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Let me be a Lover, not a Fighter

by: Jeff Gardner

Mon Nov 16, 2009 at 09:40:31 AM EST

I'd rather be doing just about anything else right now besides fighting for the freedom to marry in New Jersey. I should be relaxing on my day off. Or training for next year's marathon. Or debating Bill Belichick's 4th Down call last night. I've got Christmas shopping to start.

But, I don't have time for any of those things. Why? Because I'm still fighting for equality.

And, one of the more frustrating things about this fight is the misinformation that gets spread about the political ramifications of taking action - that somehow voting for equality could be risky. In fact, the opposite is true - voting against equality is the real risk.

Let's be clear: pro-equality incumbents are reelected at a higher rate than anti-equality incumbents.

And, if history is any guide - and the marriage battle in Massachusetts is now, mercifully, history - anti-equality Democrats from solidly Democratic districts get primaried and lose. Just ask 20-year incumbent loser Marie Parente:

Outspoken state Representative Marie Parente of Milford, one of Beacon Hill's most conservative voices for more than 20 years, was defeated yesterday in her bid for another term. She was the only incumbent legislator to lose a primary fight.

Or, ask 16-year incumbent loser Vincent Ciampa

Sciortino was first elected to the house in 2004, defeating sixteen-year incumbent Democrat Vincent Ciampa in a bitter contest. The 34th Middlesex district is heavily Democratic and the primary election [wa]s the key contest.... Ciampa, an opponent of same-sex marriage, faced Sciortino, who is openly gay.

For a long while now, primaries have been a rarity in the New Jersey Democratic party. Progressives have often looked the other way when it comes to less-progressive democratic incumbents. The theory had always been that securing democratic majorities was good enough to secure progressive results.

But, every time I read about a New Jersey Democratic legislator who is on the fence on the issue of marriage equality - a core Democratic issue which enjoys the overwhelming support of New Jersey democratic voters - it makes me wonder: Do these incumbents really want to fight?

Jeff Gardner :: Let me be a Lover, not a Fighter

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Let me be a Lover, not a Fighter | 6 comments

Great use of... wait. What is that thing called? (4.00 / 2)

Oh yes: reality!

Do I know a lot of people who would be opposed to marriage equality? Yup.

OK, but do I know a lot of people who would vote on such a basis? Especially with what is happening in the state/country/world? Nope!

Now do I know a lot of people who support marriage equality and would vote in accordance? Absolutely, I do!

Case closed. Get off your hands, New Jersey state legislature. (I'm looking at you Chairman Sarlo.)

Let my pal Jeff get married.

by: JRB @ Mon Nov 16, 2009 at 18:53:34 PM UTC

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Primaries. (4.00 / 2)

Any Democrat (in a safe Democratic district, which is pretty much all of them outside of a few in South Jersey) in the Assembly of State Senate who blocks this bill (I am talking to you Senator Sarlo) is asking for a primary.

Joe Ferriero is going to jail Senator - you better engage the progressive wing of the party or get ready to defend your seat.

by: Matthew Jordan @ Mon Nov 16, 2009 at 18:56:01 PM UTC

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Let me be a Lover, not a Fighter (4.00 / 1)

You are so right, Jeff, on so many fronts. The legislators who are waffling on or opposed to this are simply out of touch, both with mainstream opinion and with the political realities.

by: lucyobrien @ Mon Nov 16, 2009 at 19:05:05 PM UTC

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my guesses (once again) on the Judiciary Committee (0.00 / 0)

I am going to post these as part of every conversation on marriage equality that I see so that everyone can see what we are talking about.

Sarlo, Paul A. - Chair (No)

Girgenti, John A. - Vice Chair (Yes, because Jeff Gardner will never forgive him if he votes No)

Baroni, Bill (Yes, because I want to believe that he is as decent as he seems)

Bateman, Christopher (No)

Beck, Jennifer (Yes, see Baroni)

Cardinale, Gerald (HELL NO)

Gill, Nia H. (Yes)

Kyrillos, Joseph M. (No)

Lesniak, Raymond J. (Yes)

Scutari, Nicholas P. (Yes, because if he doesn't, he had better get Dunellen and Plainfield removed from his district by 2011)

Smith, Bob (Yes, see Girgenti)

Stack, Brian P. (Yes)

Weinberg, Loretta (HELL YES)

The only change that I have made to my guesses is assigning Sarlo a firm No vote. With Baroni and Beck, we win 9-4. Without them, we win 7-6.

Does anybody have any reason to believe that any of the Democrats other than Loretta Weinberg to whom I have assigned a Yes vote are a lock? Are there any Republicans to whom I have assigned a NO vote on the fence?

by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Mon Nov 16, 2009 at 19:48:13 PM UTC

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Scutari- Yes (4.00 / 1)

He was outspoken in his criticism of the Civil union bill as being second class when he voted for CU.

"Discrimination caused by ignorance and fear is a tax on human progress" - Barbra Casbar Siperstein

by: Babs NJSD @ Tue Nov 17, 2009 at 05:32:36 AM UTC

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