling arose following her absence from last week’s gay marriage vote. Reportedly, GSE’s leader met with Angelini beforehand in an attempt to persuade her to shorten a planned Jamaican vacation for her 25th wedding anniversary (irony alert?). Allegedly she refused. The legislation passed without her, but GSE flunkies who were counting on her support felt thoroughly and utterly betrayed notwithstanding the non-prejudicial effect of her absence.

You can read the email here at MMM.

I’ve been a strong proponent of legislators… gasp! … taking a position on this issue one way or the other, folks. Sweeney was a coward to abstain the first time around; we pay them to make decisions, however difficult, and that’s what they should do. Period, end or sentence. Every legislator should’ve taken a stand and voted on this bill.

I’m also amused because who cares at the end of the day? I get it: they wanted her support. But the damn thing was never going to survive a veto to begin with. Why shouldn’t Mary Pat enjoy her anniversary? It’s very amusing to see the level of anger at Angelini simply for being able to count and saying “the hell with it, I’m going to go work on my tan before Memorial Day.” And why would GSE want to tick her off in advance of the next inevitable vote, probably at the beginning of the next legislative session?

And one final question: did Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo (D-Mercer) earn a similar rebuke from MMM. He was undecided and, according to published reports, took a vacation during the big vote just like Angelini.

Or are Democrats allowed to flake out even when Republicans can’t?

 

Matt Rooney
About Matt Rooney 8403 Articles
MATT ROONEY is SaveJersey.com's founder and editor-in-chief, a practicing New Jersey attorney, and the host of 'The Matt Rooney Show' on 1210 WPHT every Sunday evening from 7-10PM EST.

3 Comments

  1. Count my among the "flunkies" who feel betrayed.

    to be honest, i'm surprised at you conservatives for your misplaced anger over this issue. on the one hand FOUR legislators didn't even bother to show up. Democrat D'angelo was in Dublin (per his Facebook postings) with family, Republicans Angelini and O'Scanlon were in the tropics and at a wedding, respectively. And newbie Holly Schepisi was busy missing her first vote as an assemblywoman because (get this?) she had a "work commitment."

    Given the bipartisan nature of "ducking a vote" i wonder why you guys keep hammering gay people.

    If you don't support our right to marry, then that's on you. It's also a bit part of why the GOP is having a hard time connecting with young people. But don't begrudge us our collective disappointment at a veto on our families.

  2. garden state equality represents all gay people? like how the naacp speaks for all african americans?

    stop grouping everyone together dude.

  3. Im going to have to agree with Jay on this one. I would be pissed too if my organization endorsed someone based on their promise to vote on a specific piece of legislation and they when it came time they did not show up.

    Of course, she probably had her vacation planned well in advance of this vote being set for a specific date. I see her side of it, but I think GSE has a right to be unhappy.

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