Opposition To Civil Rights=Bigotry

by: Nick Lento

Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 12:12:27 PM EST

People back then also used quasi-religious rationales....but it always boils down to an irrational fear and loathing of "the other" i.e. bigotry.    

Even the elected officials who may not themselves be bigots, but will still vote against equality under the law, are voting that way because they are afraid of losing the votes of bigots.

Yesterday's NY vote made it very clear as only ONE of the no votes had the guts to speak out on the floor (and that was a "Reverend")....all the rest voted in silent shame.

Bigots have to be named and shamed.....I DO NOT believe that the majority of my fellow New Jerseyans are bigots......that's why this issue is an eventual winner both morally and politically.

As an older straight person I know just how much attitudes have changed in this state over the last 45 years, it's dramatic.....if marriage equality is not passed in this session it needs to become a major plank in the state Democratic party platform (which we need to develop) and it needs to be one of the chief VOTING issues upon which progressive primary challengers seek to unseat incumbents who are stuck in the toxic "mud" of the status quo.....and that toxicity includes way more than the tendency to appeal to the bigot vote on this one issue......but it's all related.

The same type of person who is afraid to offend bigots is also more likely to want to keep the pay to play machine politics as is. It's all connected, and it's a matter of values. New Jersey voters really are eager to throw the BUMS out......we progressives just have to have the guts to run for office and to call out the bums and to keep a bright spotlight on them.

Marriage equality needs to come to a vote, if only to publicly "out" those who would dare to vote on the side of ignorance, fear, intolerance and, yes, bigotry