Academic

I Don?t Believe Them

By David S. Cohen

After yesterday’s decision from the California Supreme Court, both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama issued statements about the issue.  From the Associated Press:

“Barack Obama has always believed that same-sex couples should enjoy equal rights under the law, and he will continue to fight for civil unions as president. He respects the decision of the California Supreme Court, and continues to believe that states should make their own decisions when it comes to the issue of marriage,” the Illinois senator’s campaign said.

Clinton’s campaign said she “believes that gay and lesbian couples in committed relationships should have the same rights and responsibilities as all Americans and believes that civil unions are the best way to achieve this goal. As president, Hillary Clinton will work to ensure same-sex couples have access to these rights and responsibilities at the federal level. She has said and continues to believe that the issue of marriage should be left to the states.”

It appears that both are on the same page here.  They believe marriage decisions are best left to the states, but that in their minds, civil unions are the answer (although Obama’s statement is less certain on this second point, saying he’ll fight for civil unions, but only by implication saying that they are preferable to marriage).

But, do you believe them?  Do you believe that these former civil rights workers/lawyers/activists think that this issue of equality, arguably one of the most important civil rights issues of the early 2000s (and late 1900s), is best left to individual states to decide and that full marriage isn’t the best solution?

I don’t believe them one bit.  I have no doubt that, apart from their public political personas, they both believe that this is absolutely not for states to decide and that basic conceptions of fairness and equality mandate marriage, nothing less.  Basically, they’re both lying to appease the American public.  I understand  why they feel like they have to lie, but I don’t like that from my politicians on issues of such importance.  I want them to lead, not follow.

- David S. Cohen

Full post as published by Feminist Law Professors on May 16, 2008 (boomark / email).