As the saying from Network goes, "I'm mad as hell and I'm not gonna take it anymore!"
As if "losing" the Election last week wasn't bad enough, now I have to sit and listen to people blaming San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom for our electoral woes.
Moral this and moral that. Values this and values that. Evangelicals this and evangelicals that.
According to dictionary.com, morals arise from conscience or the sense of right and wrong.
How can we expect anyone watching this election cycle to know exactly where the Democratic Party stood on the issue of marriage equality?
While the Republicans had a clearly misguided stance, no one could accuse them of wavering in their bigotry.
Don't blame Gavin Newsom.
Mayor Newsom did something few Democrats are willing to do today. He stood firmly behind his beliefs and as a result I predict his margin will not only improve among liberals but moderate voters as well when he's up for reelection.
You see voters don't necessarily want someone they agree with 100% of the time, they want consistency and commitment.
We Democrats are easy to attack on moral issues (and many others) because we continue to nominate candidates that equivocate to appease the supposed swing vote. Equivocation equals weakness in the eyes of the voters whether or not this weakness actually exists.
I'm not asking our party to deny the complexity of issues like George W. But if we refuse to nominate charismatic, plain spoken, candidates with clearly defined principles and beliefs last week's election is only a precursor of what's to come down the road.
When half our Senate and House candidates campaign across the country saying they don't support FMA because they see it as a state issue it not only infuriates the right but confuses the middle and left. Republicans are left thinking our candidates support Gay Marriage and Democrats are left thinking they think the state should outlaw it. Where is the morality in this position?
Imagine if you will our Democratic candidates saying they don't believe the Federal Government should sanction slavery because our FEDERAL constitution should never encourage discrimination. Further more, they believe our states should be left to handle this issue because, as the theory plays out, they are better suited to discriminate.
I defy you to find a shred of logic or morality in this approach.
If we can't stick to our progressive morals how can we expect to match the right on the moral issues?
Had the Democratic Party been as clear and consistent as the Republican Party we'd be able to blame San Francisco... but we weren't. Until we are, we should all lay off Gavin Newsom.