Blue Mass Group

Reality-based commentary on politics.

New Jersey District 25 – any hope?

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In anticipation of the upcoming marriage equality debate in New Jersey, I’m trying to get a feel for the possibilities in my family’s district.  They live in District 25, which is represented by 3 republicans:

  • Senator ANTHONY R. BUCCO

  • Assemblyman MICHAEL PATRICK “This is NOT a civil rights matter” CARROLL

  • Assemblyman RICHARD A. “Impeach the supreme court justices!” MERKT.  

    In 2006, both assemblymen voted NO on A3787/S2407, the civil unions bill (pdf).  Sen Bucco did not vote, but is on record opposing civil unions and marriage equality, and supporting an anti-equality constitutional amendment.  I can’t find any recent statements by any of them on marriage equality, but the quotes from a few years ago indicate that all three are die-hard haters.

    BUT!  Legislators do sometimes change their tune.  So, does anyone out there live in NJ and have anything more hopeful to add about these three legislators?  Is the NJ legislature thick enough with democrats that the GOP party liners can be ignored?

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    • Comments

    1. No new information here on NJ district 25.  But maybe the GOPers in NJ could see that marriage equality in MA has lead to a strengthening of relationships, not that they weren’t strong before.

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      p>Republicans and the Right keep trying to use issues like marriage equality as ways to divide people.  Many GOPers have a “government leave us alone” streak in them.  Maybe appealing to this is how to win them over or at least get them to be neutral?

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      p>MA continues to be a shining city on a hill.  Who would have thought that some on Beacon Hill would see the folly of trying to use marriage equality to divide people?

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      p>We should never rest on our laurels though.  The Right keeps trying to take back this civil right, just look at Proposition 8 in California.

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      p>

      • streak is certainly a possibly good approach.  in my view, it all comes down to titrating an approach to each legislator that will resonate with them personally.  for example, michael carroll’s defense of hetero-only marriage seems to be based on his assumption that it is only heterosexual couples who can and do have children.  so imo, the thing to do would be to have tons of gay-headed families in his district pay a visit to his office, children in tow, to show that we have kids too.  maybe point out to him the number of foster and adopted children the state places with gay parents, too.  but that’s just my guess of a good approach to him based on one 2 year old blog that he wrote.  it would be nice to have more information on all of them.  it’s a tough project, seeing as i live 2,000 miles away!

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