Freelance columnist Sunana Batra had a great op-ed in the North County Times last Wednesday, noting the folly of SB 777, including this passage:
I can’t help but shake my head at the misguided parents who have once again drunk the California Teachers Association’s Kool-Aid and see a new law meant to protect homosexual and transgender students as just another nice attempt to make sure no student is ever made to feel uncomfortable. They are the clueless frogs just getting comfortable in the warmth of a cozy bath that makes them feel oh so good and tolerant.
After it was posted on Red County San Diego, one anonymous commenter, proudly dubbing himself "Squish Revolution," reacted as follows:
You’re welcome to your opinion, but there are a lot of us that are more concerned about the state’s 10 billion dollar deficit. But, once again, Republicans will soil their own message and get into a social issues fight that won’t actually change anything. Social issues don’t win us a state-wide majority that can actually affect change.
If the seemingly more moderate-leaning readers at SD’s Red County blog-site don’t know how the California Teachers Association has anything to do with budget deficits in California, I don’t even begin to know how to help educate them. And, yes, I would agree that an estimated $10 billion budget deficit is of significant concern, just as the $40 billion was a few years ago. Yet, the average Californian knows little of this or how it is impacting their lives. However, they are concerned – among other things – with the kind of education their children are getting, and just what is being taught in the schools.
I am the first to understand the never-ending debate between conservative and moderate GOP activists over whether the Party should be outspoken on abortion, gay rights, and gun control. Let’s not anticipate that debate will end any time soon, perhaps after peace is achieved in the Middle East.
Yet, if Republicans are afraid to stand up and confront relativism in the schools to the point that transgenderism is normalized in the minds of children, they may be missing the point of standing for anything at all. The average Californian, regardless of party-affiliation, would be appalled. The average legislator that supports this type of “tolerance” also knows that their constituents would be appalled, if only they knew.
For Republicans to be afraid of shining a light on issues that are so far out of the mainstream that most Californians would just shake their heads in disbelief, is to provide the opposition the continued cloak-of-darkness they so desire, which allows them to pass such legislation in the first place.
This is a winning issue, folks, but we need to be willing to stand up and be counted. Does anyone remember that Prop. 22 was a big winner in this state, only seven years ago? Oh, perhaps it was so far back that we should now be afraid of that as well. Remember, Prop 22 was simply about gay marriage, while SB 777 is potentially about allowing the opposite sex into our kids’ locker rooms.
Maybe this is not just about relativism in our schools. Maybe it’s also about relativism in the Republican Party.
For more on the referendum to overturn SB 777, click here.
December 10th, 2007 at 12:00 am
A comment on Red County about this post, as well as my response…
Barry- Thanks for the mention on the Flash Report. I don’t know if that is a compliment to my ideas or an insult to those of us in the middle. As a base line for my party status, I’m a fiscal republican who supports the 2nd amendment all of the time, opposes abortion most of the time and thinks that gay people have the same rights as straight people.
I can assure you that I do understand the role of the CTA in CA budget matters, but think that Prop 98 and court decisions have a bigger impact than any union thugs. Speaking of budgets, why did the East County Assemblymen go on vacation while the East County Senator’s held the line on spending?
Next, do you mean to say that the Governor has helped to bring the budget deficit down from 40 billion to 10 billion? That can’t be possible, Jon Fleishman wouldn’t fib.
Now, onto the issue at hand. I agree that SB777 is radical for most people in California. Transgender is not something peopling feel comfortable with, even me. In fact, I bet that portion of the bill could have been amended out. But I’ll also venture a guess that the Republicans said all or nothing, and took nothing. The rest of the bill pretty much adds sexual orientation into those protections that are given to people of various religions, races and gender’s.
This issue is a winning issue for the status quo. Joel Anderson will get more Christian conservative republicans to vote for him, but the legislature will not pick up an additional Republican seat. Support for gay marriage is gaining ground fast in California and the party will be the last ones to see it.
And if you’re concerned about kids of the opposite sex in locker rooms, think about the fact that you already have gay and lesbian kids in your locker rooms.
Thanks again for the post on the flash report. I’d respond there, but anonymity allows for more interesting discussion.
Posted by: Squish Revolution | December 10, 2007 at 01:21 PM
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Squish Rev:
No insult to anyone, but fair debate, as well as a quick anyalysis that I believed SB 777 to be a social issue a tad different — strategically — than the other social differences Reps often have.
To your other points, I’m not clear on the vacationing of which legislators you mean. Speaker Nunez called a recess and went on vacation, which forced a recess of the entire Assembly, regardless of the wishes of any GOP and/or East County members, if that is your reference (?) As far as I know, the East County members (and others) were within two-four hours of Sacto if needed, but it was Nunez that left the country.
On the $10 million-$40 million deficit question: My point is that both are of significant concern. Under Gray Davis, it rose from $10 to $20 to $40 plus. Post recall, the belief by many is that fiscal control was achieved, although Tom McClintock and others have indicated such as smoke and mirrors. Either way, it seems a GOP governorship is still producing deficits. Yes, it would be easier if we had the legislature too.
We’ll have to disagree on the rest — fair enough. I will say that the GOP pointing out budget deficits also hasn’t resonated enough with the voters to win seats, unless you count the Governor’s seat. But, then, we’d have to advocate for complete fiscal control while having the seat for it to mean anything. Like we did during and just after the recall, pre post-partisanship, if you will.
Barry