Something interesting happened yesterday in San Diego. The Mayor, Jerry Sanders, who is a Republican “abruptly reversed his public opposition to same-sex marriage,” according to the L.A. Times.
Here are a few more excerpts from the Times article:
Sanders, tears welling and voice breaking, said he realized that he could not tell his daughter Lisa, who is gay, that her relationship with a partner is not as important as that of a straight couple.
“I’ve decided to lead with my heart. . . to take a stand on behalf of equality and social justice,” he said haltingly. He signaled his change before signing a City Council resolution aimed at overturning the state’s ban on same-sex unions.
Sanders, a Republican and ex-police chief, announced this week that he is seeking reelection. His political base includes conservative voters, many of whom oppose gay marriage.
Wow! Brave move by Sanders (pictured above, with his daughter). He did the right thing. Republicans in Orange County should take note.
And Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was also landed in an L.A. Times article when he “said Wednesday that a healthcare overhaul would not be derailed by “Mickey Mouse”-type concerns about covering illegal immigrants. He also compared California’s Republican Party to an obese person in denial, and predicted that Rudolph W. Giuliani would be his party’s nominee for president.”
Here are a few excerpts from the Times article:
The comments came in an eclectic discussion with The Times’ editorial board in which the governor championed his $9-billion plan to expand water storage efforts and promoted his proposal to require everyone in the state to have health insurance.
At The Times, Schwarzenegger, who wants to change the way insurers and hospitals function, expressed optimism that a healthcare deal with state Democratic leaders could succeed at the ballot.
He said he was confident labor unions, business groups and hospitals would back an initiative that would place a new tax on healthcare providers and require employers to spend a specified sum on healthcare or pay into a state fund that would help workers secure insurance.
Asked whether voter anger about illegal immigrants, which led to the repeal of a 2003 law to let them obtain drivers’ licenses, might be used by opponents of his healthcare plan to doom it, Schwarzenegger said: “Those are Mickey Mouse things compared to immigration reform.
“The real big elephant in the room is that for years and years and years the people have been angry and the federal government hasn’t been doing anything about it,” he said.
Schwarzenegger said his plan would not give illegal immigrants any new healthcare opportunities but would allow counties to shift all the money they spend caring for the uninsured now — often in emergency rooms — to less expensive clinics.
The outline of the plan the governor released in January estimated that counties would receive about $1 billion a year that could be used to treat about 750,000 undocumented immigrants who lacked coverage from employers.
Though noting that he has not endorsed anyone, the governor said Giuliani is “the most consistent, stable person who is out there who makes the most sense to the people. That’s why his poll numbers are high.”
I don’t know the particulars of Schwarzenegger’s water storage plan, but we ARE on the verge of a major water crisis. Water is already being rationed in Long Beach. Can we be far behind?
And providing healthcare to immigrants just makes sense. We will pay a lot more later if they and other poor people cannot get access to preventative healthcare.
Finally, Schwarzenegger’s comments about Giuliani are an obvious slap at Reeps like those found in the OC GOP Machine. They are stupidly clinging to Mitt Romney even though polls show that he is tanking in California. If the Reeps would let independents vote in their primary, Giuliani would clearly rule the day. And he is perhaps their only candidate who could beat Shrillary Clinton.
I am encouraged by the actions of San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Perhaps there is some hope for the California Republicans after all.
Sorry Brother Art.
I respectfully disagree with your title and message. “Two Republicans who get it” indicating your support of same sex marriage.
Another case where we will agree to disagree. Larry Gilbert, many Republicans, AND I am confidant the same applies to most Democrats, oppose same sex marriages.
Tell you what, Art. Let’s just dissolve the GOP and have only the Democrats, because that’s basically what you’re arguing for.
You certainly have no problem tossing principles aside for the sake of political expediency.
Larry,
What makes our blog a fun read is the fact that we can all agree to disagree. I don’t think you will find another blog with our range of diversity on the issues of the day.
I used to share your viewpoint. But the fact is, the greatest threat to marriage is not gays who love each other, but rather straight people who divorce at the drop of a pin.
In fact, the Register had a story today in fact about how most Americans are not making it to their silver, or 25th, anniversary.
I have also seen data indicating that Evangelical Christians divorce at a higher rate than non believers.
So let’s preserve marriage – by doing something about our rampant divorce rate. And let’s leave our gay friends to their own devices. God willing, they won’t end up in divorce court too.
Larry-
Last I checked our country was not ruled by a theocracy.
Can you please explain the damage done by allowing two adults of the same gender to marry each other.
You are a strong advocate for the rights of taxpayers. So why should I be taxed at a higher rate than my straight married friends because my spouse is the same gender? Should I be taxed unfairly and still…
… be required to testify against him in court (as you are not required to do against your spouse)
… be required to pay taxes on medical benefits provided by my spouse’s employer (they are tax-free to you and your spouse)
… be ineligible to receive a spousal share of social security and disability benefits.
… be ineligible to obtain immigration and residency benefits for a non-citizen spouse.
Sounds to me like I am taxed more than a married person, yet receive fewer benefits. Is this fair to you, Larry?
Art,
“But the fact is, the greatest threat to marriage is not gays who love each other, but rather straight people who divorce at the drop of a pin.”
Perhaps the most trenchant observation you’ve made on this blog. Well said.
Art. Response from your friend the governator. Just received from the CA Family Council:
“During a health-care press conference on Monday, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger affirmed his resolve to veto
Art and n2 justice
The facts quoted by Art speak volumns. I am not happy agreeing with you that the divorce rate in America is a travesty. One thing I have learned is that God gives each of us “free will” where we may not keep our marriages from hitting the rocks.
Being a believer of any faith is not a guarantee that our marriages will last “til death do us part.”
Marriage is a major committment. When teenagers get married they are not taught the importance of their wedding vows. While we learn the three R’s in school, this is one important topic that is not part of any school curriculum.
Therefore it is up to us, as parents, to advise our children on the magnitude of that decision.
Part of the fallout of divorce is the single parent home where the children may blame themselves for the divorce and not excell in their studies. There is a domino effect to divorces, where children are involved, that goes beyond our first observations.
Larry Gilbert, many Republicans, AND I am confidant the
>same applies to most Democrats, oppose same sex marriages.
Larry, if you oppose same sex marriages, you shouldn’t have one– and
you shouldn’t deny them to those that want them.
The fight against marriage equality is being supported by an aging
demographic that’s trying desperatly to encode discrimination and bigotry
in our lawbooks before it dies off. It was wrong (or un-American, if
you prefer) for white voters to deny basic civil rights to black people.
It was wrong for male voters to deny civil rights to women. It was
wrong for southern voters to deny people of different ethnicities to
contract civil marriage. And it was wrong for California voters to deny
recognition of civil marriages between people of the same gender with
Prop 22.
This is a simple matter of equality before the law. I challenge you to
come up with a single rational reason for denying any portion of the
citizenry access to the protections and benefits offered by civil
marriage that doesn’t begin with “God says…” And as I’m sure you know, our
civil government is founded upon the consent of the governed, not upon
Revealed Truth.
Paul Cook-Giles
Larry,
I am sorry to hear that Arnold is snubbing the GLBT community. Not good!