Apr 14, 2006

Just What Democratic Party Leaders Wanted

A group of Democrats in the House of Representatives, led by Jerry Nadler of New York, has introduced H.R. 5152, the Equal Access to Social Security Act, which would give same sex couples the same rights as married couples under the Social Security Act.

In addition to Nadler, Tammy Baldwin, Howard Berman, John Conyers, Joseph Crowley, Rahm Emanuel, Sam Farr, Barney Frank, Raúl Grijalva, Patrick Kennedy, Barbara Lee, Carolyn Maloney, Jim McDermott, George Miller, Charles Rangel, Pete Stark, Henry Waxman, and Lynn Woolsey are co-sponsors.

Regardless of the merits of the bill, it is politically damaging to Democrats. One has to wonder, in particular, why Rahm Emanuel is a co-sponsor. Democrats can do little to advance the cause of gay and lesbian Americans if they are in the minority in the House of Representatives.

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