From the Washington Blade:

FROM THE CIVIL Rights Act of 1964 to putting a man on the moon, the great reforms and achievements in American history were only possible because of unwavering commitment and leadership from members of both political parties. Likewise, full equality for gays and lesbians will remain but a dream without advocates on both sides of the aisle.

Unfortunately, neither party has adequately fought to lift the legal barriers to equal rights for gays in the United States.

Many Democrats deserve to be commended for their efforts to end discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. The party as a whole, however, has the tendency to hit the right notes on the campaign trail only to ignore the issue of equal rights for gays and lesbians once elected. After all, it was Bill Clinton who signed the Defense of Marriage Act, and it is Barack Obama who is now defending “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in the courts.

And you and I both know that the Republican Party, for all its talk of individual freedom and limited government, has for too long been on the wrong side of this issue.

You know this because you or someone you know and love is gay. I know this because I’m a Republican.

I also know that the fates of the Republican Party and same-sex marriage are intertwined.

IF THE REPUBLICAN Party wants to be relevant for the newest generation of voters, it cannot continue to drive a social wedge between those who seek to protect “traditional marriage” and those who seek to extend the rights and responsibilities to couples who want to enjoy such a commitment.

And if gays and lesbians want to enter into civil marriages in states like Virginia, they’re going to need Republicans in Richmond advocating on their behalf.

The GOP is the majority party in Virginia’s House of Delegates and polls indicate Republicans could win the three statewide races — governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general — this November. No change in Virginia law will be possible without a broad coalition and an advocate for equal rights working within the majority party.

Equality under the law will be a reality in Virginia eventually, but we have a lot of work to do now to make it happen.

In 2006, Virginia voters ratified the Marshall-Newman Amendment restricting civil marriage exclusively to opposite-sex couples, even though Virginia’s Affirmation of Marriage Act already banned same-sex marriage by statute.

Troublingly, that statute was later amended to go one step further and prohibit civil unions and domestic partnerships for gays and lesbians. Worse, the plain language of Marshall-Newman also seems to ban certain private contracts. In Virginia, same-sex couples may be excluded from certain arrangements including wills, medical directives, powers of attorney or any other “rights, benefits, obligations, qualities, or effects of marriage.”

The sweeping nature of the Virginia law goes far and above any apparent interest in protecting “traditional marriage.” Indeed, when I discuss the issue with voters here in Arlington, some who have no problem with civil unions or domestic partnerships seem surprised that the amendment they voted for is so far-reaching.

BUT I HAVE an additional message to those who want to protect “traditional marriage.” If we are going to consistently apply our noble principles of equal rights under the law and maintain separation of church and state, we must make an important distinction.

In our history, marriage as a concept has meant two radically different things. On the one hand, the “traditional marriage” so many in our society seek to protect is a religious institution, a covenant between two individuals and God.

On the other hand, the state does not care about a couple’s religious convictions when they decide to enter into a civil marriage. What concerns the state is the contract, the legal rights and responsibilities.

As a society, we can and we should protect both religious freedom and the right to contract. Religious institutions should continue to be free to recognize marriages as they see fit, but civil marriage and its accompanying benefits and obligations should be available to any couple, gay or straight, who wish to take on such a commitment.

In Virginia, we have a lot to do to ensure full equal rights regardless of sexual orientation. Marshall-Newman should be repealed. But like all the great reforms, that’s not going to happen without a voice in the Republican caucus.

Eric Brescia is running to represent Arlington’s 47th District in the Virginia House of Delegates. He can be reached via www.brescia2009.com.

Good Afternoon:

As some of you may know, I attend Wright State University, a young but major public university in the state of Ohio. Notable alumnus: David Albright. Few others. I’m dual majoring in international business and political science, and I’ve become increasingly angry at the international business program here for what I feel is a major lack of study abroad and internship opportunities. Even if the recession ended just recently, the program itself has no excuse for being as poor as it is. We have a top notch accountancy program here. I applied to Miami University (Oxford), one of the best business schools in Ohio and I’m looking forward to transferring there. But I digress. Read more »

From Andrew Sullivan:

What’s next? Ambers:

Where do the rest of her votes go? CW says that most go to Hoffman, but I’m with Jonathan Martin: I think half go to Democrat Bill Owens or they stay home. GOP registration exceeds Democratic registration by nearly 50,000. This is a Republican district that is likely to remain Republican, — only significantly more conservative than it’s been.

Within the GOP whatever nerve anyone had to resist the imprimatur of Erickson, Malkin, RS McCain et al is surely gone now. If a moderate cannot survive even in up-state New York, it’s over.

I beginning to think it’s time to pack up and leave and just become and independent. If a moderate can’t win in New York for God’s sakes, then they can’t win anywhere. Maybe Charlie Bass, Charlie Crist and those other moderates who are or thinking of running in 2010 might just want to give up. Why stay where you are not wanted?

It seems like the far right has got it’s wish:

Republican Dede Scozzafava has suspended her bid in next Tuesday’s NY 23 special election, a huge development that dramatically shakes up the race. She did not endorse either of her two opponents — Conservative party candidate Doug Hoffman or Democrat Bill Owens.

The decision to suspend her campaign is a boost for Hoffman, who already had the support of 50 percent of GOP voters, according to a newly-released Siena poll, and is now well-positioned to win over the 25 percent of Republicans who had been sticking with Scozzafava.

I guess the message from all this is pretty simple: if one deviates one bit from the current Republican “script” they are a RINO and must be driven out. Only the “pure” can be accepted.

The sad thing is that Hoffman doesn’t even know or care about issues affecting the district he is supposed represent should he win. Scozzafava knew her district,but because of her so-called liberal stances on gay marriage and abortion she is being drummed out of the party.

How Scozzafava was treated makes me wonder how long I will keep the moniker of Republican. I consider myself a pragmatic conservative and will remain one. But I am increasingly finding it hard to stay in a party that does not want me even though I agree with them on more issues than I disagree with them.

The party is headed towards destruction. I don’t know if I want to be there for the end.

Charles Brackett has a pretty good rundown of what happened 30 years ago in Britian. The election of Margaret Thatcher and the Conservatives, placed the Labour Party in a crisis. In something that is strangely similar to today, the party decided that it was not left-wing enough and pushed ahead with an even more leftist platform. The result? The election of 1983 was a landslide for the Conservatives.

Today’s GOP has suffered two losses and the attitude among some is that the party was not conservative enough. So we are seeing some of the same mistakes that Labour made, albeit from the right instead of the left. So what will be the result come 2010 and 2012? If the past truly is any guide, then the Democrats might want to get out the champagne.

“When Newt Gingrich is trying to pull you back to the center, you’ve gone so far right that the average voter can’t see you any longer.”

-Ezra Klein.

-Thanks to E.D. Kain over at the League for this quote.

Newt Gingrich has always been a thinker. Â Sometimes those thoughts have led him and the Party astray, but most of the time, he’s the Party’s big thinker. Â We need more of those.

Here is his reasoning for endorsing Dede Scozzafava. Â He makes a very strong case, in my opinion:

While there are clearly areas where Dede Scozzafava is not a conservative, there are many areas where she is: she is endorsed by the National Rifle Association, signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, supports keeping the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts permanent, voted against the Governor’s big-spending, tax increase budget, opposes the health care plan being pushed for by President Obama and Nancy Pelosi, opposes cap and trade and energy tax increases, favors an all of the above energy plan that includes more domestic oil and natural gas drilling. Furthermore, she will vote against Nancy Pelosi and for John Boehner for Speaker.

In addition to this fundamental question about respecting local leadership, and not assuming we know better than people who actually live in the district what is best for them, there is also a grave danger in this NY 23 race of establishing the precedent that every faction of the Republican Party can run a third party candidate if they lose a primary or a nominating process. That is a clear road to reelecting President Obama and making Nancy Pelosi Speaker for life. This will only lead to Left-wing government that will harm the country

The Ripon Forum has an archived 1989 interview with Newt Gingrich available on its website. Reading it over, you get a different view of Gingrich than what has been commonly seen. Here was a man brimming with ideas on governing and seeing the importance of bringing moderates into a winning governing coalition. He might be a tad too aggressive at times, but the man has a brain and passion to boot.

The current leaders on the right tend to be all about passion without very little intellect. We are more likely to hear phrases like “Acorn,” or “government-run health care,” instead of providing useful ideas that could fuel a center-right majority. We are also likely to hear calls for purity instead of trying to put together a coalition that will win elections.

It’s in this brawn without the brain environment that Gingrich is now seen as a traitor, because he dares to support moderates.

Gingrich’s low status among some conservatives these days is a reminder of how low the conservative movement has sunk.

From Republicans for Environmental Protection:

Republicans for Environmental Protection began running television ads on October 30 across South Carolina supporting U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham for his strong leadership on energy and climate change.

The group also plans to air radio ads as well.

The ad may be viewed by clicking here.

“REP applauds Senator Graham for setting a powerful example of conservative leadership,” REP Vice President for Government and Political Affairs David Jenkins said. “True conservatives take seriously the risks facing our country, and they take responsibility by supporting prudent measures to reduce those risks.”

REP believes that constructive Republican engagement will produce a better climate and energy bill than one produced by Democrats alone.

The ad features State Senator John Courson, a Columbia Republican representing Lexington and Richland Counties, who calls oil companies and other special interests on the carpet for their misleading ads attacking Senator Graham.

“We appreciate Senator Courson’s standing up for Senator Graham,” REP President Rob Sisson said. “Both of these outstanding leaders are patriots who have served our country with honor and understand what true conservatism is. They recognize the value of problem-solving over gridlock and of statesmanship over partisanship.”

“Senator Graham deserves enormous credit for stepping forward to solve real problems facing our nation and world. He correctly connects our national security, energy security and economic security with the need to protect our world for future generations,” said REP Vice President for Policy and Communications Jim DiPeso.

“We urge Republicans and Democrats to work together in good faith to frame balanced climate and energy legislation that a broad majority of Americans can support,” DiPeso added.

The ads are airing in the South Carolina media markets of Greenville-Spartanburg, Columbia, Charleston, and Florence-Myrtle Beach, and the Georgia media markets of Savannah and Augusta.

You can view the ad below:

I think Ross Douthat is probably one of the best young conservative thinkers out there and I loved his old blog at the Atlantic.

And now that he writes for the New York Times, I miss that he no longer blogs.

But I don’t get the whole campaign by Freddie over at the League:

The point is this: give Douthat a goddamn blog, New York Times. He can keep writing his column. You can ask that he talk about stuff in his column that doesn’t appear in the blog. You can insist that he operate in a different voice in the column than he does on the blog. You could even have the proviso that it be a blog about policy, or culture, or whatever. But give the man a blog on your website. Let him post about things that are a little less consequential. Let him stretch his feet out a bit. You hired this guy because you think he’s talented. Why not given him broader ranger to show it?

I know that I’m not the smartest tool in the shed, but couldn’t Douthat just start a blog on his own? I mean, could he just go to Wordpress or Blogger and just start up a blog? Why does he have to wait for the New York Times to give him a blog?

Don’t get me wrong: I’d love to see Douthat blog again. But unless there is some clause in a contract forbidding him to create a blog, if he really wanted to blog he could have done so by now quite easily.

I’m just saying…

The Washington Post has a delightful story on Edward Brooke, the first African American Senator elected by popular vote. Having recently celebrated his 90th birthday, the former Republican Senator from Massachusetts was honored with the Congressional Gold Medal on Wednesday. In the audience sat the third African American to head to the Senate via the popular vote, President Obama.

Brooke has always been a hero of mine, for breaking a racial barrier and for being a solid moderate Republican. He is one of the reasons I am a Republican. So, it is truly an honor to see this man be feted- and it is also amazing that in the same room sat the first African American Senator elected by popular vote and the first African American President.

What a country.

A few good links about Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman:

A Huffington Post article that goes a bit blue language-wise;

An article from the Watertown Daily Times on Hoffman skipping a debate…again;

Another Daily Times article about Hoffman that links him to an earmark at a local hospital;

Finally a post from North County Public Radio about Hoffman having to accept a bailout after the 1980 Winter Olympics.

Okay, not love. Not even really like. But, once you get past the hyperbole and conspiracy theories and outright lies(I’ll probably never get over the irresponsibility of his calling The President a racist) spread by him and his Tea Partiers, I’ve realized that, at their core, what they want is actually a unrefined vision for the future of the Republican Party.

Put down the tranquilizers and the straitjackets. I haven’t gone crazy. Listen for a second. What have the Tea Partiers been so angry about (other than President Obama’s citizenship)?

• Increased taxes
• Federal government takeover of the health care system
• Big Business taking Big Government (i.e., our) money
• Congress acting outside its Constitutional mandate

As Republicans, aren’t these issues most of us can get behind? Heck, the last one should get all Americans up in arms.

The Tea Parties have played a crucial role in identifying problems that people who consider themselves leaders of the Republican party should be providing solutions for. The problem isn’t with the Tea Partiers. The problem is with our leadership. No one is creating solutions. They’re content to ride the wave of the Tea Partiers’ anger back into power. In my opinion, that’s lazy, irresponsible and the worst kind of cynicism.

Where are the demands from members of Congress for increased oversight of the money already given to mega corporations? Why haven’t regulations been passed to ensure these types of things never happen again? Where are the programs to help individuals start their own community banks and businesses, so we can remove the heavy-boot of Big Business from the backs of our citizens?

One thing we’ve learned over the last two years is that America is hungry for change. Obama is learning, to his dismay, that his was not the change we were looking for. If the Republicans manage to get back into power with no strategy for sorting out America’s problems, we’re going to see that rage turn back on us in fairly short order.

From Republicans for Environmental Protection:

Republicans for Environmental Protection (REP), a national grassroots organization with a membership that includes many elected officials, is pleased to endorse Christopher J. Christie for governor of New Jersey.

“Chris Christie is a true environmental champion who is dedicated to fighting pollution and safeguarding New Jersey’s natural treasures,” REP President Rob Sisson said.

“As U.S. attorney for New Jersey, he vigorously prosecuted ocean polluters. As governor, he plans to make New Jersey a magnet for renewable energy manufacturing, bringing jobs and clean energy to the Garden State,” Sisson said.

“REP only endorses strong pro-environment Republicans, and we are very impressed with Chris Christie’s proven commitment to environmental quality and responsible stewardship,” said David Jenkins, REP’s vice president for government and political affairs.

REP also is convinced that a vote for independent candidate Chris Daggett would help the re-election bid of Jon Corzine, who has been woeful in safeguarding the environment. The only way that New Jersey voters can be certain that the environment will have a friend in Trenton is to vote for Chris Christie for governor.

“From Tom Kean Sr. to Christine Todd Whitman to the many GOP environmental champions whom Garden State voters have sent to Congress, New Jersey Republicans have set a high environmental standard. As governor, Chris Christie will follow that great tradition,” Jenkins added.

“New Jersey has been a national leader in protecting open space and outdoor recreational opportunities – the Highlands in the north, the Pinelands in south Jersey, the exceptional wildlife refuges up and down the state, and the incomparable Jersey Shore. As governor, Chris Christie will advance policies and programs that safeguard all these great environmental and economic assets,” Jim DiPeso, REP’s vice president for policy and communications, said.

Republicans for Environmental Protection is dedicated to resurrecting the Republican Party’s great conservation tradition and strengthening its commitment to the responsible stewardship of our environment and natural resources, protecting the achievements of great conservation-minded Republicans such as President Theodore Roosevelt.

“Republicans were responsible for most of this nation’s landmark environmental laws and protecting America’s natural heritage. We are fortunate that we have leaders like Chris Christie to carry on the conservative tradition of conservation today,” Sisson said.

Undoubtedly this raises good questions on his ability to actually represent the district he’s running for. Shouldn’t he know something about them?

Hoffman silent on local issues

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2009

Douglas L. Hoffman, the Conservative Party candidate for the 23rd Congressional District seat, offered no position on a few key local issues during a Thursday meeting with the Watertown Daily Times editorial board.