Follow the bouncing numbers...
The reality is that the history and the foundation of the LGBT movement has been largely fueled by the progressive base and by courageous Democrats who broke through within one political party,” Guerriero said. “That’s wonderful and it
got us to the 20-yard line. …”
Just the 20-yard line, eh? (chortle)
I don’t know the whole history of immigration legislation or its pros and cons thoroughly, but this caught my eye, because I was just writing about the six out of 106 sponsors on the latest effort to get rid of DADT:
That leaves them with a dilemma. Rep. Jerrold Nadler, DEMOCRAT-N.Y., introduced the latest version of a bill Tuesday [2005] to equalize immigration rights for gay and lesbian couples, the Uniting American Families Act.
Nadler acknowledges that it has little chance of passage, but he hopes to build support for the idea.
…
"The idea now is to build up more and more pressure, get
more and more co- sponsors, until one of two things happens," he said. "The pressure becomes unbearable and Republicans finally change or we get a Democratic Congress, whichever comes first.
-------------
Nadler has 53 co-sponsors while Leahy had nine co-sponsors at the time of the introduction of the bill. So far, one Republican has offered to sponsor the bill.
….
Interesting view of the pitch, from on high...
So, notwithstanding, are the Republicans ready to carry the ball from the 20-yard line?
... the [GOP controlled] House passed the most restrictive anti-immigration bill in modern history, which disproportionably affects gay, lesbian and transgender people and those with HIV.
The Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act passed the House 239 to 182 on December 16 with supporters and opponents from both parties.
The bill is sponsored by anti-gay Wisconsin Republican James Sensenbrenner with 35 cosponsors, one a Democrat. These include newly-elected Ohio Republican Jean Schmidt of Cincinnati. It was introduced only ten days earlier, and rushed through three subcommittees before landing in the House Judiciary Committee, which Sensenbrenner chairs...
Gee, with "dictats" like that, "Hillary bots" look delicious.
“The Log Cabin leader said that on the House side, there are between 35 and 40 Republicans—out of 220—who are “with us on most issues.” That includes 30 members of the GOP who voted early in December to support a federal hate crimes bill that included protections for transgendered Americans as well as gays and lesbians. On the Senate side, 12 Republicans out of 55 either cast a procedural vote or expressed sentiment opposing the Federal Marriage Amendment in 2004. A total of 18 have voted in favor of hate crimes legislation.”
But, the numbers looked puffed up if you consider that
- In 2006, LCR endorsed just 18 GOP incumbents in the house and three in the Senate, not “35-40" out of 232 (not "220")
- In 2006, 7 GOP Senators voted against (1 didn’t vote) and the GOP head of the judiciary put the bill forward to the Senate floor (even though he voted against the legislation). "12" narrows to seven.
