A collection of political thoughts and responses to political statements in the news and on the web. Progressive politics, LGBTQ politics, environmental politics, &c.
Twenty-two Democrats were joined by two Republicans in the New Jersey Senate to pass marriage equality. The vote was 24 - 16.
Two republicans, Sen. Jennifer Beck (R-Monmouth) and Sen. Diane Allen (R-Burlington) voted yes on the bill.
“We have some among us who are separate and not equal,” Beck said.
The bills passage elicited a round of applause from those in the audience wearing blue in support of the bill, which Gov. Chris Christie has promised to veto. Sen. Ray Lesniak (D-Union), a co-sponsor, raised his arm in victory and said “Yes!”
Two Democrats, Sen. Ronald Rice (D-Essex) and Sen. Jeff Van Drew (D-Cape May), voted no.
The 24 votes in favor of the bill leaves supporters three votes short of the 27 votes they would need to override Christie’s veto.
Marriage equality will be considered by the New Jersey Assembly on Thursday.
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.
