FollowUp 1: NJ Democrats Call for Marriage Equality

The fight is on.  New Jersey Governor responded to the state Democrats placing marriage equality as their first order of business by insulating himself against attacks of bigotry.  He did so by appointing the first Black, Gay justice to the New Jersey Supreme Court.

Gov. Chris Christie nominated Bruce Harris to the state Supreme Court as an associate judge just weeks after he was sworn in as the Mayor of Chatham Borough on Jan. 3.

Along with Harris, an African-American Republican, Christie nominated Phil Kwon, a Korean-American assistant attorney general. Should these nominations pass the confirmation hearing process, Harris would be the first openly gay and Kwon the first Asian-American to serve on the highest court of the state.

Having effectively limited the types of attacks from the left, Mr. Christie renewed his statement that he would veto any marriage equality bill.



As Senator Loretta Weinberg says in the below video, we do not put civil rights questions on the ballot.

All, too, will bear in mind this sacred principle, that though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will to be rightful must be reasonable; that the minority possess their equal rights, which equal law must protect, and to violate would be oppression.

Thomas Jefferson, First Inaugural Address, March 4, 1801

By a faction, I understand a number of citizens, whether amounting to a majority or a minority of the whole, who are united and actuated by some common impulse of passion, or of interest, adversed to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent and aggregate interests of the community....
To secure the public good and private rights against the danger of such a faction, and at the same time to preserve the spirit and the form of popular government, is then the great object to which our inquiries are directed.

 James Madison, Federalist No. 10 (1787-11-22)

And now the Democrats of the New Jersey Senate respond.



Thanks to Joe My God for the heads up.

9 January 2012, Original Pedantic Political Ponderings post.

26 January 2012, FollowUp 2.

28 January 2012, FollowUp 3.

30 January 2012, FollowUp 4.

31 January 2012, FollowUp 5.

3 February 2012, FollowUp 6.

10 February 2012, FollowUp 7.

13 February 2012, FollowUp 8.

18 February 2012, FollowUp 9.

21 February 2012, FollowUp 10.