Thank you, Steve Sweeney

Sweeney Urges Christie to Support Marriage Equality (4.00 / 1)

In an exclusive interview this morning with Blue Jersey, Senate President Stephen Sweeney urged Governor Christie to sign the proposed marriage equality bill when it's sent to his desk. Pointing out that both he and the governor are both Catholics, Sweeney emphasized that the proposed bill has sufficient religious exemptions and that this is a civil rights issue, not a religious one.

The entire interview with Senators Sweeney and Weinberg will be posted on Blue Jersey this evening.

Blog: http://www.deciminyan.org

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by: deciminyan @ Mon Jan 09, 2012 at 16:22:25 PM UTC

Be afraid, Steven (0.00 / 0)

Be very afraid.  I have my feelings about the timing of this vis a vis Sweeney's statewide ambitions and Christie's national ambitions, but for the same reason that I will never trust Ray Lesniak despite his good work on marriage equality, I will never trust Sweeney or anyone else associated with George Norcross no matter what you say or they do.

That said, I am very happy that this is taking place.  It will be great to have all 120 members of the state legislature on the record going into 2013.  Who knows?  Maybe a miracle will happen and you will get enough votes to override Christie's veto.  You will never know unless you try.  Go for it and best of luck!  Let us know what we can do to help.

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by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Mon Jan 09, 2012 at 19:15:22 PM UTC

I also want to... (0.00 / 0)

...give Steven credit for having a superhuman capacity for forgiveness.  It is what makes him one of the most (if not the most) effective progressive leaders in our state.  In this respect, he is a far better person than me, who almost never forgets or forgives.

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by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Mon Jan 09, 2012 at 19:43:28 PM UTC

Sweeney's flip flop (0.00 / 0)

on this is just a "lame attempt "to get back into the good graces of the progressives ...He knows all too well Christie will never sign this bill he has already said so . Sweeney had the chance when Corzine was Gov but he lacked the backbone to support it ...it's pitiful  

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by: True Sue @ Mon Jan 09, 2012 at 20:53:51 PM UTC

Sweeney recognized his big mistake (4.00 / 1)

When I had spoken with him about his "non vote" in the summer of 2010, perhaps 6 months after the vote. I think he clearly realized that a leader doesn't "punt" when he doesn't have to do so. Perhaps he is just growing into his job.

Better late than never.

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

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by: Babs NJSD @ Mon Jan 09, 2012 at 21:16:14 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

LOL ! HAS THIS BECOME A SWEENEY WEBSITE! (0.00 / 0)

I am feeling the " love" through the computer screen!

But seriously speaking ,what those who are still open minded are seeing is a leader who is willing to listen and change if what he hears makes sense.

The Senate President is not so full of himself that he cannot learn from others.

I ask that many of you reevaluate and begin to judge a person on the content of what he tries to accomplish and what he tries to learn.

Sweeney will deliver ME.

Steven Goldsein never gave up and he took the time to educate a leader who was willing to listen.

The Elitist minority on this site have been proven wrong again!  

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by: firstamend07 @ Mon Jan 09, 2012 at 22:19:10 PM UTC

only time will tell (0.00 / 0)

Now is not the time for a victory lap from the likes of you.  If Sweeney can somehow pull off a vertoproof majority, I will be impressed, but until then, I will have to be satisfied with finally getting all 120 legislators in the state on the record.

This does not change the fact that Sweeney was personally responsible for scuttling ME the first time around.  Just because Steven has a superhuman capacity for forgiveness doesn't mean that anybody else has to.

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by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Mon Jan 09, 2012 at 23:24:21 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Elitist BL full of BS (1.00 / 1)

" the likes of me" .LOL

Another " caviar comment" from the #1 Elitist on this site.

It is killing elitists  like you that the State Senator is helping on this issue.

You see, the difference between elitists like yourself and honest people like the State Senator is that honest people listen, sometimes change their minds through listening, and are man/woman enough to admit they are not bigger than the issue.

I really do feel sorry for  small minded elitists like yourself.

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by: firstamend07 @ Tue Jan 10, 2012 at 00:59:11 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

He should have listened... (0.00 / 0)

...when it would have done the marriage equality effort some good.  Now, he has to produce a vetoproof majority that will override Christie's veto.

Otherwise, all that this does is put the entire legislature on the record for 2013, which is a good thing, but not as good as winning marriage equality.

You are such a phony.  You never cared about this issue when Sweeney was on the wrong side of it and you don't care about it now that he is moving it forward.  It is just another opportunity for you to peddle your Norcross machine nonsense.

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by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Tue Jan 10, 2012 at 01:09:21 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Christie cannot (0.00 / 0)

sign an ME bill, while campaigning with Romney. Ain't gonna happen.

As scarce as truth is, the supply has always been in excess of the demand.

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by: Jersey Shore John @ Mon Jan 09, 2012 at 23:17:19 PM UTC

Agreed re two-dimensional comment (4.00 / 1)

I think too often we see our elected officials as less real people than they actually are - and that it's always a mix of political and personal calculation, for both good and bad. I wish this had happened two years ago, but still I am elated to see Sen. Sweeney's movement on marriage equality and congratulate Steven, Babs, and everyone else for their leadership in keeping at it, which is a good reminder of what all of us GSE members get for our dues every year.

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by: the_promised_land @ Mon Jan 09, 2012 at 23:37:09 PM UTC