A message from the Republican mayor of San Diego:
Here’s hoping there’ll be more Republicans like him in the coming years. Text of his speech, for those of you who cannot see it, after the jump:
“I am here this afternoon to announce that I will sign the resolution that the City Council passed yesterday directing the city attorney to file a brief in support of gay marriage [with the California Supreme Court].
“My plan, that has been reported publicly, was to veto the resolution, so I feel like I owe all San Diegans right now an explanation for this change of heart.
“During the campaign two years ago, I announced that I did not support gay marriage and instead supported civil unions and domestic partnerships.
“I have personally wrestled with that position ever since. My opinions on this issue have evolved significantly — as I think the opinions of millions of Americans from all walks of life have.
“In order to be consistent with the position I took during the mayoral election, I intended to veto the council resolution. As late as yesterday afternoon, that was my position.
“The arrival of the resolution — to sign or veto — in my office late last night forced me to reflect and search my soul for the right thing to do.
“I have decided to lead with my heart, which is probably obvious at the moment — to do what I think is right, and to take a stand on behalf of equality and social justice. The right thing for me to do is sign this resolution.
“For three decades, I have worked to bring enlightenment, justice and equality to all parts of our community.
“As I reflected on the choices I had before me last night, I just could not bring myself to tell an entire group of people in our community they were less important, less worthy or less deserving of the rights and responsibilities of marriage — than anyone else — simply because of their sexual orientation.
“A decision to veto this resolution would have been inconsistent with the values I have embraced over the past 30 years.
“I do believe that times have changed. And with changing time, and new life experiences, come different opinions. I think that’s natural, and it’s certainly true in my case.
“Two years ago, I believed that civil unions were a fair alternative. Those beliefs, in my case, have changed.
“The concept of a ‘separate but equal’ institution is not something I can support.
“I acknowledge that not all members of our community will agree or perhaps even understand my decision today.
“All I can offer them is that I am trying to do what I believe is right.
“I have close family members and friends who are a member of the gay and lesbian community. Those folks include my daughter Lisa, as well as members of my personal staff.
“I want for them the same thing that we all want for our loved ones — for each of them to find a mate whom they love deeply and who loves them back; someone with whom they can grow old together and share life’s experiences.
“And I want their relationships to be protected equally under the law. In the end, I couldn’t look any of them in the face and tell them that their relationship — their very lives — were any less meaningful than the marriage I share with my wife Rana. Thank you.”
The Grand Panjandrum
In the end a reasonable person would have to come to this conclusion. Good for him. Now, where is Arnold? Why isn’t he leading the fight against this ballot initiative.
torrentprime
When this first hit last year, it gave me hope that my party could some day come back from the religious extremism it’s locked into currently.
Then, Palin.
Sigh.
torrentprime
@1: I emailed and called Arnold’s political office, asking the same. He was supposed to represent a moderate and centrist GOP, and a ballot prop restricting the civil rights of part of his population should get at least as much attention as a redistricting initiative.
Greg D
This man should be heralded by all those in the community who claim to follow the concepts of fairness and equality. Bravo, sir, that was the brave and right thing to do!
Michael D.
@Greg D: Even if he did cry like a whiny baby, brother. :-)
Oh, for those of you who care, Greg D. is, like, my actual brother – as in “we have the same parents.” For way too long, we shared a bedroom. Way to long.
Greg also thinks I am evil because I am gay.
Kidding. He thinks I am evil for so many better reasons than that.
kommrade jakevich
WHOOP! WHOOP! Use of the "E" word detected. The man who uttered these words is not a RealRepublican(R), sound the Impostor Alert!
Very nice. It’s a shame to think that if the Palindrones have their way, this guy will be driven out of his party.
And Michael D. if your younger siblings don’t think you’re evil, you’re doing it wrong.
Georgette Orwell
A good man who actually gives a great deal of thought to his actions and how they affect others–and then puts his constituents above himself. Were that more people in politics–especially his party–would be as open-minded as he.
Michael D.
He’s 4 years older than me, just for the record! :-)
Punchy
I have a feeling peeps wil come to their senses when they get in the booth and realize they dont wanna be the butt of a thousand jokes, ridicule, and end up looking like a bunch of bigots, and vote accordingly.
gex
@torrentprime: Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t redistricting something that is done in a manner to help the electoral chances of the party in power? And won’t settling the gay marriage issue once and for all deprive the GOP of an issue that brings out their voters?
gil mann
They always adhere steadfastly to their conservative principles unless they know someone personally who’ll be affected by them.
Don’t mean to diss the guy; it’s a beautiful speech. It’d just be nice if they could get on the right side of an issue without having a personal connection once in a while.
Look, Republicans, you don’t have to use pussy words like "empathy," okay? You can call it "emotional wargaming."
Jeff
I’m from San Diego and he actually tool a political hit for this. People were actually trying to recall him for this.
The Moar You Know
@Jeff: Big time. And it’s the only thing I can applaud him for, because Jerry Sanders is a corrupt piece of shit who by any reasonable standard ought to be rotting in a jail cell somewhere. Seriously. The guy is the very worst of the worst that both politics and theft has to offer.
That being said, he has, at considerable political risk, opposed Prop 8 – something I noticed our John McCain – endorsing steroid freak of a governor has not done.
Ahnold fucking sucks, too, while I’m at it. Makes noises like he’s some kind of social moderate, but he’s never once opposed even the worst excesses of the GOP Taliban in this state. Can’t wait to see him get his due in the next election cycle.
Dress Left
People were actually trying to recall him for this.
Thus the tears.
Brachiator
@gex:
In California, the Democrats and Republicans have longed join ranks to fight any fair redistricting proposals. To give him some credit, in an earlier election cycle, Governator Arnold backed a redistricting plan that was massively opposed by public employee unions and GOP forces.
Actually, in California, the GOP is often more interested in spending issues, not so much social issues. A lot of the anti-Prop 8 money has come from out of the state, especially from Mormon groups.
By the way, although they did not personally appear in a "No on 8" ad, both Obama and Gov. Arnold are quoted as opposing the initiative in the most recent TV ad. So far, Senator Dianne Feinstein is, I think, the most prominent California politician to personally appeal to voters in a TV spot about Prop 8.
This is not exactly true. Conservative Republicans feel betrayed by Ahnold, and opposed him on the recent California budget. And since Republicans in the state assembly are in the minority, they are relatively powerless. The worst excesses in California come from the Democrats.
And since he cannot run for governor again, I don’t see how he could "get his due."
torrentprime
Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t redistricting something that is done in a manner to help the electoral chances of the party in power? And won’t settling the gay marriage issue once and for all deprive the GOP of an issue that brings out their voters?
Usually, yes. But with a GOP governor and a Dem legislative branch, which party do you see as "in power"?
And a No vote on 8 won’t settle the issue on gay marriage anymore than decades of Roe v Wade-related No votes on "the latest attack on Roe-v-Wade via incrementalism" ballot props in California have stopped the pro-lifers from launching attacks on abortion rights in Cali.
No "no" vote stops the religiously-motivated from attacking those whose they view as sinners.
Xecklothxayyquou Gilchrist
@gil mann: You can call it "emotional wargaming."
Brilliant.
Brachiator
Daily Kos has strong praise for one of the latest No on 8 ads:
The full, brief, transcript for the ad makes clear that opposition to Prop 8 is a matter of simple justice:
The full text of the ad follows:
Jim and Maria
Kudos to Mayor Sanders.
We live in North San Diego County, not part of SD proper, but we see all the stuff giong on down there and I can’t tell you how refreshing it is to see the Mayor make such a statement. It really is about civil rights for all. Seperate but equal didn’t work when it divided the races, and it certainly won’t work for gay and straight people.
We all deserve to live a life of equality with others.
No on 8.
Jim and Maria
Kudos to Mayor Sanders.
We live in North San Diego County, not part of SD proper, but we see all the stuff giong on down there and I can’t tell you how refreshing it is to see the Mayor make such a statement. It really is about civil rights for all. Seperate but equal didn’t work when it divided the races, and it certainly won’t work for gay and straight people.
We all deserve to live a life of equality with others.
No on 8.
Birdzilla
YES ON 8 THE ONLY REAL MARRAGE IS BETWEEN ONE MAN AND ONE WOMAN NONE OF THE GAY MARRAGE BUNK SCREW SAN FRANCISCO
Gabriel
First I just want to say that I love you, whom are reading this message, just as Jesus loves us. The purpose of the message Jesus came to earth to share was that of salvation with a foundation of unconditional love. It was a new covenant he established for the forgiveness of sins so that eternal salvation could be granted upon us by his grace and love. The very last commandment that Jesus shared with his disciples was, “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:34). The love God has for his children is an unconditional love, no matter what choices you may have made in your past. In 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 we find the following: "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God." Immediately after this we find in 1 Corinthians 6:11: "And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." We are all accountable to God in the day of judgment. Many people think they are right just because they are heterosexuals but the bible sees any sexually immoral behavior in the same way, be it any depravation of sexuality (homosexuality, adultery, pedophilia, prostitution, etc). This text also puts thieves, the greedy, drunkards, slanderers, and swindlers in the same category. Do not be deceived, you are not right just because you are heterosexual. We must all love each other in the way God loves us and live our lives in line with his instruction. The overall message is to turn your life to God. Through God ALL things are possible. God loves us all no matter who we are, where we’re from, what we’ve done, and even what we’re going to do. When we acknowledge God as our lord and savior and repent of our sins, we are completely cleansed of all of our sins. "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. (Luke 9:23). All Christians have something they are challenged with (our own cross) that we need to work on daily, as we are all sinners. I love you and I pray for your wellbeing, growth, and an abundance of blessings in every area of your life, in the name of Jesus.