Blame This Man And Then Yourself

Gavin Newsom
Originally uploaded by wonderbread74.

Is it fair to blame Gavin Newsom for John Kerry's defeat last week? Yes, it is.

Let me begin by saying that I believe San Francisco Mayor, Gavin Newsom to be one of the most courageous and progressive politicians in this country. I also believe that his decision to bring the conversation of gay marriage to America's consciousness to be appropriate and even just.

It was the right thing to do but it cost us this election and that is the dilemma that liberals will have to face in the next four years. How can we win over an electorate that is so morally bankrupt and still uphold the basic tenets of progressive liberalism?

The faces of Americans in red states from Montana to Alabama blushed an uncomfortable shade of pink and then crimson red from anger seeing streams of gays and lesbian couples getting hitched on their television sets.

Do we sell our souls out to win the White House? As a liberal, the inclusion of all Americans is something I hold dear. The electorate has spoken and votes cast indicate homophobia and the denial of civil rights to a group of people is what they want.

Can we come up with a candidate who can sweep the issue into the closet much like Kerry did with the gun issue or be doomed to another four years absent the executive branch? Of course, so much can happen from now to 2008. Who could have imagined George W. Bush's political strength in 2004 would have been unwaverng leadership when he defeated Al Gore?

I firmly believe that, just as today, many find it unbelievable that blacks were forced to drink from separate drinking fountains and sit in the back of the bus as late as the 1960's. A generation from now, people will find it hard to fathom that gay rights were overwhelmingly discounted by so many in 2004.