Now Arnie says he “doesn’t object” to SSM. The article describes that as a 180 but I’d call it more of a 120; he doesn’t “support” SSM, he just “wouldn’t object” if the legislature passed a bill (he doesn’t commit to signing such a bill) or the courts ruled such marriages legal.
He does oppose a federal amendment, though.
So now he’s alienated the right wing and the left probably doesn’t believe this sudden change of heart, so what does he hope to accomplish?
Maybe he realized he was wrong and change his mind.
Isn’t that what supporters of SSM want?
I think he put considerable thought into it, talked things over with his lovely wife, ruminated for a while, searched his conscience, and gradually realized his former stance was mistaken.
Perhaps he hasn’t thrown his muscle into supporting equality, but at least he’s out of the way. And he would have been a considerable obstacle.
Especially if he had a minigun.
I’m not seeing a problem here. Arnie has always been very strong on “rule-of-law.” His primary objection to SSM in San Francisco was that it was against the law, not because he had any particular moral problems with it. If the people decide that SSM should be legal, through legal means, then Arnie will sign it into law in a second.
I second In Conceivable here…isn’t this what supporters of SSM want?
I don’t believe Arnie has ever said he was against SSM on moral grounds. He was definately against the illegal issuing of marriage licenses in SF, which as a gay marriage supporter I found to be a naive and possibly detrimental move. I’m sure he’d be perfectly fine with legalized gay marriages or civil unions.
Yeah…what part of
is confusing?
The mayor of SF didn’t do that…and many folks (like Barney Frank) who do favor SSM think that what’s happening in SF is a bad idea.
I don’t see a flip flop.
During his election campain he said he believed marriage should be between a man and a woman. He did not AFAIK say that if he were presented with a bill to legalize SSM that he would sign it or that he supported the idea of the courts declaring them legal.
After SF started issuing licenses he lambasted the state attorney general for not immediately stepping in and trying to shut down the marriage mill. He likened issuing marriage licenses to issuing licenses to sell illegal firearms or drugs.
Now he says SSM is OK by him if the law is changed. His statements are a textbook case of flip-flop.
If he sincerely searched his heart and mind and came to the decision that his former pronouncements against SSM were wrong, then good on him and I hope he says it more unequivocally (and that he actively campaigns for marriage equality). If this is a move of political expedience then I don’t trust it any further than I could throw a cheesecake under water.
You yourself said in your OP that there is little political gain from the left and perhaps a loss from the right.
Personally I think that we should be happy when a major political player in a major state decides to support SSM.
Actually, his exact words were that gay marriage should be between a man and a woman.
To be truthful, I didn’t get to see him speak about the issues during the recall, so I don’t know the context of his statements.
Maybe this is a bit of a weasel…but even those two statements you listed above aren’t necessarily in contradiction.
Perhaps his personal preference is for civil unions over SSM…but if the legislature created laws legalizing them (or judicial rulings had a similar effect) , he wouldn’t object to the new laws.
Arnie actually talked about an issue during the election???
I just remember him saying a whole bunch of nothing.
I don’t think this is a flip-flop at all. He said he believed marriage was between a man and a woman. He did not say that he believed the job of the Governor was to keep things that way.
There are plenty of politicians who carry out their duties despite clashing personal convictions, you know.
My take is that he doesn’t really give a shit either way. Right now it’s illegal in my fair State. He’s trying to enforce the law but it’s not like he’s calling in the National Guard or anything. If the will of the people is to change that law, Arnie is going to support it, as he should. It would be nice if he were pushing for the new law but I’m pleased that he’s staying out of the way.
Haj
Hey, a prominent and popular Republican governor of an frickin’ gigantic state has stated that he has no moral objection to gay marriage. I don’t give a shit why he’s saying it, I’m more than happy to take the win.
All hail the mighty Waffle!