Gay Marriage: Who are the Real Bigots?

In the wake of a decision by the New York Supreme Court refusing to impose, by judicial fiat, gay marriage on the state, Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean today issued the following statement:

As Democrats, we believe that every American has a right to equal protection under the law and to live in dignity. And we must respect the right of every family to live in dignity with equal rights, responsibilities and protections under the law. Today’s decision by the New York Court of Appeals, which relies on outdated and bigoted notions about families, is deeply disappointing, but it does not end the effort to achieve this goal.

As that essential process moves forward, it is up to the State legislature to act to protect the equal rights of every New Yorker and for the debate on how to ensure those rights to proceed without the rancor and divisiveness that too often surrounds this issue.

In other words, people who oppose gay marriage (the clear majority of the population) are “bigots.” That’s Dean’s view.

But just who are the real bigots? Is it the people who argue their position rationally, or is it people who just call the opposition nasty names?

Dean doesn’t want “rancor,” but his statement is nothing if not rancorous.

He claims to reject “divisiveness,” but uses highly divisive rhetoric.

Few Democrats on the national stage will admit that they favor gay marriage. They will say they favor “civil unions” or even that they oppose the idea entirely.

But in their heart of hearts, they want gay marriage legalized. If it’s done by judicial fiat, that’s fine with them. Since they have demonized the opponents, notions of fair play and democratic governance don’t apply. It needs to be forced down their throats, by any means necessary.