GayPatriot “Luvs The Guv”
Friday, September 30th, 2005
And he gives it to us straight.
On the heels of yesterday’s news announcing Gov. Schwarzenegger’s veto of California’s proposed Gay Marriage Bill, GayPatriot reflects on the governor’s leadership to date and discusses the reasons for his continued support.
He’s definitely not towing the line.
According to the L.A. Times: “The bill, AB 849 by Assemblyman Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) was the first sanctioning same-sex marriage to clear a state legislature without a court order. It passed the Senate and Assembly earlier this month with no Republican votes and without a vote to spare after lengthy, debate.”
Leno accused Schwarzenegger of “hiding behind the fig leaf” of Proposition 22, which 61% of California voters approved in 2000. It says that “only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.“
Dismissing majority vote as a “fig leaf.” That’s an original spin, we’ll give him that.
“The governor has failed his test of leadership and has missed a history opportunity to stand up for the basic civil rights of all Californians,” said Leno. “He cannot claim to support fair and equal legal protections for same sex couples and veto the very bill that would have provided it to them.”
We disagree, and it’s nice to see that we’re not alone.
GayPatriot weighs in:
“While State Assemblyman Mark Leno (D-Castro Street) has called his veto of the same-sex marriage bill as a failure of leadership, the Governor has made clear that he vetoed the bill because he does “not believe the Legislature can reverse an initiative approved by the people of California.†PrismWarden says that Governor did the responsible thing because the legislation is either “unconstitutional or presents. . .constitutional problems.†(Castro Street link added)
While most liberals and homosexual activists are up-in-arms, GayPatriot reasonably explains that his assessment of performance doesn’t depend upon one single gay rights agenda item. Perhaps that’s what makes him a conservative. And perhaps Leno can learn something from him. And it’s why we respect him.
Taking a broad view of the governor’s accomplishments, GayPatriot concludes:
“[D]espite the angry rhetoric of Democrats in Sacramento, a number of left-wing interest groups and public employee unions, my man Ahnuld has accomplished a good deal in his short term in office  and continues to put forward reforms to fix California’s dysfunctional political system. He has shown a great command of the issues and an understanding of the problems facing our state.
. . .Arnold Schwarzenegger has shown tremendous energy and initiative as Govenor of the nation’s largest state. To be sure, he has, as George Will noted, made a “raft of rookie mistakes,†par for the course for a novice politician.
Despite these mistakes, like Ronald Reagan, Arnold Schwarzenegger has pressed on, more interested in serving the people who elected him than the special interests who have long dominated state politics. I may have to cut back a little to afford tonight’s fundraiser, but I am proud to support my Govenor and his agenda to reform my adopted home state.”
Well, we’re sure glad you’re here, Dan.
Just wondering why homegrowns can’t have your sensible attitude.