It was Republicans who redefined marriage in New York

Empire State Building lit up in rainbow colors

On the back of my business card is the slogan, "Clobbering Democrats. Holding Republicans Accountable." Well, it is time to hold Republicans accountable for redefining marriage in New York.

According to a column posted by MassResistance.org titled, "How "gay marriage" passed in Republican-controlled NY Senate: Pressure, payoffs, political cowardice, selling out of principles":

"It was arguably the biggest sell-out in modern American political history. A group of "pro-family" Republican Senators who already had the power to stop "gay marriage" in New York decided to take the easy route, and simply stepped back and gave in to their opponents."

According to MassResistance.org, "This wasn't inevitable. On June 15 it had easily passed the Democrat-controlled Assembly 80-63. However, the Senate had been considered a nearly impenetrable obstacle. After all, the Republicans could easily have blocked it without a vote. And the 2011 legislative session was scheduled to end in just a few days, on June 20. But we knew there was trouble when the only New York State Senator energetically opposing the bill was a Democrat from the South Bronx -- while the Republicans stood around with their hands in their pockets watching it go down."

NY Senate Majority Leader
Senator Dean Skelos

So who was the Republican who changed the definition of marriage in New York?

Republican Senate Majority Leader Sen. Dean Skelos who was key in helping bring "gay marriage" to New York.

MassResistance reports, "On Friday, June 24, when all the other bills had been dispatched, it was clear to everyone that enough Republicans had defected and that "gay marriage" would surely pass. So when the Republicans caucused late Friday afternoon they knew what would happen if they allowed it to go to the floor. They took a vote and decided to let it go to the floor."

When the floor vote was taken 29 Democrats and 4 Republicans voted 'yes' and it passed. (See final bill text and vote tally HERE.)

But it gets worse. Here are the strange things that happened leading up to the vote as documented by MassResistance.org:

• The doors to the Senate chamber were locked and guards were stationed at the doors to keep anyone from leaving before the actual vote took place. One observer told us that in the nearly 30 years of working there he had never seen that done. At least one Senator got visibly angry but was ignored. (There had been rumors - probably true - that some fence-sitters had planned to leave rather than vote when the bill got to the floor, thus jeopardizing the bill's passage.)
• It was announced the that the proceedings on the bill were to move quickly in order to be done in time for it to be on the 11 pm TV news. (We're not making this up. It actually happened.)
• No debate was allowed. No questions. No explaining of positions. Instead, four Senators were selected by the leadership to each give a 2-minute speech on his position.  All four supported the bill -- three had "flipped" from being against it, and the fourth was the bill's sponsor.  The normal Senate rules call for any Senator to be able to give a 2-minute speech during the debate period. Sen. Diaz (D-South Bronx) stood up and demanded that the normal rules be followed, but he was ignored.
• There was no roll call vote. Just a quick show of hands of those Senators who supported the bill. For a bill of this significance such this was unheard of.

After the vote was taken the Governor was on hand to sign it and the homosexual movement began its celebration. And, yes, it made the 11 pm news. Its passage would also be in time for NYC's annual "Gay Pride" events held that weekend.

So, there you have it. Republicans saved the day. They took victory from the jaws of defeat. They redefined marriage in the formerly great state of New York.

Perhaps it is time to change the slogan on the back of my business card to "Clobbering Democrats and Republicans"?