Governor Dean's Statement on Massachusetts Court Ruling

[Sean Reynolds]

MANCHESTER--Governor Dean issued the following statement today in response to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruling:

"As Governor of Vermont, I was proud to sign the nation's first law establishing civil unions for same-sex couples. Today, the Massachusetts Court appears to have taken a similar approach to the Vermont Supreme Court and its decision that led to our civil unions law. One way or another, the state should afford same-sex couples equal treatment under law in areas such as health insurance, hospital visitation and inheritance rights.

"There will be those who try to use the decision today to divide Americans. Instead, this decision should be viewed as an opportunity to affirm what binds us together -- a fundamental belief in the equality of human beings, regardless of race, gender or sexual orientation."

http://blogforamerica.com/

[HFishbine]

1. Who is this guy?

Some sort of commie pinko?

[slinkerwink]

2. lol....

:hi:

[Cocoa]

3. he's an "ultra-liberal on social issues"

or so says the RNC Research page on him. ;-)

[Liberal Veteran]

4. I'm SHOCKED!!! Shocked I say!!!! A politician taking a principled stand!?

That's unheard of in American politics!

[JNelson6563]

5. Great statement on a great decision

No suprise here.

Julie

[Bombtrack]

6. Dean misleading once again

"As Governor of Vermont, I was proud to sign the nation's first law establishing civil unions for same-sex couples."

Reality check: Dean had no choice but to accept such a bill. In December 1999, the Vermont Supreme Court ruled that Vermont was "constitutionally required to extend to same-sex couples the common benefits and protections that flow from marriage under Vermont law." The court instructed the legislature to grant gays "inclusion within the marriage laws themselves or a parallel 'domestic partnership' or some equivalent statutory alternative."

Given that choice, Dean took the more conservative option. According to the Associated Press, Vermont's lieutenant governor and House speaker supported gay marriage, but Dean didn't. Gay marriage "makes me uncomfortable, the same as anybody else," Dean said at the time. He did encourage the legislature to pass a civil unions bill. But the alternative he averted was legalizing gay marriage, not preventing gay domestic partnerships.

Many supporters of the bill criticized Dean for signing it "in the closet," in private and without a ceremony.
http://slate.msn.com/id/2086952/

[MsUnderstood]

8. I know my logic is backward but

He may have signed it in private, but he did sign it! Now that it has been in law in Vermont and caused on adverse affects (I haven't seen fire and brimstone destroying the State capital of Vermont) maybe his position on the merits of the bill have changed.

It is like forcing your kid to eat brocolli and then when they say years later "I've always loved borcolli" you nod your head and think "I'm so glad I forced that upon him".

[Bombtrack]

10. Dean was forced to sign either it or gay marriage into law

his only other option as governor was resigning or cutting off his hand.

He didn't do anything wrong on that account, but he shouldn't misrepresent what he did for political advantage in a democratic primary, as I beleive he's already been doing.

[dsc]

9. flat our false

and you either don't ever read posts here, or you damn well know it. I posted not once, not twice, not three times, not four times, not five times, not six times but seven seperate times in great detail just how that constitution could have been changed.

[Rose Siding]

12. Here's his eloquent and moving statement from that day

In which he explains exactly why he did it as he did. You don't throw gasoline on a fire and you win graciously.

He was Governor of all the people and this speech will clue you in on why he is now supported by some on both the left and right even though he tussled with both at times.

Gov. Howard Dean's statement after signing
http://rutlandherald.com/hdean/6607

[redqueen]

7. Errrr...

By adopting 'civil union' legislation, didn't VT courts mandate that the only way gays can unite is through a civil union, and not by actual marriage?

Isn't this tantamount to relegating gays to a 'separate but equal' kind of union.

[veganwitch]

11. pretty much

talk about riding coattails.


lookie me!! i did it too! sorta.

[AnnabelLee]

13. Kick

:kick: