Subscribe to Breaking NewsWithers: Talk is nice, but….
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has always been an interesting study. Makes a business empire, decides he wants to be a politician, joins the GOP, gets the nomination and after winning an election (some would say bought but that is for another time) follows Rudy Giuliani as the keeper of the Big Apple. Like any politician, he is marked by faults (he has the language of a technocrat), but has governed in such a way that it seems as if voters are going to give him a third term.
This week Bloomberg announced he was ready to ask the New York Legislature to pass a marriage rights law. This is the third year in a row that the mayor has made that pledge and like the good pol that he is, Bloomberg can blame the Republicans (they ran the state Senate until this year) for never having hearings. Democrats are in charge of the Senate now, but same sex marriage isn’t coming anytime soon. So Bloomberg gets good press for saying he loves him some gay marriage, but he doesn’t lose any political capital for actually fighting for it.
Same with New York’s senior senator Chuck Schumer. At a private gathering with local politicians and leaders of Empire State Pride Agenda, Schumer announced he was for gay marriage. That’s nice and all, but that does that mean his vote for DOMA now is null and void? And I’m willing to bet a donut the senator didn’t offer any actual plans to make same sex marriage more than a talking point.
Bloomberg and Schumer have essentially thrown out the language for inclusion. While we all love rhetoric, it takes grunt work to make it a reality. Both men can mouth the words, but I’m much more concerned about deeds. Saying you are for gay marriage is not that complicated. Doing something for it is a different matter.
Bud,
But why am is my opinion important on the NAACP story? Why not the Barney Frank story?
You are right. We will have to agree to disagree. Hope you are having an enjoyable weekend.
Sincerely,
James
Todd,
It’s not a matter about being complacent. It would be completely different if I led an organization or was a pol. I’m neither. And leadership is not conferred just because I have an opinion and get paid to write about it.
Sincerely,
James
Honestly James, I enjoy seeing your opinion on most of the topics you write on.
I would agree that you may not be a “leader” of the gay community, but you are an influence. You’ve been given a place and an opportunity to write for a website that is attached to the most prominent gay network in the United States. With that comes influence.
I really don’t believe that we have any direct leader of the gay community. The HRC, Stonewall Democrats and Log Cabin Republicans are certainly hapless organizations that can barely put out a news release. The gay community has always relied upon the grass roots and individual organization. With the advent of Stonewalls 20th anniversary, it’s important to know that every voice is important and moves us forward.
Our community comprises the most creative, imaginative and hardworking of any community that I can see. We have a bright future, even if some want to follow a variety of politicians blindly.