BP Jack McCullough JulieWaters kestrel9000 Maggie Gundersen Sue Prent

One Sentence - One Syllable - One Second

by: Caoimhin Laochdha

Sat Dec 06, 2008 at 05:00:00 AM EST

Here it comes. The trolls are coming out of the closet to lament how the General Assembly, in this coming 2009 session, will not have no time to pass a law giving equal marriage rights to all Vermonters.

The chorus is chiming in and the preemptive song is that the General Assembly will be legislating 24/7 and Eight.Days.A.Week to get a handle on all the policy problems -- social, fiscal, legal, economic, regulatory,environmental, health care, educational etc. ad nauseam that are gripping our State. Last I heard it was the Republicans and conservatives who tanked the economy - the same people who are so concerned (at the mention of marriage equality) that only the economy should have our attention.

But does that mean that justice necessarily goes on the back burner?

Here is the deal folks: One sentence of Vermont law needs to be changed. One syllable ("All those in favor . . . "AYE") needs to be uttered on the floor of the House and Senate; AND the Governor needs to take just one measly second to sign his James Douglas Hancock to the legislation. Then it's done. It's a big deal, it's important, it's a huge step, but it doesn't have to be any more complicated than that. The work is already done, we know the problem, we have the solution. Let's get it done.

Say it with me --

One Sentence * One Syllable * One Second

One Sentence in Title 15 of the Vermont Code to fix. Just one. One Syllable to utter. Just one. One Second to put pen to paper. Just one. That is all it will take to end marital inequality in Vermont.

One Sentence * One Syllable * One Second

(there' more, about how little it takes, on the flip)

Caoimhin Laochdha :: One Sentence - One Syllable - One Second

Kudos to Senator John Campbell (D-Windsor) who already announced that marriage equality was back in the hopper for 2009. This is a policy and justice issue that we should expect all Democrats to support this session.

When this equality for Vermonters issue comes to the State House, we will hear "there is no time." That will be the opposition argument because their true opposition, which is "we hate, we fear," is an argument most conservatives are smart enough - at least in public - not to admit in civil company.

The issue, however, is not what problems are more pressing or more important or more time consuming. The fact is, we have more problems than the General Assembly can possibly fix - a huge frustration to all of us. No, the issue is what are the problems that the General Assembly CAN FIX? Marital equality for same gender couples is one that they can fix.

One Sentence

One Syllable

One Second

There is one sentence in the Vermont code that needs to be changed. ONE SENTENCE. It reads:

Marriage is the legally recognized union of one man and one woman. 15 V.S.A. § 8.

Change that one sentence to:

"Marriage is the legally recognized union of two people."

Then add a sentence to clarify the language used in Title 15 related to marriage by inserting something to the effect of:

"Gender-specific terms relating to the marital relationship or familial relationships, including without limitation “spouse,” “family,” “marriage,” “dependent,” “bride,” “groom,” “husband,” “wife,” shall be construed to be gender-neutral for all purposes throughout the law, whether in the context of statute, administrative or court rule, policy, common law, or any other source of civil law."

Bingo. With that we're done. Check your watch because it's not even lunchtime yet.

With one sentence & one syllable out of the way, our General Assembly still has the entire afternoon, and the rest of the week, to work on grown-up Democratic solutions to the Vermont-specific problems arising from this latest GOP recession.

The job for our Democratic leaders in the House & Senate is certainly to pass a marriage rights bill to protect the rights of same gender couples equally. Just as critically, however, their job is to prevent

-- the Proposition H8 brigade

-- the Bigots

-- the Up.From.Under.the.Rocks.&.Taking.the.Lord's.Name.In.Vain.Lunatics

-- the Concern Troll Republicans and assorted conservative fear slaves

from turning passage of the marriage equality bill into a circus of wingnuttery, and a festival of hate and fear. Passing a marriage equality bill at this historical juncture is only the "showing up for work" part. The politically effective and reasonable part of this package is to pass it swiftly and efficiently and, yes, muscle it down the opposition's throat if that's what is necessary. Do not let this become a long and drawn out process because the opposition wants it to be long and drawn out.

The fact is we have complicated important work to do. That is in fact our argument, not the Governor's. "There is important work ahead of us and a serious economic crises, there is no time to waste as we pass a same gender marital rights law. Let's pass it without delay and move on." On the question or marriage rights, we have the solution to the problem of inequality right in front of us. We already know and respect the obligation to see justice occur. There is no need for those of us on the right side of history to complicate things further by delaying Vermont's progress. Just do it.

One Sentence

One Syllable

One Second

Vermont is barely a nano-click or two ahead of civil society on the marriage equality front, assuming the General Assembly passes equality legislation in 2009. In the not too distant future, Vermont's role helping to secure civil society's minimum rights, responsibilities and protections for our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters will be a dusty footnote. It is well past time that we un-hitch heterosexuals from their lonely burden of upholding the institution of marriage. Arbitrary monopolies and State enforced exclusions do not strengthen any institutions and marriage has proven to be no exception. Lesbian, gay and heterosexual Vermonters need each other's support, and we will all benefit from socially reinforced, culturally enabled and legally empowered marriages and families that the law protects and that the State extends to all Vermonters.

Poll

You may now

Kiss the Brides
Kiss the Grooms
Kiss the Bride and Groom
Welcome & support ALL families in our communities

Results

Tags: Wedding Presents, Democratic Leadership, General Assembly, Justice, Equality, marriage, (All Tags)

Print Friendly View

Send As Email

One Sentence - One Syllable - One Second | 9 comments

I just gotta say... (4.00 / 4)

See more Jack Black videos at Funny or Die

juliewaters.com

by: JulieWaters @ Sat Dec 06, 2008 at 07:33:29 AM CST

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

Ahh, good morning (4.00 / 2)

I was either hoping, or afraid, someone would post a fabulous video.

Given all the ammunition already in the can and ready to go both from our needlessly painful fight over civil unions and this year's Proposition H8 campaign, there is good reason to pass this quickly and move on.

There is no good excuse to push this important issue aside, and no good reason to let it balloon into something bigger than it needs to be.

One Sentence // One Syllable // One Second

We know the problem, we know the solution, we have the fix. Just do it.

sláinte,
cl

-- Religion is like sodomy: both can be harmless when practiced between consenting adults but neither should be imposed upon children.

by: Caoimhin Laochdha @ Sat Dec 06, 2008 at 07:49:36 AM CST

[ Parent ]

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

*nods* (4.00 / 2)

My take on it is fairly simple: there's no ~~good~~ reason not to do it, save for political expediency, fear and bigotry.

juliewaters.com

by: JulieWaters @ Sat Dec 06, 2008 at 09:59:08 AM CST

[ Parent ]

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

So what do we do (4.00 / 3)

... with a guy in the leadership who is a liberal and professes (and I believe him) to support equal marriage, but in his political heart of hearts fears the potential repercussions -- not this session, but in 2010, when the legislature will be elected that will control reapportionment?

Caoimhin, I'm with you -- absolutely -- as you know. And thanks for posting this. It is a total no-brainer. Leadership wants to address economic issues? How about the poverty of gay and lesbian spouses who are prevented from receiving their deceased partner's Social Security Benefits? Marriage would help.

Health Care? Remember how aghast we all were when McCain's health care plan included taxing health insurance benefits? Well guess what -- every same-sex couple in Vermont is taxed on the portion of their health insurance that covers their spouse. Marriage would help.

Economic Stimulus check? Well, gosh, we didn't get one, although every married Vermont couple in the same economic situation did. Marriage would help.

Not right away, I get that, because federal law and policy and regulation govern those (and another 1000 rights and benefits). But let me put it this way: without marriage, we Vermonters don't even get a seat in the courtroom to make our case at the federal level.

Economic boost for the tourist trade? Marriage equality will bring more tourism dollars in for weddings, overnight stays, gifts, and all the related hoopla (as is predicted in the millions for Connecticut). Marriage will help. And that IS something that Vermont can do, and benefit from.

Cost to the state to enact marriage equality? ZERO

Do the right thing, Democrats, Progressives, and Republicans: write marriage equality into our laws.

NanuqFC
Why should there not be a patient confidence in the ultimate justice of the people? -- Abraham Lincoln, First Inaugural

by: NanuqFC @ Sat Dec 06, 2008 at 17:37:30 PM CST

[ Parent ]

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

Yes (4.00 / 3)

If we make a strong front of supposition that this is a non-issue and done deal, we can cut them off ("JUST DO IT-IT'S TIME!" has been a good chant in the past). Dragging it out would be hell. We need a rushing push on this to gain the ground and move fast.

by: annikee @ Sun Dec 07, 2008 at 02:24:37 AM CST

[ Parent ]

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

Right (4.00 / 1)

What's to debate anyway?

-M

by: Mike Eldred @ Tue Dec 09, 2008 at 13:58:20 PM CST

[ Parent ]

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

Take debating off the table (0.00 / 0)

Correct, there is nothing to debate. Or there is only process to decide, whether to protect equal marriage rights is not, however, a debatable question.

A reason we are hearing "there is no time to consider this" is because the other side does not want a merits debate. They are on the wrong side of history and they need the heft of the haters and to mobilize the ugliest elements of their base to make a debate out of this.

Arguing "Time" "Time" "Time" allows the Governor and others, who want to prevent marriage rights, from getting into the "Discrimination Forever" Discrimination Forever" debate with us. They do not want that and they do not want to admit that, relative to substance, there is nothing to debate.

sláinte,
cl

-- Religion is like sodomy: both can be harmless when practiced between consenting adults but neither should be imposed upon children.

by: Caoimhin Laochdha @ Tue Dec 09, 2008 at 22:11:03 PM CST

[ Parent ]

One Sentence // One Syllable // One Second... (0.00 / 0)

Caoimhin, your slogan sounds like a real winner. I think it would make for a good working script for a 30-second TV ad.

Fade In from Black:
Close-up of John Hancock-like hand writing a single line of text with feather pen. Sound of pen tip scratching along paper.
Text overlay, scrolling across right to left:
"One Sentence." Fade to black.
Fade In:
House Speaker calling the vote. "All in favor?" Response: "Aye!"
Text overlay, scrolling across right to left:
"One syllable." Fade to black.
Fade In:
Still photo of governor signing bill.
Text overlay, scrolling across right to left:
"One Second." Fade to black.
Hold Black one second. Fade In centered text, first line, medium-size font:
"Civil Marriage."
Fade In consecutively in one-half second increments; centered text, second line, large-size font:
"Easy." "Painless." "Done."
Fade to black.
Sound of applause.
###

TV advertising is pretty effective. If there's $100K of support for the cause, I think you've just invented the perfect slogan-based message to help make moderate Vermonters comfortable within a live-and-let-live frame of mind. The underlying message can convey human rights and justice (via visual images), but the emotional appeal is as if to say, "Relax. Everything is going to be ok."

Run the ad at the lead-in to the Legislative vote, then continue as it arrives in the Governor's office. Keep pressure specifically on the Gov using the slogan consistently. Ignore the opposition groups in order to reduce their visibility. If the slogan does its job and is presented consistently in a live-and-let-live tone, then there's a possibility of the Gov letting the bill pass through without his signature. If he vetoes, increase the number of TV ad spots to help generate public acceptance or even apathy and go for the over-ride vote.

If the public opinion registers neutral, then it's got a good shot at passing. The angle is traditional libertarian, and I think a lot of Vermonters are comfortable with a pass-it-and-forget-it approach even if they happen to be squeamish on the issue itself.

Nate Freeman

Northfield, VT

natefreeman@gmail.com

by: mydog @ Tue Dec 09, 2008 at 23:52:26 PM CST

[ Parent ]