Praise: Mark Dayton on Marriage in Minnesota

Minnesota politics are in flux following the infidelity of the leader of the State Senate, Amy Koch, which led to her resigning her leadership position a week ago.  This adds to uncertainty for the 2012 vote on an amendment to the Minnesota state constitution to limit marriage to opposite sex couples.  The polling had the state almost evenly divided even before Senator Koch, who led the fight to get the amendment onto the ballot, revealed her adultery to the state.

Governor Dayton gave an interview to Minnesota Public Radio just before Christmas, noting the blatant hypocrisy of Ms. Koch regarding the sanctity of marriage.

Dayton told MPR News that former GOP Senate Majority leader Amy Koch's "inappropriate relationship" with an unidentified Senate staffer makes it harder for Republicans to claim the moral high ground on the issue.

"The bible says, 'Before you take out the speck in your neighbor's eye, take the log out of your own eye.' My mother used to say, 'It the shoe fits, wear it," Dayton said. "If it's befitting for somebody whose own conduct doesn't measure up to what they're professing to believe in, or prescribing for others, then they should be called on that."

Mr. Dayton said that he is hoping that the Republican legislature will remove the amendment from the ballot.  Given national politics, it would be quite a surprise if the Republicans agree to do so.  Nonetheless, the Governor is quite correct on all counts.