What is silly is that we actually have to debate something as elementary as equal protection under the law for all residents. The passage of this bill is the right thing and the just thing.”
– NJ Senate President Steve Sweeney, on the floor of the State Senate earlier today speaking in favor of S1 (the gay marriage bill) prior to its 24-16 passage.
Sweeney’s zeal for gay rights is a recent development, Save Jerseyans. Very recent. He infamously abstained from voting on an identical bill just two years ago, after which he admitted that his no-vote was “purely based on political calculation.”
A remarkable admission! And a little “silly” to borrow the Senator’s own words, wouldn’t you agree?
Interestingly, he’s since opened a federal exploratory committee. That means the South Jersey Democrat from a socially-conservative district would need to win a much more liberal statewide or districtwide Democratic primary.
So clearly today’s YEA vote isn’t a political calculation…?
Right?
You accuse the Democrats of playing politics with gay rights. Have you been watching the GOP play politics with gay rights for the past 30 years? Stop being a whiner, Matt.
After watching your party politicize this issue, gorging itself on gay hate for decades, now it's come back to give y'all a little heartburn. That's not dems playing politics, it's karma.
Zero heartburn over here, Jay. I don't hate anyone based solely on how they're born. I'd suspect the vast majority of Democrats and Republicans share that in common. This is an emotional issue for you but I'd advise against falling back on gross generalizations. It's not constructive.
I think you know my views on this topic by now; I don't think government should have anything to do with marriage.
This particular post, however, is 100% an indictment of Senator Sweeney's credibility. Nothing else. As a vocal supporter of gay marriage, I can understand why you'd be happy that he's flip-flopped on the issue regardless of "why."
My "post is prologue" if you'll forgive a new take on an old, bad pun. Did he really have a change of heart? Or is he running for higher office and knows he can't win a Democrat primary without liberal support?
I'm troubled by a public official who openly admits to making decisions based ONLY on political calculations. You should, too, regardless of whether you agree with him on the substance.
Give'em hell, Rooney!
I got a calculation for ya, if you vote for a Rutgers-Rowan merger than you will lose any race you are in. Can you hear me NOrcross.
Senator Sweeney's proposal is much fiarer than Governor Christie's proposal. It is not fair to make state workers who ear $20,000 pay $7,000 more a year in health insurance.