An article by Patrick Healy in the NY Times today exposed the criticism Senator Clinton has received from gay rights advocates for her refusal to take a stand in support of gay marriage.

Healy wrote, “These advocates contended that Mrs. Clinton was winking meaninglessly at gay voters, suggesting that she was supporting their agenda even though she would not take a public stand on a divisive issue like gay marriage.”

The article said that Senator Clinton, who spoke in San Francisco yesterday, ignored questions about the NY Court of Appeals ruling which upheld the ban on gay marriage.

How can we let our Junior Senator refuse to comment on an important civil rights battle which is taking place in her own state and why is her refusal to take a stand on gay marriage being tolerated?

Click here for the full NY Times article.

From the Daily News "Daily Politics" blog by Ben Smith

July 07, 2006

Kennedy on Clinton: "Iowa Is Quicksand"

A reader caught this on Charlie Rose last night, and checked the transcript to see if he'd heard Robert F. Kennedy Jr. right:

CHARLIE ROSE: John Edwards said he voted wrong. Hillary Clinton has not said that.

ROBERT F. KENNEDY, JR.: I think that`s a mistake. I think she`s making a terrible mistake. And I think, you know.

CHARLIE ROSE: And forfeiting the opportunity to be the nominee of the Democratic Party if she continues to say that?

ROBERT F. KENNEDY, JR.: You know, I think Iowa is quicksa nd, Charlie, and that people who come out and vote in Iowa are going to be -- are the most highly motivated Democrats, and among that contingent, people despise this war. They see it for what it is, and they are way ahead of the politicians on it. And I think that that -- that political leaders who want to be national leaders in the Democratic Party are going to have a really hard time if they`re not very, very clear about this war.

Jonathan Tasini petitioning for signatures in Union Square on June 23. (Librado Romero/The New York Times)

Bring On Hillary

Jonathan Tasini has apparently collected the signatures he needs to enter the Democratic primary against Hillary Rodham Clinton. This afternoon, his campaign announced that he plans to appear at the steps of the State Capitol next week before delivering signed ballot-access petitions to the State Board of Elections.

So now the question becomes this: will the Clinton camp or its allies in the Democratic Party move aggressively to keep him off the ballot by legally challenging the validity of the signatures. In anticipation of such a challenge, Mr. Tasini and his supporters collected 30,000 signatures, even though he needed only 15,000 to get on the ballot.

New York, NY - Senatorial candidate Jonathan Tasini criticized the New York Court of Appeals on its decision to uphold the ban on gay marriage. Tasini is a firm supporter of marriage equality.

“I condemn the Supreme Court for its narrow approach on extending basic rights to same-sex couples. I believe that everyone is entitled to basic civil rights regardless of race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation,” said Tasini.

Tasini called on the State Legislature to immediately enact legislation to legalize same-sex marriage and for the U.S. Congress to follow suit.

His opponent Hillary Clinton has opposed marriage equality and supported the conservative Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

“Only civil marriage can provide such vital protection and security to lesbian and gay families as granting the right to visit a hospitalized partner, custody and visitation rights for families, social security benefits to a surviving partner, immigration rights for international same-sex couples and hundreds of other legal protections and responsibilities,” explained Tasini.

We had a great time yesterday petitioning the crowds gathered in parks around Manhattan for the Fourth of July.

On the Brooklyn Promenade our campaign crossed paths with gubernatorial candidate Tom Suozzi and AG candidate Sean Maloney who were also out petitioning to get on the ballot (above you can see a photo of Jonathan chatting with Suozzi on the Promenade)

We'll be out petitioning through the rest of the week and this upcoming weekend so check out the Events Calendar for listings of where we'll be in the NYC area.