I give up. Really, I do. How are we supposed to look at ourselves with pride when our leaders don't even think we should be happy together.

I never thought that I would say this, but I'm not voting. I'm taking Cathy Cox's bumper sticker off my car.

You're probably wondering what the heck I'm talking about. I think someone was able to put what I'm thinking into cleaer words than I would be able to right now on their blog. This was taken from http://atlantapublicaffairs.blogspot.com written by someone with the username Decatur Guy. Here is his post: (After you read his post, you should go over to his website and read all the comments that were left)

Thursday, May 18, 2006
Cathy Cox Is Dead to Me
Today I am sick and tired of pandering politicians. They say one thing to get your money and your vote and do another. Last night, I received the following press release from Cathy Cox:Secretary of State Cathy Cox released the following statement today:"I am disappointed that Georgia's constitutional amendment defining marriage as a sacred union of one man and one woman has been overturned. I strongly support Attorney General Thurbert Baker's decision to appeal this ruling to the state Supreme Court. Should his efforts fail, I agree that the General Assembly should meet in special session to pass a new resolution that could be voted on in November."The message from the people of Georgia on this issue was loud and clear. An overwhelming majority believes, as I do, that marriage is a sacred union of one man and one woman. Until the people have the opportunity to vote on an amendment in the fall, I am confident that existing state law continues to protect the current definition of marriage."Here is what she said about the Amendment in February 2004:"What's most disturbing about this proposal is that the real agenda is not to clarify the law, instead it's a cynical campaign year attempt to drive a wedge between Georgians and turn one citizen against another," Cox said in a prepared statement. "We ought to be focused in Georgia on creating an environment of equality, fairness and understanding for all our citizens, whatever their orientation.""This initiative is designed to do exactly the opposite."Yesterday, a Cox spokesman said that her "position had not changed." Huh? I'll let you compare the two statements and let you make that decision for yourself.Why did Cathy Cox go so far as to support Governor Perdue's call for a special session? I understand that she cannot come out in favor of gay marriage or even publicly oppose an Amendment supported by 77% of the voters and still be elected to statewide office. But why was it not sufficient just to state that current law still bans gay marriage and that she'll wait to see what the appellate courts decide? Earlier in the day yesterday, that is essentially what she said: "The people of Georgia have always believed, as I do, that marriage is the sacred union of one man and one woman," Cox said. "Despite this new ruling, existing state law, which I strongly support, continues to define marriage as between one man and one woman."Even Mark Taylor holds such as position. According to the Macon Telegraph a "Taylor spokesman said he was hopeful the court would act soon enough and reserved judgement on whether calling lawmakers back to Atlanta was necessary."Maybe Mark Taylor learned his lesson in 2004 that putting a Constitutional Amendment to ban gay marriage on the ballot in November will do more harm to Democrats in the general election, by turning out in droves religious right voters who will vote Republican, than it would to hurt them by opposing it and keeping it off the ballot. Democrats had the chance to stop this whole thing back in 2004, but then Democratic Speaker Terry Coleman push the Amemdent forward, Democrats lost control of the House and the rest is history.What is most disappointing about Cathy Cox, however, is that she has pandered to gay voters all along. Asking for us for our money and our votes. She was even present and warmly welcomed at the HRC dinner in Atlanta last weekend. (CORRECTION: According to the AJC Peach Buzz this morning - link not yet available - Cox was not present at the HRC dinner, she only sent a letter to the group. This despite the fact that the HRC dinner organizers made it seem like she was there to all of us. There has been no comment from anyone at HRC about Cox's press release.) She has been welcomed to the homes of gays and lesbians across Georgia to ask us for our money. At least Mark Taylor or Sonny Perdue have not pretended to be our friends.Now she supports an Amendment that has now been interpreted by the Georgia courts as prohibiting "the state of Georgia from granting same sex unions between Georgia residents any of the advantages given to marriages under state law" or granting same sex couples "any legal status before the law." So basically if it is a "advantage of marriage," gay couples can't have it.Support for such an Amendment, and for Governor Perdue's special session that will solely be focused on taking away the rights of gay people, makes her complicit in such bigotry. I now see very little difference in the 3 major candidates for Governor.So, this is the end of the road for me and Cathy Cox.
# posted by decaturguy @ 9:47 AM