House Democrats delay in order to 'come up the curve' on trans-gender issues, by watching Oprah and Donnie Deutsch, who have put up some outstanding work just in the recent past. At least that's my wild interpretation of their re-group.
Here is what ought to happen (IMHO only on my small, backwater blogologolog):
- 1. A short delay while they regroup and figure out exactly why they don't have the votes for a trans-inclusive bill (and the impact of "trans" across bi-partisan lines, if anything).
- 2. Try to quickly educate themselves if they think it will help the marginal votes. I'd bet dollars that there are lot of Congressman ... less informed than they might be. Public hearings?
Finally,
- 3. Put up a Bill that is trans-inclusive and vote it up/down. Is there no one in the Congress who can give a passionate floor speech on trans issues?
- 4. If it fails, put up a non trans-inclusive bill and vote it up/down.
If they don't want to be on the record with their current opposition to 'trans', that's not great, but it's o.k., in the field of politics.
They should move ahead with the non-trans Bill (step #4), one way or the other, because it is the right thing to do; but not expect there to be full throated support for a half-measure - in fact, there ought to be hostility.
Their actions will be good, but still disappointing. That's almost how 'compromise' is defined.
But it does have to be their compromise, not my own, so to speak.
I can't think of a good analogy, but I'll try with this one: Isn't this how we use 'politics' to teach our kids morals on some issues, too? We are happy for the things they do 'right' and don't stop loving them for all of their 'poor choices'. Yet, as a parent, we also don't fail to give them solid direction on how to sort out 'right' from 'wrong'.
