Republicans have long been the party to use their opposition to GLBT issues as a way of defining themselves against their rivals for power. They were the party of social conservatism...which I interpreted as "let's all live as if it's 1952 forever." They wrap themselves in the flag and claim that they are the only true Americans. They are the party most often to claim "family values" and use religion and their own narrowly defined set of values to excuse treating gays and other minorities as if they are not American citizens but a menace to the country to be defended against at all cost. They are the culture warriors..and we have been their target for vilification on many a campaign trail. It is surprising then to learn that so many conservative leaning people have begun to take up the cause of marriage equality for New York.
The first sign that the game had changed over 2009 was an open letter sent to the Governor by nearly Two Dozen business and financial leaders urging Governor Cuomo to support marriage equality in New York. Among those who signed the letter include the CEO's of J.P. Morgan, Morgan Stanley, Bloomberg L.P., and Goldman Sachs, among many others. Whatever the individual views of each CEO may be, business tend to support Republican candidates which makes a letter from these heavy hitters of the business community nothing to ignore. It may also have had a hand in influencing the Governors subsequent verbal support for the issue.
In addition to the Governor...New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg has issued his own pledge to back Senators who support Marriage equality and a threat to withhold financial support from those who don't as reported in the New York Daily news:
Bloomberg pledged to back senators who "stand up for marriage equality" and warned that those who don't could be left without his often-generous financial support. "I certainly will concentrate and focus more on those that do,"The final story to surface in recent weeks reveals that gay marriage advocates have been getting a huge influx of cash from wealthy donors who traditionally support G.O.P. causes. So far, contributions equal about one million dollars...about two-thirds of all donations received by those fighting for same-sex marriage so far. All of these funds going to support a major television add campaign and what the New York Times article describes as "grassroots" activism...though how you can get away with calling support from wealthy donors "grassroots" I can't imagine.
“I think it is important in particular for Republicans to know this is a bipartisan issue,” Mr. Loeb said. “If they’re Republican, they will not be abandoned by the party for supporting this. On the contrary, I think they will find that there is a whole new world of people who will support them on an ongoing basis if they support this cause.”
These are not republicans I am used to. I am used to the Newt Gingrichs and Rick Santorums who have made their living keeping us out in the cold. And I know that we are talking about New York here, not the nation at large, but could whats happening in New York signal a larger shift that's only just begun to take place? I can't help but have more questions than answers. Will the message Mr. Loeb hopes to send be received? And if this huge influx of G.O.P. support makes a difference in bringing marriage equality to New York, will it be duplicated elsewhere? What does this mean for the future of gay rights as one of the G.O.P.'s biggest wedge issues? Is the ice finally thawing that has left America's GLBT's out in the cold for generations? I turn it over to you...what do you think?
Until next time dear readers...
I think parties are made up of people. Ultimately if we educate and make them aware things will change. But it will take time.
ReplyDeleteOnly in tolerance and tireless patience and work can we change what has built up over generations. If we simply bulldoze people who are not ready then they will only become more extreme.
What I think is there is always hope as long as we nurture it and extend a willingness to work with people.
T you are always a wellspring of patients, tolerance, and good sense. :)
ReplyDeleteBryan
In the early seventies a friend of mine said he thought our fight for civil liberties and acceptance was made harder than the acceptance of black Americans because we didn’t have children. He said one of the most powerful images from the Civil Rights movement was the sight of children being walked to school with armed guards while white racists yelled hateful and violent slurs at them. The inhumanity of segregation was laid bare for all to see.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the news coverage of children being bullied to death was the tipping point? We may also be reaching a critical mass. When enough prominent gay figures in news, movies, sports and television come out of the closet, it becomes increasingly harder for homophobes to spread their lies.
I think it's about time for New York. We have a quilt of legal protections that are like missing panels and it's about time we fill them. My State Senator said he's opposed to marriage and I did an interview here in which some of his arguments against marriage are dissected: http://buffalo.ynn.com/content/all_news/543712/grisanti-says-he-s-opposed-to-same-sex-marriage/
ReplyDeleteI am ready for this to be done, I don't want to wait another two years. I think that with the Republican support, we may be able to win over some of the die hard Repubs...here's to hoping!
I would not be surprised if even if they are not personally that tolerant, they are not looking at the voters and seeing the most anti gay rights crowed, who tend to be old and very religious, are shrinking fast, and that the newer generations of votes who might vote for them based on economic policy don't because of the parties social policy. So they are trying to keep from losing even more voters in future elections.
ReplyDeleteAfter all many of the young and would be up and coming voices in conservative politics don't pass the current purity test based on their social values.
I'm not completely surprised, most of my family is pretty conservative almost all of support gay marriage and I live in Michigan.
ReplyDeleteInteresting thoughhts
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