More (of nothing) from Albany

Here is the New York Post’s story, posted at 11:30 a.m., on this morning’s developments at the state capitol. Senate Republicans had a meeting on the homosexual “marriage” bill, while dueling protests were held in the hall outside the conference room (since when are protests allowed inside the capitol building during legislative sessions? What—have we become Wisconsin?), but nothing further was decided.

This is one situation in which there can’t be too much of nothing.

Also note: the Post’s below headline is misleading. There is no “looming” vote on the marriage bill, since there has been no decision to have such a vote, notwithstanding numerous statements from media and legislators over the past week that such a vote was “inevitable” and that victory for homosexual “marriage” in such a vote was “inevitable.” The pushy headline is further indication of how the Post has switched to the pro-homosexualist side, notwithstanding its pro forma editorials opposing the bill.

Senate shakes as gay marriage vote looms

ALBANY—Tense dueling protests shook the Senate’s marble halls this morning as the chamber’s Republican majority huddled privately over a jam-packed agenda that included a possible vote on gay marriage.

The senators met amid new warnings from the state Conservative Party boss Michael Long to put off a pivotal roll call to make New York the sixth state to allow same-sex nuptials even though 31 of the necessary 32 members support the measure.

“Once again, we urge you to stand strong for traditional marriage and not put a bill on the floor,” Long said. “Any bill that will harm our state should not be allowed a vote.”

It was an about-face for Long who earlier this month told the upstate cable news network YNN that “the voters deserve to know where their senators stand” on the issue.

The Conservative chairman has threatened to strip the party’s endorsement from any Republican senator who votes for marriage, a move that could jeopardize the party’s one-vote majority and its only toehold to state power.

Senate majority spokesman Scott Reif said the Republicans were for the moment preoccupied with last-minute changes to yesterday’s massive rent and tax-cap deal sought by Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan) and not discussing gay marriage.

Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R-Nassau) has so far not committed to any action on the marriage bill, despite Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s assertion last night that New Yorkers were “entitled” to a public vote.

“The governor at one time said he didn’t want a vote on marriage unless it was going to pass,” Skelos told reporters after he arrived this morning. “He’s changed his tune. We haven’t conferenced that issue and some point we will.”

Any vote would follow action on the omnibus rent bill, meaning action was unlikely until late tonight and possibly might not come until tomorrow or Friday.

A small but boisterous crowd filled the hall outside the Republican conference room, carrying slogans both for and against the marriage bill in dueling protests that were tense, but peaceful.

One demonstrator wearing pink duct tape over his mouth held aloft a placard demanding “Today!” while another carried a sign that read “Kill the bill.”

Pro-marriage groups lead near-endless verses of “Let it shine”—punctuated by shouts of “Today!”—in an attempt to drown out hymns of anti-marriage protesters.

Opponents chanted “One Man! One woman!” while supporters repeated: “Gay, straight! Black or white! Marriage is a civil right!”

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Greg W. writes:

“Gay, straight, black or white, marriage is a civil right!”

There you have it. Liberals identifying sexual behavior as no different than race or ethnicity. Gays like to identify themselves by their sexual behavior. How many times have we heard someone say “I’m a gay American.” Nail-biting is a behavior as well. Why not say “I’m a nail-biting American!”

Posted by Lawrence Auster at June 22, 2011 03:16 PM | Send