As we reported here on Instant Tea, the New York Senate appears to be just one vote shy of the majority needed to pass a bill legalizing same-sex marriage in that state. And one reason marriage supporters are so close to the magic number of 32 is because one Republican, Sen. Roy McDonald, decided it was time to throw partisanship out the window and “do the right thing.”
New York Sen.Roy McDonald
According to this post on TMZ.com, in announcing his decision earlier this week to vote for marriage equality, McDonald declared:
“You get to the point where you evolve in your life where everything isn’t black and white, good and bad, and you try to do the right thing. You might not like that. You might be very cynical about that. Well, fuck it. I don’t care what you think. I’m trying to do the right thing. I’m tired of Republican-Democrat politics. They can take the job and shove it. I come from a blue-collar background. I’m trying to do the right thing, and that’s where I’m going with this.”
Well, I say, you go, Sen. McDonald. It’s about time somebody actually pointed out that this is an issue of fairness and equality; partisan politics shouldn’t matter, and neither should some individuals’ personal religious beliefs. What matters is doing the right thing.
Marriage equality supporters — and I am one — appreciate all the New York senators who are backing the marriage bill there. But when someone is willing to step out and state their support in such unequivocal terms and to stress that they support marriage equality because it is the right thing to do as McDonald did, then they deserve some special thanks.
A conservative with a conscience, a real rarity! Bravo!
A conservative sticking to a conservative principle…the government should stay out of people’s private business
It’s about time that our own law makers and such admit the need to throw our partisan politics and “Do the right thing”.
It’s not about (R) or (D), it’s about basic human feelings and – Love. Why should it matter to the world who you love? F2F, M2M, Trans2Trans, etc.
Look, I transitioned as a person with DSOD (Disorder of Sexual Development) from M to F. I am married to a genetic female. Does that NOW make us lesbians? No, only two people who love each other and are soul mates.
People should be able to marry who they want.
I get tired of politics vs orientation.
Now if we could just get the rest of the Republicans to realize what Roy McDonald did was not only courageous, but just “the right thing to do”. Hats off to you McDonald!!
trisha,
I don’t see this as a conservative doing the conservative thing, in fact it is the opposite. Actually religion should stay out of government and government out of religion and until there is marraige equality the government seems to be only in the life of gays! Heterosexuals don’t have the restrictions of liberty gays do!
@billijo…I’m talking about a Barry Goldwater conservative or what people now know as the Ron Paul conservative. Goldwater was a major opponent of the religious right and believed social issues had not place in government. As crazy as some people think Paul is, he does believe in government staying out of religion and vice versa.
McDonald: “You get to the point where you evolve in your life where everything isn’t black and white, good and bad, and you try to do the right thing. You might not like that. You might be very cynical about that. Well, fuck it. I don’t care what you think. I’m trying to do the right thing. I’m tired of Republican-Democrat politics. They can take the job and shove it. I come from a blue-collar background. I’m trying to do the right thing, and that’s where I’m going with this.”
The man’s moral compass is broken and his mind is a mess. If he thinks “homosexual marriage” is the “right thing”, then he has chosen to stick middle finger in God’s face. How can that be considered doing the “right thing”?
Mary, it is the right thing because our laws are not to be written according to the way you interpret the Bible, but according to our state and US constitutions. If we made laws according to the Bible, it would be illegal to possess, sell or consume shellfish.
Regarding the comment “A conservative sticking to a conservative principle…the government should stay out of people’s private business.”
I add the conservative principles personal responsibility, limited government and no special rights.
Conservative principles strongly support the inclusion of same sex couples in marriage laws. The Republican party does not support the inclusion because it is no longer conservative by principle on many issues.
Regarding the comment “A conservative sticking to a conservative principle…the government should stay out of people’s private business.”
I add the conservative principles personal responsibility, limited government and no special rights.
Conservative principles strongly support the inclusion of same sex couples in marriage laws. The Republican party does not support the inclusion because it is no longer conservative by principle on many issues.
People are confusing conservative principles with libertarian ones. Libertarians want to keep the government out of every aspect of peoples lives. Conservatives have a strong morality position: no same sex marriage, abortion, drug trafficking, prostitution, assisted suicide, etc.
Without the Bible (or at least God), there is no way anyone can define “the right thing”. If there is no supreme creator of the universe, then there is no right and wrong, because we are not accountable to anything.
Without God there is only legal and illegal. We could legalize homosexual marriages. We could also lower the age of consent to 2, but would that make it “right”.
We all know that there is such a thing as right and wrong. Therefore, there must be a supreme creator of the universe. So, what does the supreme creator of the universe think? We all know the answer to that one, too.
igotsix, I think there is a flaw to your “logic” – you seem to believe there is no right and wrong without a “supreme creator of the universe” but I think many, including me, would disagree. Morality doesn’t require faith in god. (And, by the way, which god would that be?)
Be that as it may, many religious institutions believe that their god approves of same sex marriage, so those churches perform them.
As for your example of the age of consent being 2 – we both know (without any divine intervention) that this is a ludicrous example and one no one would stand up to promote.
Jesus never spoke a word about homosexuality but had plenty to say about adultery, divorce and hypocrisy so conveniently left off igotsix’s “morality” list…and most other bible thumpers such as Mary. If McDonald were sticking his middle finger up to anyone Mary, it would be to YOU & igotsix.
44 years ago it was still illegal for a black person to marry a white person in 17 states. Would anyone even dream of supporting a law like that now? We WILL get there. If you’re reading this, and you want to get married but you can’t yet…just hang in there a little longer, ok? Hate runs the sprint. Love runs the marathon–see you at the finish line.
wow, there is one republican, out of the millions who hate us, that is willing to do what is right. I’m shocked, but it’s a good sign for the future of our nation.