Chris Christie Links Civil Rights To Gay Marriage Vote, Draws Sharp Criticism
(AP Photo/Mel Evans)
Luke Johnson First Posted: 01/26/2012 1:49 pm Updated: 01/26/2012 1:49 pm
WASHINGTON -- New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R), already under fire for saying [ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/24/chris-christie-gay-marriage-bill-ballot_n_1228417.html ] he would veto a gay marriage bill and prefers a referendum on the issue, is drawing sharp criticism from black leaders for saying that people would have been happy to have a referendum on civil rights.
Newark Mayor Cory Booker (D), who supports gay marriage, criticized the comment. "I shudder to think what would have happened if the civil rights gains, heroically established by courageous lawmakers in the 1960s, were instead conveniently left up to popular votes in our 50 states," he said, according to the Newark Star-Ledger [ http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/01/black_leaders_gov_christie_nee.html ].
Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-Essex) said the governor needed [id.] a "history lesson."
Unlike in the gay marriage case, many African-Americans were still disenfranchised in the 1950's and 60's and couldn't have voted on a civil-rights referendum.
Christie clarified his comment Wednesday. "My point is, they're trying to say the only way to deal with a civil rights issue is through legislation, and my point is that in a state like this, the fact of the matter is their own polling belies that position," he said [id.]. A recent Quinnipiac poll showed [ http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/01/poll_majority_of_nj_voters_sup_1.html ] that 52 percent of New Jersey voters favor gay marriage.
High-profile gay marriage ballot initiatives failed in Maine in 2009 and California in 2008 after polls showed they had a decent chance of passing. Maine gay rights activists said Thursday [ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/26/maine-gay-marriage_n_1234102.html ] that they had enough signatures to proceed with a second ballot initiative.
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