Garden State Equality Chairman Steven Goldstein
Garden State Equality fires new broadside at Dems
By Max Pizarro | February 8th, 2010 - 10:41amSmarting over the state Senate's refusal to pass marriage equality and disillusioned at the moment with the Democratic Party majority, Garden State Equality’s 85-member Board of Directors unanimously decided against giving financial contributions to political parties and their affiliated committees.
Under the new policy, Garden State Equality will make financial contributions only to individual candidates and to non-party organizations that further equality for the LGBT community, according to a release issued this morning by the organization.
“No political party has a record good enough on LGBT civil rights that it can rightfully claim to be entitled to our money on a party-wide basis,” said Steven Goldstein, chair of Garden State Equality. “No longer will we let any political party take our money and volunteers with one hand, and slap us in the face with the other when we seek full equality.
"Our Board of Directors felt so strongly about adopting this new policy," he added, "that it unanimously decided to include it in the organization's bylaws."
Garden State Equality estimates that since 2005 they have given $500,000 to Democratic Party candidates, while giving only minimally to Republicans.
"Is this a broadside at the Democratic Party?" asked Goldstein. "Of course, it is."
Infuriated with Democrats who shied away from the vote during last year's lame duck session, including Senate President (then-Senate Majority Leader) Steve Sweeney (D-West Deptford), Goldstein said the party floundered helplessly even when it came to basic courtesy.
"With the exception of Speaker (Shelia) Oliver, who has had a long record of being a champion of equality, nobody in the Democratic Party's leadership reached out to us," said Goldstein. "Come on, if you're Steve Sweeney, pick up the phone. If you're John Wisniewski, pick up the phone. We have been the most unstintingly loyal organization to the party. Other than organized labor which is in its own league, no other constituency has been as loyal to the party."
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Putting all your
legs in one basket didn't pay?
Good for them! It's about
Good for them! It's about time Garden State Equality started supporting individuals and not a political party. The Dems certainly no longer deserve their support to be as broad as it was.
Freak Show!
Keep your dirty money...freaks!
$$$
More cash for Beroni
Its High Time
that this group listened to the NJ taxpayer
and covered their collective butts
How is this not "Pay to Play"
Why isn't this considered "Pay to Play"? If any State Senator or Assembly member takes Garden State Equality's money and votes in their favor isn't s/he accepting a bribe? GSE is clearly saying we will pay you to change the law and give is what we want-openly! How is it any different than those who were accepting money to approve building plans? How much will GSE pay the politicians for their votes?
about time
Congratulations to Garden State Equality for putting the money where the mouth is ! Although I moved from NJ to CA a few years ago I was shocked and quite honestly fed up with the NJ old-line DEMS who profess to support you but in the end do not. I hate to say it, but at least the GOP is honest, about their hate for gays that is ...they are at least up front about it !
The Dems in NJ knew this was the last chance to do the right thing and give all their citizens equal rights before the homophobe Christie took office. But their prejudice won out.
I for one have stopped giving to the Democratic Party years ago and only give to those individual candidates who will stand by the gay community.
By the way to all you bigoted conservative homophobes who post on this site....yes, i took my $100,000 plus salary and tax money to a state more welcoming to gays. It may cost to live out here, but it's worth it. It's not always about tax rates !
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