Meghan McCain's Marriage Equality Message to NY Republicans
Published May 22, 2009 @ 09:46AM PT
When people say the word "maverick," they often think of someone else in the McCain family. But in all honesty, the word "maverick" should really be reserved for Meghan McCain, who has proven time and again that she's willing to take an independent position to push her political party in the direction of equality.
Today, Meghan McCain is out with a message for New York Republicans. That message is short and sweet: embrace gay marriage.
New York's State Senate is currently sitting on a bill that will, if passed, make New York the next state to recognize marriage equality. In order for that bill to pass the Senate, some Republican State Senators will need to support it (due to the fact that some Democrats - hello, Senator Ruben Diaz - do not support marriage equality). The balance is such in the NY State Senate that at least a couple Republicans will have to vote yes on marriage equality.
So Meghan McCain deserves kudos for pushing them to do so. Here's part of her message to the GOP:
Gays and lesbians are a vital part of our communities. They are doctors, teachers, firefighters, emergency personnel and neighbors. In this way, marriage equality is also about supporting good citizens and strengthening our communities. When a committed gay couple seeks to declare their love for one another and get married, the whole community benefits from the added stability and strength of that family. On top of that, we don't give up anything by sharing responsibilities and protections with those whom we love.
Wow. If only we could get more politicians to say the same thing!
McCain's full statement can be found after the jump. Please read it. It's a great reminder that despite the fact that the dominant voices in the GOP tend to be the Rush Limbaughs, Mike Huckabees, Rick Santorums, and Sarah Palins, there are many others within the Republican Party who thoughtfully and intelligently champion marriage equality - often better than some Democrats do.
Published at the New York Daily News:
As I read the news about the recent advances of marriage equality across our country, I think it is easy for many to get distracted by the politics and rhetoric on this issue and lose sight of what is really at its heart: the equality of freedom.
No matter how politically charged the discussions about marriage equality may get, the question is really a simple one: Do the rights and privileges we offer citizens include everyone in our country, or only some of us?
I believe that allowing gays and lesbians the freedom to marry is an idea whose time has come. Though my opinion is no doubt influenced by my family's public role in political life, I still approach this from personal experience, as I think most people do. For me, this is about treating all of my friends, and all of our brothers, sisters, children and grandchildren the same as I want to be treated. Equality under the law and personal freedoms are what make America the greatest country in the world, and they are core values that I hold as a Republican.
As I recently wrote after speaking at the Log Cabin Republican convention: "People may always have a difference of opinion . . . but championing a position that wants to treat people unequally isn't just un-Republican. At its fundamental core, it's un-American." I believe most Americans want our nation to succeed. Marriage equality moves us to a place where more of us can do a better job of taking care of our families.
Gays and lesbians are a vital part of our communities. They are doctors, teachers, firefighters, emergency personnel and neighbors. In this way, marriage equality is also about supporting good citizens and strengthening our communities. When a committed gay couple seeks to declare their love for one another and get married, the whole community benefits from the added stability and strength of that family. On top of that, we don't give up anything by sharing responsibilities and protections with those whom we love.
That's why I support marriage equality. It is the best and fairest way to grant gay and lesbian neighbors and family members the protections and responsibilities that they need to provide for their family and give back to their community.
As Republicans, we understand the importance of strong communities. Last week, the New York Assembly passed the marriage bill with the support of five Republican Assembly members. Now, the bill goes before the state Senate, where Republican senators will make the difference on whether the bill becomes law or dies. Once again, New York has the opportunity to make a statement about Republican values and fairness by passing the marriage bill.
I believe marriage equality will soon come to New York. My hope is that Republican senators will offer their support and make the difference to pass the marriage bill.
By voting for the marriage bill, they will make a strong statement about supporting New York families, strengthening New York communities and demonstrating that equality and fairness are fundamental values of New York Republicans. It will leave a legacy that will make us all proud.
--Meghan McCain
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Comments (10)
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Michael is the Communications Director for the Human Rights Program at Harvard Law School, and previously was Communications Director for Pax Christi USA, a progressive Catholic human rights organization.
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Wow, I can't believe she said MARRIAGE EQUALITY instead of same-sex marriage.
Go Meghan!
Posted by Courtney C............ on 05/22/2009 @ 09:58AM PT
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Obama would do well to pay attention to Meghan McCain: her and the 9 year old who organised a rally in Denver talk more sense than the President has since flip-flopping on the issue in his election campaign.
Posted by Tim Kopp on 05/22/2009 @ 01:09PM PT
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Manhattan Young Democrats launched a BIG campaign on Tuesday to get the fight going: http://newyorkequality.com
We've sent over 1500 letters and have over 1000 fans on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/New-Yorkers-for-Marriage-Equality/78138778631
We're also on twitter using the hashtag #nyequality: http://twitter.com/gomyd
Please join us and help the fight!
(we have big plans for next week, so follow us!)
Posted by Julie Blitzer on 05/22/2009 @ 01:15PM PT
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Meghan McCain did the correct thing by supporting the necessary LGBT right of marriage equality. In addition, it's good that she's pushing the Republican party, of which I'm not, in the correct and justifying direction for equality for the LGBT community. With a few more votes by Republicans needed to pass the bill that would recognize same-sex marriage, Meghan McCain will probably succeed in getting those votes by stating her Republican party beliefs.
Posted by Edwin Bonilla on 05/22/2009 @ 03:22PM PT
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As a republican, I believe She is exactly what this party needs to help Us get back to what this party was founded for in the first place. We have come a long way in the wrong direction.
Posted by Charlie Reed on 05/22/2009 @ 08:18PM PT
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OK, if Meghan McCain ever runs for anything that I can vote for? I'm there, dude. I don't care if she's Republican. THAT is a Republican woman I can get behind. Sarah Palin, are you listening???
Posted by Dana Seilhan on 05/22/2009 @ 10:39PM PT
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The Republican party certainly needs something, but I don't believe Meghan McCain is necessarily it.
As for this issue, homosexual marriage advocates could take a giant step towards defusing it by not insisting that same-sex unions must be called 'marriage'. It is the insistence on applying a term that for centuries has meant, "the formal union of a man and a woman, typically recognized by law, by which they become husband ['a married man considered in relation to his wife'] and wife ['a married woman considered in relation to her husband']." By making this a war of words--a semantic issue--in order to capture territory beyond what is reasonable for all but the extremists, advocates of civil unions are actually impeding the process.
Try replacing the word 'marriage' with something that is not going to antagonize a huge segment of the population and see how much easier this campaign becomes--or would that not be radical enough for the extremists' sensibilities?
The 'Christian Right' is demonized for rigidity in their beliefs about homosexuality, but what about homosexual 'marriage' advocates. Ever hear of Steve Yuhas? Do you know what happened to him when he had the temerity to support California's Prop 22? How about what happened to Carrie Prejean when she had the temerity to give her honest opinion about the issue? These two, and anyone who dares to express an opposing opinion on this issue, no matter how rationally or diplomatically, are victims of the tyranny of the rampant political correctness mob.
In closing, pardon me for dissenting, but Meghan McCain has about as much substance as a windsock.
Posted by Putit Right on 05/23/2009 @ 04:47AM PT
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Putit,
I like how you conveniently left out the part of the historical (or "Biblical" as you might say) definition of marriage where women are the property of men, or where men have the biblical right to marry more than one woman, or where a black person doesn't have the right to marry a white person.
Fact is, the definition of marriage hasn't been the same since the beginning of time. Thankfully it's changed to reflect the better angels of society.
But really, what I don't hear you explain is when two men or two women who love each other get married, how that affects you? How does that affect you? Does it threaten your marriage? Because if the only reason you're against same-sex marriage is simply because you don't like gay, lesbian or bisexual people, then that's just not good enough of an answer to use as blanket policy across the country.
As Meghan McCain herself said, "Marriage equality moves us to a place where more of us can do a better job of taking care of our families." Your positions put you in an ever-decreasing minority in this country. And while you're entitled to believe that a whole entire population of people should not be afforded the same civil rights as straight people, I'll take Meghan McCain's substance over your prostylitizing any day.
Posted by Michael Jones on 05/23/2009 @ 05:31AM PT
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Dear Michael,
First, I haven't seen any claim or any poll that puts my "positions" in a minority. Maybe you could cite some?
Second, you have made at least two glaringly unfounded and false assumptions about me: 1) that I "don't like gay, lesbian or bisexual people" and 2) that I "believe that a whole entire population (?!) of people should not be afforded the same civil rights as straight people". Thanks for that, by the way. That just proves my point that one is not allowed to hold a dissenting opinion on this matter. It's the old "my way or the highway" routine. "If you're not with us you're against us." "If you don't have the same opinion as us you must be a 'bigot'." Take Steve Yuhas, for example--excommunicated by the homosexual community for daring to oppose same-sex marriage. Take Carrie Prejean, for example--demonized by the mainstream media and called every name in the book by everyone else on the left for giving her honest but extremely diplomatic opinion on the topic in response to a direct question. Once again, it is NOT the 'Christian Right' that is obdurate on this issue; it is the extremist homosexual 'marriage' advocates.
But back to the point, which YOU so conveniently left out: Why do civil unions have to be called "marriages"? Wouldn't it just be a lot easier on everybody to call them 'civil unions' or come up with a different term, change whatever laws still stood in the way (I can't think of many if any) of your perceived "civil rights", and let us all go on about our business?
PS I'm not quite sure which of the things I wrote could be interpreted as "prostylitizing" (whatever that is ;-). I personally don't see how questioning someone's half-baked opinion equals trying to convert him.
Posted by Putit Right on 05/23/2009 @ 08:46AM PT
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Putit Right,
If it is so "easy" as you say, or that "it's just a term", then why the objection from you to extend marriage to two-consenting adults?
People like you seem to think that government is inefficient already, why add to that inefficiency? If we create separate but equal laws for marriage and civil unions, then every new piece of legislation that pertains to marriage or civil unions would also have to be introduced to mirror each other. This would be adding to that inefficiency in government that are railed against by conservatives. So the easiest and most efficient thing to do, would be to open CIVIL MARRIAGE (aka marriage equality as it pertains to government) up to any two consenting adults.
Posted by Dave Hershey on 05/23/2009 @ 11:30AM PT
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