Stalled

For the people who are always the first to send some other people's children off to fight wars for "freedom" against "terrorism," I'm repeatedly finding Republicans among the most artfully spineless politicians I've ever seen. Last week, the New York State Assembly passed gay marriage in a land-slide vote, which they've now done four times. Unlike a few months ago, legal gay marriage is one vote away from passing the Senate. Unfortunately, all the votes left are Republicans' & so, one week after the Assembly's vote, gays still can't get married.

This NYTimes article lays out the four familiar reasons why Republicans are stalling on this (& other issues) & here's why they're all bs:

1. "Some of the Republicans are morally opposed to same-sex marriage" - Great. Don't get one. Don't attend any. Keep your morals in your church & I'll keep my gay marriage in my bedroom.

2 & 3. "Some are open to it but concerned about the political implications for themselves and their party" & "Some argue that the issue should be decided by popular referendum, not legislation" - read: "I am spineless."

4. "Some say they are worried about the repercussions for socially conservative religious organizations" - this argument the one that has been the most frustrating because, on the surface, it seems the most legitimate. It's not:

I don't know what the rules on religious adoption agencies are (Catholics the group most frequently cited as potential "victims"), but if a religious group is allowed to deny adopting children to gay couples, they should be required to deny all other families that don't suit their particular religious tenets. These groups should have to take marriage on the state's broad terms or their own narrow ones & be expected to stick to that. Thus, I'm officially throwing the furrowed brow & "I'm just worried about religious rights" in the "how to avoid standing for principles while looking like I'm standing for principles" tool-box. I'm over it.

New York Senate, please take this chance to stand up for New Yorkers.

Momohu A'lam [MdG]