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Loading ...Corzine’s makes gay-marriage prominent part of re-election campaign
06.22.2009 3:00pm EDT
(New Jersey) Gov. Jon Corzine has made his support for gay-marriage a prominent part of his reelection campaign, a stance opposite to the views he held as recently as 2006. While campaigning over the past couple of week, Corzine has made same-sex marriage an important part of his crusade.
“We believe that government should allow people the freedom to marry whomever they love,” Corzine said in his general-election kickoff speech June 2.Corzine has made his comments in an effort to differentiate himself from his Republican opponent, Christopher J. Christie, who said he would veto a bill allowing same-sex marriage.
“New Jersey is undergoing a sea change in how politicians are looking at marriage equality,” said Steven Goldstein, chairman of Garden State Equality. “It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that when a candidate campaigns on an issue, it’s not only because he or she believes in the issue, but also because the candidate believes it’s a political plus.”
In 2005, Corzine said in his campaign that “the fundamental and traditional view of marriage is between a man and a woman.” In 2006, he signed a civil-unions bill that granted equal rights to gay and lesbian couples.
Read the full Philly.com story here.
Not really surprising. The veil of some democrats that “civil unions” are a fair compromise is falling and the question is quickly becoming whether we have same-sex marriage or not.
It’s too bad Corzine probably won’t win for other reasons.
Corzine has been governor for a while now,, and yet he has done NOTHING to pass marriage equality.
I have begun to see this pattern,, when politicians such as Govs Patterson and Corzine have nothing left to lose, they then reach out by promising the sun, moon and stars to gay voters. From what I’ve heard Corzine hasn’t been the best of Governors but as soon as his polls are falling faster than a twink’s undies, he then takes a huge gamble and all of a sudden supports marriage equality.
I don’t vote in New Jersey, so we’ll see how this pans out. Even if we win in Jersey, I am not so sure this is how I like our issues advanced, by playing politics and us being married to lackluster politicians and groups. But then again, we need to achieve equal rights and equal marriage by any means possible.
PS,, Stop refering to marriage equality as “gay marriage”, we’re not fighting against straight marriage, we’re fighting for marriage equality. There are also transgendered people who don’t identify as gay, who support marriage equality because they know they’re in the same boat with us. There are straight feminists and straight men who support us and when we use the term “gay marriage” as opposed to marriage equality we’re not expressing what we want. ALSO for alot of people the term “gay marriage” is synonomous with civil unions, domestic partnerships, civil partnerships, etc. Calling marriage equality marriage equality also makes it clear that we’re NOT demanding a seperate “gay marriage” but the same rights and equal rights of MARRIAGE EQUALITY. All great campaigns use terms which convey their ideas clearly, without leaving too much to be misunderstood. The opponents of marriage equality LOVE it when we say gay marriage.
For instance what conveys the urgency of NOW, the term Global Warming or the watered down term coined by Frank Lutz “Climate Change”. Those who feel that global warming isn’t an issue use the term “Climate Change” because it conveys far less urgency. In nations and states where MARRIAGE EQUALITY has been successful(ie Massachusetts, Québec-Canada, Spain) they would use terms like “Marriage Equality” or “Égalité au mariage” or “casamiento/matrimonio igual”. They found it was far more effective to use “marriage equality”. And I will go out on a limb here, as long as those who support same-sex marriage use the term “gay marriage” we will continue to lose on this issue. So for f*ck’s sake say “marriage equality”.
Go Jon!
@Rodney, he is not desperate at this point. He also has been a long time ally to the NJ GLBT community. His opponent is all talk and BS, cut taxes and increase services.
We Jerseyans know better than to elect someone that doesn’t know that you can’t spend more than you have.
He has said consistently now for years that if a marriage bill reaches his desk he will sign it. He isn’t the problem the problem is Dick Codey the Majority leader.
When you don’t know the particulars of the states politics’s Rodney, butt out!
Excuse me Jessica,, I only have a degree in political science and I get my information from first those from Jersey. But what the hell do I know right!?!
Go f*ck yourself c*nt!!
http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2008/02/jon_corzine_will_sign_gay_marr.html
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Jon Corzine last December.
Photo: Patrick McMullan
Governor Jon Corzine of New Jersey is frustrating gay activists because he is hesitant to get moving on a bill to change the state’s civil-unions policy to one of flat-out marriage equality”
http://www.queerty.com/why-is-new-jersey-gov-jon-corzine-suddenly-a-big-marriage-advocate-20090622/
“You wouldn’t be wrong in assuming Democrat Corzine is just playing politics.”
http://www.ontheissues.org/Jon_Corzine.htm
On this particular website, which is based on one’s actions as well as one’s positions, gay rights and particularly marriage equality barely even gets mentioned. He must be one of those “fierce advocates” like Obama.
It seems that YES,, not only was my assumption about Gov Corzine playing politics dead on CORRECT, it seems that most people seem to think the same d*mn thing.
lets be civil to each other-please
“When you don’t know the particulars of the states politics’s Rodney, butt out!”
So this site, which reports news that affects our community nationwide is a place where we all can comment on events – be it in California, Utah, Iowa or Maine.. Even New Jersey.
I doube many of us know the particulars of a state’s politics without living there, though it appears Rodney doesn’t suffer in that category.
When you tell Rodney to butt out, you are telling the rest of us that may not know the particulars of the states’ politics to butt out as well.
Think about it… you are saying that only people who basically live in that state and would know the particulars should dare to comment on an article here.
That is not what this site is for.
Personally, I’ll comment on any article I see fit – and so should Rodney.. And please, you feel free to do the same..!!!
I disagree with Rodney on his opposition to the use of the term “gay marriage”. It feels more political and less genuine to use the term “marriage equality.” Besides, this argument wont be won by clever or strategic use of these terms–outside of political speeches and debates–let our statesmen worry with that. The rest of us need to show those in our lives who we really are and explain our real situations. Euphemisms and politically correct terms may sway ignorant masses, but the individuals in our lives that are capable of rational thought and of reconsidering their stances–those who we must convince–are going to need more whether or not you like to talk about “marriage equality.”
I agree with Rodney K. Corzine has done next to nothing to move the marriage bill. It’s only when he faces a tough re-election challenge that he suddenly starts promising that he’ll start pushing if only you help re-elect him first. I say call him on it. If he passes marriage equality, then we should support him. Not vice versa.
Lee, I have never heard that arguement before, I disagree with you, however you so eloquently stated your position that you give me pause. Milk also didn’t want us to HIDE the words “gay” or “homosexual”, cos we are what we are. HOWEVER, you did fail to address the fact that the term “gay marriage” is often used to describe those separate institutions such as civil unions, domestic partnerships and whatver term they come up with. Marriage equality is a politically correct term,, but it makes a point. Pro-choice activists don’t call themselves pro-abortion, pro-lifers don’t call themselves anti-choice. Global warming deniers often use the term coined by Frank Lutz “Climate Change” because weather itself is climate change and if we just call the 100 degree weather and ice caps melting “climate change” then people will not care.
The point being my esteemed friend, is that language has nuances that can be munipulated which can make people respond. Abortionists realize that abortion is not something most people think of as a positive, so they shroud their cause in key words like CHOICE. Likewise pro-lifers don’t like to advertise that they’re anti-sex, often anti-condom as well as anti-abortion so they talk about a “culture of life”. When Bush ran for office in 2000, he coined the term “compassionate conservatism” which reached out to that mushy middle of the road voter. I am a Political Science and Linguistics guru, most people don’t believe me(and that’s fine) but I speak 11 languages and I have been involved in politics since 17. I was a political f*g as soon as I came out. Terms, words and language matter. The homophobes used to use the all but defunct term “special rights” and we countered with “equal rights are not special rights”. We used a word which strikes a cord with Americans, and many people around the world. We used “EQUALITY” and EQUAL and some 10 years later it has been shown again and again that asking for EQUAL rights, EQUAL opportunities and EQUAL marriage rights work. After Hurricane Katrina, I evacuated to Boston(for a year) and I threw myself into the marriage equality movement. And you’re right, we have to educate those people who can be educated. We have to show them gay couples, gay marriages, kids adopted by gay people. My rep was Marian Walsh a CONSERVATIVE pro-life, Irish Catholic Democrat, and she was convinced to support marriage equality because she met gay and lesbian couples with kids. Those kids that NOONE else wants, but that gay people happily adopted and gave them a welcoming home. And Representative Walsh’s story is a case where we need to get personal and intimate and let strangers into our lives. However, her case was rare, the majority of those at Court(legislature) were convinced by a strong argument about equality. We stayed on message about marriage equality, rarely did you hear someone say “gay marriage” except the opposition, because they knew how much of a rallying cry it was. And if Jersey or California or any other state wants to be successful, people need to pay close attention to how we won in the Commonwealth.
Robert,, I have a brother named Robert, thanks for the support. I am not an expert on New Jersey politics, not in the least. But the last thing I am going to tolerate is some ninny telling me not to express my educated opinion on an issue that effects me.
Corzine has been in office for almost a fullt erm and suddenly with his campaign in deep trouble, he decidesd he is for marriage equality. Where was he for his entire term? Why does this reek of desperation? While he inherited a mess from prior governors, his own record stinks.
wow okay, im from new jersey and only thing i got to say is, if this fat italian republican wins for governor im moving out, corzine has done steps to marriage equality and the state cant do anything until elections are over, and once they are they will do a vote, which will pass, they are just scared they wont have enough votes to pass like in new york..
I was at NJ Pride in Asbury Park a couple of weeks ago when Corzine spoke. The crowd was very apathetic towards him. There were even some boos. I agree with others that this man is using us to further his career. However, the Republican candidate is the second coming of Hades and he must not win!
More than two years ago (seems like a lifetime) I wrote about Gov. Corzine’s pussy-footing around to avoid having to sign New Jersey’s apartheid-like, so-called “Civil Union” bill on St. Valentine’s Day.
This segregationist concept, of course, became a travesty in the state for many same-sex couples seeking joint insurance and other benefits that are traditionally reserved for “married only” couples.
READ MY ARTICLE at the link below for details. It first appeared, February 16, 2007, on that great Canadian website “Equal Marriage for Same-sex Couples”.
http://www.samesexmarriage.ca/advocacy/sna160207.htm
“Go f*ck yourself c*nt!!” says political scientist degree holder Rodney Moore.
Rodney, any other “choice” phrases you’d like to share with the rest of us?
If and when Corzine signs NJ marriage equality into law, I guess you’ll just have to “eat your own hat” so to speak, Rodney. Meanwhile, Corzine has to win the general NJ election in November.
It doesn’t take a political scientist to know that if Christie wins the NJ governorship this November, he would waste little time in trying to do what he could to reverse any NJ marriage equality.
When you say things like the above,
“Go f*ck yourself, c*nt!” all your degrees are suddenly meaningless. All we can see are your ugly and sexist words. She didn’t demean your male gender after all.