Bloomberg On Same-Sex Marriage: ‘Rudy Has A Right To His Views,’ But I Totally Disagree With Them
Bloomberg On Same-Sex Marriage: ‘Rudy Has A Right To His Views,’ But I Totally Disagree With Them
In a New York Post interview published yesterday, former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani sharply criticized the push to legalize same-sex marriage in New York state:
“This will create a grass-roots movement. This is the kind of issue that, in many ways, is somewhat beyond politics,” said Giuliani, a two-term mayor who unsuccessfully sought the GOP presidential nomination last year. [...]
“Marriage, I believe, both traditionally and legally, has always been between a man and a woman and should remain between a man and woman,” said Giuliani, who has been married three times.
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg stood by Paterson’s side when the governor made his announcement about the marriage equality legislation on April 16. Today, ThinkProgress sat down with the mayor and asked him to respond to his predecessor’s comments:
BLOOMBERG: You know, Rudy has a right to his views. I think the polls say that — there’s a new poll out today that says a majority of New Yorkers are in favor of same-sex marriage.
My personal view — and I’ve had this for as long as I’ve thought about the issue — is that it’s not the government’s business who you love and who you marry. And I don’t think that it stands anybody in good interest to have the government involved. … I do think that the more you believe in something, the more important it is to you that the government stay out of these social issues.
Watch it:
A Siena poll released yesterday finds that by a margin of 53 to 39 percent, New Yorkers “believe the Senate should pass marriage-equality legislation introduced last week by Gov. David A. Paterson.” The state Assembly has already gone on record supporting a similar measured introduced by then-governor Eliot Spitzer in 2007, but in the state Senate, several Republicans will have to switch sides in order for the measure to pass.
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ANY individual who has been married 3 times forfeits the right to influence public opinion on who can and cannot be married. Rudy, feel free to speak out all you want on the subject of divorce. But marriage? STFU already!
April 21st, 2009 at 5:42 pmThe Rudster is trying to up his cred with the rightwingnuts – must be planning another national run. Coming out against marriage equality in NY doesn’t make sense and it will get him no benefits for a governor or senate race.
April 21st, 2009 at 5:50 pmToo funny.
Rudy takes every opportunity to thwart his own political ambitions.
April 21st, 2009 at 5:52 pmThis issue is particularly important to me because I am a member of the LGBT community! I’m really sick of people trying to dictate MY rights claiming it’s in the defense of THEIR rights!
April 21st, 2009 at 5:52 pmI am still amazed that after the suffragette movement and the civil rights movement, we are having any kind of national debate on whether it is right or legal to give equal rights to American citizens.
April 21st, 2009 at 5:56 pmI think this new political environment provides a great opportunity to address crucial issues that have been forgotten. The U.S. should be doing way more to address the Millennium Development Goals. The plan to end world hunger has been getting seriously ignored.
$30 billion: Annual shortfall to end world hunger.
$550 billion: U.S. Defense budget.
(source: borgenproject.org.)
April 21st, 2009 at 5:58 pmGiuliani is a posturing, principleless greed machine. He is an embarassment to dedicated public servants everywhere of any stripe.
April 21st, 2009 at 5:59 pmRude Julie Annie has so much respect for marriage he’s actually completed 3 of them. One to a cousin! Now that’s family values for you!!
April 21st, 2009 at 6:02 pmThat was a fairly sane and mature comment from Mayor Bloomberg. Are you sure he is Republican?
April 21st, 2009 at 6:03 pmWhere again do I need to move to vote for you?
Also, I would be scared poopless right now if I were a wrinkly xenophobic bigot and I had to live around newly married gay couples. What with all the stuff in dat thurr bible. Cue flame from RaptureReady in 3..2..1..
April 21st, 2009 at 6:04 pmDidy rudy mention that he was mayor on 9-11 and how that event re-affirmed his belief in the sanctity of marriage because he called the woman he cheated on his wife with several times that day to make sure she was ok…?
April 21st, 2009 at 6:08 pmFollowing up on my comment #1: that also goes for Newt Gingrich. Now that he’s converted to Catholicism, you can be sure he’ll start going even more sanctimonious on us.
April 21st, 2009 at 6:16 pmWas Rudy dressed in drag when he said this?
April 21st, 2009 at 6:16 pmThe threat to traditional marriage is NOT coming from the gays – it’s coming from Giulia.
April 21st, 2009 at 6:19 pm*
Rudy should go back to his previous career as a mafia prosecutor. Not too many gays in the mafia though, I guess.
April 21st, 2009 at 6:21 pmYes. Of course. Nothing exemplifies the sanctity of marriage like doing it THREE TIMES!
What, Rudy thought it so nice, he had to do it “thrice”?
Whatever.
April 21st, 2009 at 6:29 pmHey, Rudy. Marriage between a man and a woman also mentions something about “til death do us part”.
How’s that working out for you?
April 21st, 2009 at 6:36 pmRudy’s credibility on the sanctity of marriage is nil. It is truly astonishing how he and Gingrich and so many other “traditional marriage” Republicans continue to show just how hypocritical they are. The previous post was correct. I respected Rudy Guiliani when he prosecuted mofia figures and cleaned up the streets of NYC. Now, I can’t get the visual of Rudy in drag out of my head. He is a sad, pathetic, hypocritical joke.
April 21st, 2009 at 6:39 pmIf Giuliani is for the sanctity of marriage, he should support making divorce illegal.
April 21st, 2009 at 6:41 pm“Marriage, I believe, both traditionally and legally, has always been between a man and a woman and should remain between a man and woman,” said Giuliani, who has been married three times.
***************************************************
Funny that for all his posturing, Rudy himself couldn’t manage to keep either of his two previous marriages “between a man and a woman” — he conveniently neglected to mention the fact that a second woman always managed to find her way into the equation! It’s the serial adultery which makes him such a hypocrite — not the divorces.
April 21st, 2009 at 6:43 pmOT – this just in… lou dobbs can’t read his own teleprompter anymore… may be growing a moral conscience…
April 21st, 2009 at 6:48 pmprobably not though… who writes that crap for him?
Rudy: “Traditional Marriage should be between a man and his second cousin.”
April 21st, 2009 at 6:51 pmAtta-boy Bloomberg… glad to see there’s some politicians out there that can listen to the people and not their personal, special interests.
April 21st, 2009 at 6:53 pm“This will create a grass roots movement. This is the kind of issue that in many ways, is somewhat beyond politics.”
I think Rudy is confused which side he’s talking about.
April 21st, 2009 at 6:55 pmGod bless Rudy. I’ll bet his gay friends who let him stay with them are happy with his change of heart.
April 21st, 2009 at 7:03 pm
I disagree with miss california on the issue of gay marriage. She has a right to her opinion.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,517137,00.html
But, I feel it’s a safe bet that she’ll be a Fox anchor before the end of summer. I would bet 10 to 1 odds, Fox producers have already contacted her.
April 21st, 2009 at 7:06 pmbackup Says: “I would bet 10 to 1 odds, Fox producers have already contacted her.”
What did she do for the talent competition?
April 21st, 2009 at 7:19 pmLip-synch Saruhh Palin?
Michael B. is a Republican when it’s convenient. In earlier incarnations, he has been both a Democrat and an Independent.
April 21st, 2009 at 7:26 pmRudy, Rudy, Rudy is a RepubliCon STOOGE!
April 21st, 2009 at 7:28 pmAnd what is up with Rudy’s teeth?
April 21st, 2009 at 7:38 pmRudy not for gay marriage, just cross dressing gay marriage.
April 21st, 2009 at 7:38 pmI like what Mayor Bloomberg said. Marriage is a very personal issue that no one should be allowed to decide but the two adults who are getting married. Something is wrong with Rudy. He has some nerve talking about the sanctity of marriage! I’m beginning to question his motives. Probably saying he’s against same sex marriage becuase he’s trying to fight against ‘deh gay’ inside of himself – he was in his element dressed up as a woman! ROTFL No offense to cross dressers.
April 21st, 2009 at 7:38 pmRudy carried on affair why he was still married to Ms. Hanover at Gracie Mansion. Rudy is gunning for control of New York’s stimulus money, he’s a control freak. His consulting business must be really slow right now so he needs to be in control of something. If he runs and wins like I’ve said before I’m moving out of New York.
April 21st, 2009 at 7:41 pmThis is right on.
Additionally, it causes me to consider the polygamy argument. (Not the creepy old guys with the pre-adolescent harems, but the consenting adult polygamists).
Should the government relax restrictions on polygamy?
I think so.
April 21st, 2009 at 7:43 pmThis is the ultimate expose on the odious Rudy Giuliani:
“A fate worse than Bush: Rudolph Giuliani and the politics of personality.”
April 21st, 2009 at 7:55 pmWe should be celebrating two consenting adults finding love, not damning it. It cracks me up that the same people who think government should be staying out of people’s lives try to dictate this kind of thing.
The argument against children learning about gay marriage is rediculous. OH NOES kids have to learn about gay people?! I grew up around one of the most wondeful gay couples I’ve ever known. I am more open minded because of them.
April 21st, 2009 at 8:06 pmGuiliani’s perpetual problem: all of his positions appeal to the Appalachian hick vote, but he’s still a cross-dressing New Yorker, so they’ll never love him no matter what he does.
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J. Fred Smug Says:
ANY individual who has been married 3 times forfeits the right to influence public opinion on who can and cannot be married.
And he’s supposed to be a Catholic, no less! WTF? I’d be interested to see how the Church ruled on his past two divorces, but I don’t care enough to research it.
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J. Fred Smug Says:
Following up on my comment #1: that also goes for Newt Gingrich. Now that he’s converted to Catholicism…
WTF squared?!? Are these people now aware that there’s no such thing as a “second marriage” in the Catholic Church?
Guiliani’s and Gingrich’s current marriages have the exact same status in their church of choice as do gay marriages. Ponder that.
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Rascalcat Says:
That was a fairly sane and mature comment from Mayor Bloomberg. Are you sure he is Republican?
If only there were more of them… They could really stand to kick this guy up to the national level.
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backup Says:
I disagree with miss california on the issue of gay marriage. She has a right to her opinion.
She believes in “opposite marriage.” (snicker!)
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backup Says:
Should the government relax restrictions on polygamy?
I think so.
At present, this is one of the boogeymen that sociocons raise alongside “bestiality.” However, most polyamorous folks are waiting their turns patiently for teh gays to get rights first.
April 21st, 2009 at 8:07 pmThose people who are so adamant that gays be denied the right to marry are the same types of people who would have expressed outrage in the 1950s and 1960s when the validity of interracial marriage was being debated. Hatred toward gays is simply their “flavor of the month”.
April 21st, 2009 at 8:10 pmkdgamergirl Says:
The argument against children learning about gay marriage is rediculous. OH NOES kids have to learn about gay people?!
Imagine a religion that believes in teaching their children that the sky is red. They demand that everyone put up giant domes over all major population centers that tint the sky red, so they don’t have to have the uncomfortable problem of having to ansewer the question “why is the sky blue?”
That’s exactly the issue we’re facing with the wingnuts dealing with teh gays. They seem to think that answering the question “why does X have two daddies?” needs to go into an in-depth description of precisely how sweaty hot butt sex works. But that’s only because they can’t get their minds off of sweaty hot butt sex.
They don’t have the right to force all of society to conform to their pretense that homosexuality doesn’t exist as a perfectly normal, safe and healthy way of life. If they want to raise their kids to believe that teh gays are nasty and ebil, then they should keep them locked in the basement until they’re eighteen.
April 21st, 2009 at 8:11 pmBloomberg is going to go back to being a Republican so he can run for Mayor again and he’s supporting gay marriage. That doesn’t compute.
April 21st, 2009 at 8:14 pmRascalcat Says:
That was a fairly sane and mature comment from Mayor Bloomberg. Are you sure he is Republican?
He’s only a Republican when it suits his purposes. He resigned from the Republican party to run for Mayor. Now he’s talking about going back to being a Republican to run again. When you are term limited out, does it really matter what party you were in when you were Mayor?
April 21st, 2009 at 8:17 pmbackup Says:
Should the government relax restrictions on polygamy?
Why, what business is it of ours what two consenting adults do. But, the key here is “consenting” adults. None of the 40 year old man marrying a 12 year old girl to add to his harem kind of polygamy allowed. I’m wondering how they could even do that. Isn’t there a legal age to get married in Utah and other states where this kind of thing goes on?
April 21st, 2009 at 8:20 pmElBruce. I think the heart of the conservative problem on accepting gays is the misguided belief that people choose to be gay.
Those opposed to education about gay issues are probably worried that if little Johnny is made aware that gay lifestyles exist, Johnny may choose to be gay. (Then, according to the bible, he’ll end up spending eternity in hell).
I think the more people come to realize that people are born gay, just like they are born straight, the homophobia will abate.
Additionally, it will help when there is a realization that it doesn’t make sense for an all powerful God to create someone gay, and then condemn them to eternal damnation for it.
April 21st, 2009 at 8:27 pmBilbo. I agree with you here. You cannot use religion to justify statutory rape. But, let the consenting adults do what they want to do.
April 21st, 2009 at 8:29 pmElBruce. I’m in an ‘opposite’ marriage.
whatever I want to do, my wife wants to do the opposite.
I support the right of gays to marry. I just have the feeling, after they eventually get the equality they deserve, there will be a collective; “What the hell were we thinking?”
April 21st, 2009 at 8:34 pmbackup Says:
ElBruce. I think the heart of the conservative problem on accepting gays is the misguided belief that people choose to be gay.
Right. But the interesting correllary to their approach is that being gay must be totally awesome!. Like, if you knew it was even a viable option, you’d totally go for it. It’s so much fun (although deserving of eternal damnation) that if you even knew it existed, you’d be a homo before anybody could stop you!
Whether or not that’s the case, it strikes me that anybody who would propose such a notion must be an incredibly horny closeted fag.
Because I personally don’t see it. I don’t understand what women see in men, I’m just glad they see something. I don’t have anything against doing the nasty with guys, I just don’t have any reason to want to – yes, I’ve checked; it wasn’t either disgusting or thrilling for me. It just was. Meh.
If you think that homosexual behavior is so attractive that it must be kept a secret or else everybody will switch, then you’ve already “switched.” If you view it as attractive, then you’re attracted ot it.
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backup Says:
ElBruce. I’m in an ‘opposite’ marriage.
whatever I want to do, my wife wants to do the opposite.
Let me get that for you: ba-da-BOOM!
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backup Says:
I just have the feeling, after they eventually get the equality they deserve, there will be a collective; “What the hell were we thinking?”
You mean just like the rest of us? Let them discover for themselves the downside of having equal human rights. And in honor of that day, let’s all be willing to buy a beer for the first fag we know who needs to complain about it. :)
April 21st, 2009 at 9:03 pmHow can Rudi and Newt with three marriages each still be accepted in the Catholic Church?
And yet the priests, bishops and some alumni at Notre Dame have their knickers in a twit because the President supports stem-cell research that has the potention to save millions of lives.
The operative words here are “save millions of lives”.
I guess that boffing other women while married is more acceptable. Oh, it is also acceptable to serve a cancer surgery recovering wife with divorce papers while she is still in the hospital. And acceptable to move the extra woman into the house while still married and that wife is living in that same house.
April 21st, 2009 at 9:48 pmRudy is once again trying to shore up his credentials with the far-right lunatic fringe,(mainstream neo-cons) He doesn’t get the simple fact that he lost every moderate and swing voter as well as getting a cold reception from the neo-cons who doubted his wack-job credentials,
April 21st, 2009 at 9:50 pmStrollingAlong Says:
I guess that boffing other women while married is more acceptable.
Which of these rated mention in that “ten commandments” thing? Adultery? Or termination of pregnancy? I’m pretty sure “adultery” was fairly heavily underlined there…
April 21st, 2009 at 10:33 pmRudy should know a little something about marriage. After all, he has been married 3 times. On the other hand, that makes him a slow learner so who would want to listen to him anyway.
April 22nd, 2009 at 7:48 amI can totally understand why someone would be passionate about passing legislation to allow same sex marriage. What is beyond me is how anyone could be passionately against it. I mean, ffs!!
April 22nd, 2009 at 8:20 amElBruce Says:
——————————————————-
“backup Says:
I just have the feeling, after they eventually get the equality they deserve, there will be a collective; “What the hell were we thinking?”
You mean just like the rest of us? Let them discover for themselves the downside of having equal human rights. And in honor of that day, let’s all be willing to buy a beer for the first fag we know who needs to complain about it. :)”
April 21st, 2009 at 9:03 pm
That’s Mister fag to you! ;-)
I actually used that one time when I overheard someone use that disparaging term. The guy wasn’t sure how to react and said “Sorry”.
April 22nd, 2009 at 9:54 amDemocrat Soldier Says:
I actually used that one time when I overheard someone use that disparaging term. The guy wasn’t sure how to react and said “Sorry”.
Every gay person I know makes me call them that. They don’t actually let me use any other term.
April 22nd, 2009 at 12:11 pmright…Rudy really believes in the “sanctity” of marriage between a man and a woman…hypocrite.
April 22nd, 2009 at 1:20 pmright…Rudy really believes in the “sanctity” of marriage between a man and a woman…hypocrite.
April 22nd, 2009 at 1:21 pmRudee The slosh jawed inbreeder. hey Rudee maybe you use 9/11 to blame all this “gay” stuff on. It worked well for you running for president
April 22nd, 2009 at 3:02 pmRudee The slosh jawed inbreeder. hey Rudee maybe you use 9/11 to blame all this “gay” stuff on. It worked well for you running for president
April 22nd, 2009 at 3:02 pmGood, maybe now Bloomberg will realize that it’s not the government’s business what adults eat and whether they smoke and will stop making ridiculous rules and imposing ridiculous taxes to influence us.
April 22nd, 2009 at 6:48 pmIf the kkk must be silenced
Public figures like this need to be silenced as well. Come on America when are we going to stop bigotry. People can say as they please, that is the American way, but when this is affecting the freedom of fellow Americans that is the unamerican way.
Stop the bigotry now!!!!
April 23rd, 2009 at 11:19 am