« Go back a post || Return to G-A-Y homepage || Haul tail to next post »
01/20/2010
Gavin and equality: He knew some, was treated like he knew little
With Gavin Newsom's prospects for higher office looking virtually nonexistent (by his own admission and seeming contentment), the pro-equality mayor is speaking to Maureen Dowd about those in his own party who've helped keep equal rights down by choosing to view the San Francisco mayor's own principled actions as "controversial" rather than simply fair.
On his pre-marriage placement on a Democratic party shortlist, and his post-marriage shift into persona non grata-dom:
“There were five of us,” he said, with a teasing nostalgia. “A guy named Obama. I’m like ‘Why is he in here? This is ridiculous. I mean, he’s a state senator. I’m kind of insulted.’ Life was really good, and then it came crashing down. ‘You’re not going to be speaking at the convention. We overbooked.’ And then it becomes the house of cards with the Democrats excusing themselves from visits to this city and being in the same room with me."
And on that guy who he once questioned yet who he now calls Mr. President:
"I want him to succeed. But I am very upset by what he’s not done in terms of rights of gays and lesbians. I understand it tactically in a campaign, but at this point I don’t know. There is some belief that he actually doesn’t believe in same-sex marriage. But it’s fundamentally inexcusable for a member of the Democratic Party to stand on the principle that separate is now equal, but only on the basis of sexual orientation. We’ve always fought for the rights of minorities and against the whims of majorities.”
So the basic message: Put party before principle, pubic opinion polling before constitutional fairness, and supposedly pragmatic politics before progress, and you will rise in the Democratic party. It seems like the donkey will take you up the mountain, just as long as you don't plan on attending a lovely mountaintop same-sex ceremony once you reach the apex. It seems like a heaping pile of donkey caca.
This may not be the party's intended message, but it certainly seems to be Gavin's takeaway. And unlike so many other folks with (d) next to their name, he's never really shown himself to be unworthy of our trust.
The Trials of Gavin Newsom [NYT]
(H/t: Towle)
Your thoughts
"But it’s fundamentally inexcusable for a member of the Democratic Party to stand on the principle that separate is now equal, but only on the basis of sexual orientation. We’ve always fought for the rights of minorities and against the whims of majorities."
Gavin Newson, despite being f'ing HOT, is now my hero for saying the above (it totally makes sense, and I'm surprised that NO ONE in a position of influence--such as the news media like CNN--has dared to declare it, too!).
Posted by: Wade MacMorrighan | Jan 20, 2010 11:43:43 AM
"Pubic opinion"? Is this post about Scott Brown?
:)
Posted by: Evan Hurst | Jan 20, 2010 1:24:10 PM
That's my Mayor!
Posted by: Alonzo | Jan 20, 2010 7:41:42 PM
comments powered by Disqus
