As expected, religious leaders in New York are stepping up their campaign against same-sex marriage:
Evangelical, Roman Catholic and Orthodox Jewish leaders, determined to head off momentum for same-sex marriage in Albany, say they are mobilizing an extensive campaign to block legislation that would make New York the sixth state to allow gay men and lesbians to wed.Our side is already in gear, too. And, note to New York Legislators: Catholics don't listen to their leaders. They don't.
“Our pastors are fired up by the governor’s assault on marriage,” said the Rev. Jason J. McGuire, executive director of New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms, a lobbying group that represents evangelical churches in the state. “We’re already in gear.”
And, of course, NOM will bankroll the fight with its shady and controversial funding:
As in past years, the local religious opposition to same-sex marriage will have the support of a Washington-based national political lobby, the National Organization for Marriage, which formed in 2007 to fight same-sex legislation around the country. That organization was behind the April 12 blitz of automated phone calls singling out voters in about a dozen Senate and Assembly districts where legislators have said they are undecided. Brian Brown, the group’s president, said the calls urged voters to tell lawmakers they opposed same-sex marriage.I think State Senators already know that our side has money to defeat people who vote against marriage. Witness the work of Fight Back NY in 2010. Maggie's money doesn't mean as much in NY.
“We spent over half a million dollars in New York” in 2009, he said, “and we’re ready to spend that and more this time. We are willing to spend a million against any Republican senator who votes for gay marriage.”
So, this is a throw down between Maggie Gallagher and Andrew Cuomo. I'm picking Cuomo. No contest.
