Ryan Sager reports:
In a startling departure from his previously stated
position on civil unions, Mayor Giuliani came out to The New York
Sun yesterday evening in opposition to the civil union law just
passed by the New Hampshire state Senate.
"Mayor Giuliani believes marriage is between one man
and one woman. Domestic partnerships are the appropriate way to
ensure that people are treated fairly," the Giuliani campaign said
in a written response to a question from the Sun. "In this specific
case the law states same sex civil unions are the equivalent of
marriage and recognizes same sex unions from outside states. This
goes too far and Mayor Giuliani does not support it."
While the Giuliani campaign is likely to split hairs over how close
this specific legislation is to marriage, the one thing that's
supposed to be unique about Rudy is that unlike the typical
politician, he doesn't split hairs--he's up front and direct. He
has always said he supports civil unions conceptually, and now he's
giving a lawyerly answer about an actual law.
Beyond my personal disappointment with this new position, I
don't really see the rationale for it from a purely political
perspective. It's hard to see how opposition to this single law
will win him any new friends on the right given his long history of
supporting civil unions and domestic partnerships. Social
conservatives who vote on gay marriage will not be supporting Rudy
anyway. At the same time, he may see his support errode among
socially libertarian voters and those who respect him for not being
a panderer.
topics:
Law, Unions
