Doherty Says Voters Should Define Marriage

Says Latest Gay Rights Poll Another Diversion From Corzine's Poor Poll Numbers

In response to a gay rights-commissioned survey that claims state residents favor gay  marriage, Assemblyman Michael Doherty today called on the Legislature to approve a constitutional amendment he has sponsored that would allow New Jersey voters to decide if same-sex marriage should be permitted.

Doherty, R-Warren and Hunterdon, expressed his dismay and disgust that gay rights advocates are using such a fundamental issue as marriage as a diversion for both the public and the state’s lawmakers from focusing on Governor Jon Corzine’s chronic low job performance poll numbers and real issues facing residents such as New Jersey becoming increasingly unaffordable for families and senior citizens due to the state’s back-breaking debt and soaring property taxes.

“The people of New Jersey should have the final say on this fundamental issue and it’s time to allow their voices to be heard so that we can put this diversion behind us and move forward on real issues that are affecting our residents,” stated Doherty.

“Just look at the state’s economic indicators. They are as low as Mr. Corzine’s poll numbers,” he continued. “Clearly, the people of New Jersey are not happy with the direction he has taken this state and certainly our residents will not be fooled into thinking some self-serving survey on same-sex marriage is an indicator of what our residents really believe and want.”

According to a recent Zogby International survey of state residents that was commissioned by the gay rights group, Garden State Equality, which is chaired by Steven Goldstein, Corzine’s former campaign manager, New Jersey voters support same sex marriage by a 50 to 42 percent margin.

Doherty noted that it is rather curious that the same-sex marriage issue crops up each time the state is facing an issue that has the potential to have dire consequences for the state and its citizens. Last year, it was the governor’s highly unpopular asset monetization plan that would have increased tolls on state highways 800 percent. This year, Doherty said, it’s Governor Corzine’s sinking poll numbers.

“It seems a pattern has emerged where Mr. Goldstein and other funded agitators pop up when necessary to run interference for the Corzine Administration and other Democrats when they are either considering unpopular proposals such as their highly controversial ‘asset monetization’ scheme or an official’s low performance ratings,” noted Doherty.

“Either way, it’s a constant agitation of society much like former President Bill Clinton’s ‘wag the dog’ antics to keep the heat off of his personal indiscretions.”

Doherty said that from the beginning of time, marriage has always been defined as that between a man and a woman.

“Marriage is firmly rooted in custom, history and in the policies of our institutions and government,” he stated. “However, since Mr. Goldstein and other gay rights activists continue to resurrect this matter, let’s put a stop to these diversionary tactics and let the voters decide the issue once and for all.”

In March 2007, Doherty and Assemblywoman Alison Littell McHose, R-Sussex, Morris and Hunterdon, sponsored ACR-250 which would allow voters to define marriage. In the Senate, it was introduced by Senators Gerald Cardinale, R-Bergen, and Robert. E. Littell, R-Sussex, Morris and Hunterdon, as SCR-124.

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