Littwin: We should be embarrassed by New York vote

[w8liftinglady]

http://www.denverpost.com/commented/ci_18364639?source=commented-

The gay marriage vote in the New York legislature represents more than just a watershed moment in American politics and culture.

It's more than a stunning victory for human rights and, not incidentally, for New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (whose gay supporters are now being dubbed "Cuomosexuals").
The New York victory — which included passage in the Republican-controlled state Senate — was also slightly embarrassing for, well, us.

You know, us Coloradans, who have come so far on these issues since 1992 and the passage of the gay-bashing Amendment 2.
But it was just this year that a Colorado House committee, on a straight-party vote, killed a civil unions bill. The vote came despite polls that showed Coloradan support for gay civil unions hovering around 70 percent.

I wouldn't say 70 percent is overwhelming, but as Rep. Mark Ferrandino , one of the bill's co-sponsors put it, "It's hard to get 70 percent of people to agree that the sky is blue."
The state Senate, which is controlled by Democrats, had passed the bill, with support from three Republicans. The Republican votes weren't needed for passage, but the Republican Three voted for it anyway.

They voted their consciences, or maybe they just voted in the hope they'd never have to see a repeat of the committee hearing on the issue — from which the infamous viral video emerged of testimony about the, uh, proper entrance and exit portals for sex.
So, the Senate passed the bill. The governor was prepared to sign a bill. But politics still being politics, the bill died in the Republican-controlled House, although it almost certainly would have passed if it had been allowed to come to a full vote.

Yes, time had moved on. You didn't need a calendar to see that much. A stopwatch would do.

Way back in 2006, Colorado was one of many states to have voted for an amendment blocking gay marriage. It's not the kind of thing you usually put into any democratically-based constitution, an amendment that limits someone's rights.

[joeybee12]

1. Mike's one of the few good things about the Denver Post...knr

[stevenleser]

2. I met Andrew Cuomo at the beginning of his race for the Democratic nomination...

He was out in Central Park meeting people and was talking to anyone who would spend time with him. I could tell right away that he was the real deal. I am really happy to have supported him and proud to have him as my Governor and I hope he runs for President in 2016. I'll be the first to show up at a campaign office.

[Jim Lane]

3. Cuomo might not get much support from progressives in New York.

On fiscal policy, he's been following a straightforward Republican line -- denounce the unions, victimize the poor, etc.

OK, props on his leadership on marriage equality. Given his record, however, I have to wonder how much of that is genuine conviction, and how much is his cynical calculation that he can do something that will make the liberals "first to show up at a campaign office" while not offending the big-money boys who don't care about social issues as long as their economic interests are being looked after.

[Smarmie Doofus]

4. Essentially correct. Let's be honest before we start to pretend. nt