Expected veto, with a twist

Gov. Chris Christie vetoed same-sex marriage legislation — which surprised no one. But his veto came with an unnecessary and wholly unconvincing caveat.

“I have been just as adamant that same-sex couples in a civil union deserve the very same rights and benefits enjoyed by married couples — as well as the strict enforcement of those rights and benefits,’’ Christie said in a prepared statement.

“Discrimination should not be tolerated and any complaint alleging a violation of a citizen’s right should be investigated and, if appropriate, remedied.”

I’d like to take the governor at his word, but it’s tough given that the state’s civil unions panel has called them a failure and gay and lesbian couples view them as inadequate.

Tom Moran of The Star-Ledger, writing on NJ.com, called it right today, saying the governor’s conditional veto and statement were, jointly, “a phony attempt to have it both ways.”

This is likely about politics. Christie has national ambitions, and signing this bill would severely diminish his standing in the Republican Party, and probably kill his chances of reaching the White House. The veto will protect his career, but at the expense of gay citizens of this state.

If the governor really wanted to ensure equal rights to gays, he could have signed the bill. It’s that simple.

That he vetoed the bill says all there needs to be said about him.

Author: hankkalet

Hank Kalet is a poet and freelance journalist. He is the economic needs reporter for NJ Spotlight, teaches journalism at Rutgers University and writing at Middlesex County College and Brookdale Community College. He writes a semi-monthly column for the Progressive Populist. He is a lifelong fan of the New York Mets and New York Knicks, drinks too much coffee and attends as many Bruce Springsteen concerts as his meager finances will allow. He lives in South Brunswick with his wife Annie. View all posts by hankkalet