Taking some time out from pushing for
universal health care, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom was interviewed by
Rolling Stone to talk about gay marriage. Newsom used the opportunity to
call out DC Democrats:
Where's the moral courage? It's lost. [...]
Not every Democrat in Washington agrees with gay marriage. But I will make the case -- based on some strong evidence -- that an overwhelming majority do. But they just can't say it. And that is a limitation that is causing more damage than the issue. Because, again, it shows a weakness of character.
Is Democrats failure to stand up for what we believe really more damaging than the issue of gay marriage?
[Democrats have] never run the 90-yard dash on equality -- ever. The history of this party is civil rights, women's rights, human rights, labor rights, gay and lesbian rights. And for us to hold up civil unions and say that separate is somehow now equal -- when just a-year-and-a-half we ago celebrated the 50th anniversary of Brown v. Board -- is transparent to the people. They see through the Democrats.
That's why this issue was not seen by the Kerry campaign in 2004 in a positive light. Because people saw through John Kerry. They didn't believe that he was only supportive of civil unions. Because here he was, running as a Democrat on all those proud traditions where we never fell short on equality. And so -- even though his position was exactly the same as Dick Cheney's -- the American people questioned that. I don't think the American people believe us. And that's a big problem.
The DC consultant notions of electability are being challenged all across the country. From San Francisco to Montana to Connecticut, the Democratic Party is being reborn thanks to bold leaders with the courage to stand up and reform our Party.