Monday, May 23, 2011

Marriage Battle Of Minnesota Set

Well, at the beginning of the New Year, it was expected in GL world that a marriage referendum would occur in a state beginning with the letter 'M'.

But surprise, surprise that state is Minnesota, not Maryland.

In another example GL peeps of elections mattering and what happens when you sit one out, the Minnesota House and Senate came under the control of the Republicans as a result of the 2010 midterms.

The DFL when they had control of the Legislature blocked that amendment.  But when you sit elections out, it's a vote for your GOP oppressors.

DFLer Mark Dayton is in the governor's mansion.   But when it comes to constitutional amendments, the governor can't do squat about them.   They don't require his signature, and he can't veto it if it passes.  All he can do is campaign either for or against it, and he's already on record as being opposed to it.

Minnesota law already bans same gender marriage, but the GOP legislators supporting the unjust amendment said it is necessary to prevent judges or lawmakers from legalizing it in the future.

What, no 'Jobs, jobs, jobs' legislation from the GOP majority?  


After six hours of emotional debate, the Minnesota House approved on a 70-62 nearly party line vote last night a proposed constitutional amendment that would define marriage as between a man and a woman.   Four Republicans voted 'NO' and two Democrats voted 'YES'.

The Republican controlled Minnesota Senate approved the proposed amendment by a 38-27 vote that also fell almost completely along party lines.   Only one DFL senator Leroy Stumpf voted for it.

It sets the stage for what is sure to be a contentious November 2012 ballot question smack dab in the middle of the 2012 presidential election that will spike conservafool voter turnout. 


As a reminder folks, when it comes to constitutional amendment same gender marriage bans, the Forces of Intolerance have momentum and a 31-0 record.  But can Minnesota be the state that bucks the trend?

60% of the state's population of 5.3 million people live in the Minneapolis-St Paul area. 

I also thought I'd point out that only 4.4% of the population of Minnesota is African-American, and Rep Keith Ellison, the first African American congressmember from Minnesota is in favor of marriage equality..   

So if that referenda record goes to 32-0, don't want to hear any rainbow shade thrown at African American voters.  Aim your Hateraid at the peeps who brought you this referendum pain, the Catholic Church, NOM and the Republican Party.


Well, it's going to be a 18 month long, hard, expensive and ugly battle.    You're going to see milllions of dollars and reams of campaign ads flow into the Land of 10,000 Lakes.  



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