|
On Politics Richard Borreca |
Gay marriage may
make a comeback
in the 2004 raceIn many ways, the revival of the Hawaii Republican Party started in the 1996 state election when the GOP pushed its membership from nine to 14 in the state Legislature.
It helped that, at least in part, incumbents Rey Graulty, Eve Anderson, Jackie Young, Devon Nekoba, Len Pepper, Annelle Amaral and Jim Shon were bounced from the Legislature because of their support for same-sex marriage.
The issue drove out liberals and brought in conservative Democrats and Republicans. And, although the red hot issue of gay marriage was still alive in 1998, the initial wedge was placed two years earlier.
In 1998, voters overwhelmingly approved a state constitutional amendment giving the Legislature the power to restrict marriage to people of the opposite sex.
Last week, President Bush sought to revive the debate by announcing, "I believe marriage is between a man and a woman."
The gay marriage fight is just the sort of political issue to inflame voters in critical districts where Democrats are pulling about the same number of votes as Republicans.
Hawaii Democrats discovered that a vote against a constitutional amendment limiting marriage to heterosexuals might put a Democrat at odds with his constituents.
Jack Hoag, who in 1996 was co-vice chairman of the anti-gay-marriage group Hawaii's Future Today, noted last week that the same-sex marriage issue does have political clout.
"I think several candidates lost because of this issue alone, incumbents rarely get thrown out, so to me that is a political message," Hoag said.
Others, such as Ken Miller, executive director of The Center, which serves the gay and lesbian community, say it is a civil rights issue for a portion of the community suffering discrimination.
Hawaii's Republican Governor Lingle, like Bush, has said she is against gay marriage, explaining that her support for domestic partnerships doesn't extend to same-sex marriage.
If Bush's comments carry weight in conservative communities, then local politicians could be forced next year to take another politically risky vote on the issue.
Because Hawaii already has extended some benefits to the domestic partners of state workers, not just legally married spouses, Hawaii may again be part of the national gay marriage debate during next year's political season.
In that debate, Lingle will have to measure how much to encourage activists on either side of the issue and also demonstrate leadership of both her party and the state.
See the Columnists section for some past articles.
Richard Borreca writes on politics every Sunday in the Star-Bulletin. He can be reached at 525-8630 or by e-mail at rborreca@starbulletin.com.
