New York Times Message to Chris Christie

This past week was momentous as the Washington State legislature passed a same sex marriage bill and the United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit ruled that California's Proposition 8 is unconstitutional. Sadly, the message of equality under the law remains lost on many in the Republican Party. The knuckle dragging religious extremists in the Republican Party of Virginia are one example. Another is New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. Personally, I would not want to be know by history as having acted in a discriminatory manner analogous to that of pro-slavery and pro-segregationist white supremacists who likewise used the Bible to justify their hate and intolerance. But Christie and others in the GOP seem to know no shame and to care nothing about their place in history. The New York Times summed it up in an editorial last week. Would that Mr. Christie would take heed:

In the meantime, the advances for the freedom to marry in both Washington and California provide supporters of marriage equality critical momentum to build upon as the New Jersey State Legislature prepares to vote on the issue next week.

A strong vote in favor of same-sex marriage in the state’s House and Senate would be a legislative achievement, and it would help set the stage to overriding a veto, as promised by Gov. Chris Christie. In light of the week’s good news from California and Washington, Mr. Christie’s vow to block the bill in New Jersey seems not only disgraceful, but against the tide of history.

The question for Christie comes down to whether he wants to be remembered as someone akin to George Wallace in the school house door, or as something better.