Newsom scores hypocrisy of Schwarzenegger Marriage Equality Act veto

By Pat Murphy

Wednesday, September 7, 2005

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's announcement today to veto the Marriage Equality Act was predicted hours earlier by the scornful leader of the city which spawned it.

The act was shepherded through both the California Assembly and Senate by Assemblyman Mark Leno in scant months following initial defeat.

A march protesting the veto took place tonight in the city's heavily LGBT Castro District.

Earlier in the day, Mayor Gavin Newsom chided Schwarzenegger contradictions on the issue during a press conference on city capacity to cope with natural disasters.

"This is a civil rights vote," Newsom stated.

"The Governor of the State of California has an opportunity to make history by doing what's right, by being a civil rights leader or he can be a politician.

"We'd better let him have it if he doesn't do the right thing.

"Enough's enough. I am fed up with politicians saying one thing privately and another thing publicly.

On several public occasions, Schwarzenegger was quoted on his preference to let such legislation become law.

"I'm just so fed up with the hypocrisy, but boy am I proud of Mark Leno."

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