I ask this question seriously because, as it seems, the Democrats whom I am eligible to vote for this November are overwhelmingly opposed by my equal right under the US Constitution to seek legal recognition of my marriage.
In 2006, there were four distinct pieces of legislation introduced in the West Virginia Legislature and the US Congress seeking to ban the legal recognition of same-sex marriage:
*US Senate - Joint Resolution 1 - Allard (R-CO)
*US House - Joint Resolution 88 - Musgrave (R-CO)
*WV House of Delegates - House Joint Resolution 106
*WV Senate - Senate Joint Resolution 12
Now, let's see how my Democratic representatives voted on the issues, hmm?
First, to the US House resolution - Granted, Congressman Mollohan (D-WV-01) voted against the resolution, but Congressman Mollohan has opposed stem cell research and supported Terri Schiavo legislation.
Now, to the US Senate resolution - Senator Byrd (D-WV) voted for the motion of cloture but claimed
he would have opposed the amendment. Yet, his communications director at his Charleston office bluntly told me that Senator Byrd is strongly opposed to the legal recognition of same-sex marriage. Additionally, Senator Byrd has submitted legislation during this Congress to legalize school prayer.
The West Virginia Legislature also sought legislation on the same subject.
HJR 106 was introduced and co-sponsored by Delegate Tim Ennis (D-Brooke Co.) who is my representative for the WV Second House District.
SJR 12 was introduced and co-sponsored by Senator Edward Bowman (D-Hancock Co.) who is my representative for the WV First Senatorial District.
It seems of the five state/federal Democrats whom I'm eligible to vote for, only one seems to think that I should enjoy rights as a first-class US citizen. Additionally, a Democratic candidate for the neighboring WV House of Delegates district (whom I monetarily supported) is now running a radio ad claiming to be a "devout Christian" who will vote for family values. The Republican incumbent for that Third WV House District has opposed attempts to codify such hate into the West Virginia Constitution.
You Kossacks have told me for months and months that if I simply vote Democratic in November, everything will get better. Well, that doesn't seem to be the case in the examples I have provided. So, I am asking you again, why should I essentially capitulate and relegate myself to second-class citizenship just to elect a Democratic majority?
---UPDATE---
It seems that most of you claim a Democratic majority (which we have had in the WV Legislature for 70 years) will somehow prevent me from being registered a sex offender. Others, however, claim that electing a Democratic majority will, over time, result in the legal recognition of same-sex marriage. Here's my next question:
What fantasy world are you people living in?
How many monogamous gay couples have heard such a promise for decades and still yet to have seen any fruition? Why should I even bother participating in the aforementioned races? After all, this is a core issue to me. It may not be to you, but it is to me. The next question is --- Does the Democratic Party deserve a majority? Exactly what good will it do? Why not bother waiting until 2008?
Oh, and to answer your other questions:
No, I will not be voting for Chris Wakim or John Raese.
No, I will not be voting for Ed Bowman or his Republican opponent.
No, I will not be voting for Tim Ennis or his Republican opponent (though I will vote for Jack Yost).
Call me a troll, but you do so in complete ignorance. I have simply been reading diary entries over the last three months rather than creating my own. But, I was so frustrated that I thought a diary entry was worthwhile. Apparently, it was not, or else DailyKos is not what it once was.