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Political Agenda

Many editorials oppose proposed gay marriage amendment

By Joe Kimball | 05/09/11

Today's Daily Glean notes that while newspapers don't often take tough stands on their editorial pages — and that seems to be especially true on social issues — the Winona Daily News goes hard after Republican legislators who are trying to get a constitutional ban on gay marriages on the ballot. He calls them chicken, spineless, pandering, mean.

But apparently it's not something in the Mississippi River water that led Winona editor Darrell Ehrlick to be so outspoken. Newspapers around the state are coming out against the GOP proposal, says Andy Birkey in the Minnesota Independent.

He mentions the Winona paper, along with these papers:

  • Star Tribune: "Don't put bigotry up for a vote."
  • Albert Lea Tribune: "Amendment is just a red herring."
  • New Ulm Journal: "Beware of casting political ideas in stone."
  • Fairmount Sentinel: "Gay marriage is about clashing cultures."
  • Mesabi Daily News: It says the effort is"a waste of valuable time."
  • Grant County Herald: “The GOP is wasting time on marriage amendment.".
  • Mille Lacs County Times: "Republicans are on a rampage."
  • Mille Lacs Messenger: "Betting on bigotry may backfire this time."
  • Duluth News Tribune: "Let's please get back to what's important."
  • Minnesota Daily: "GOP agenda needs amending."
  • McLeod County Chronicle, which supports the current law banning same-sex marriages but opposes the constitutional effort.

Says Birkey:

"So far, no editorial boards at Minnesota newspapers have come out in support of the amendment."

Comments (1)

Submitted by Ralf Wyman on May 9, 2011 - 2:27pm.

So far I don't think a single business has come out in support of the amendment either.

Minneapolis Chamber char and Jefferson Lines CEO Charlie Zelle has taken a lead in the corporate sector against the amendment, but I'd like to read more about how this thing would impact corporate relations, recruitment, etc.

I know it's hard for many corp.s to want to weigh in on a social issue, but if leading companies loose executive talent to places like New England (or old England, for that matter), it won't help our region's economy keep pace with other past out-performers.

The GOP is touted as the party of business. And if you follow the donations, that's maybe 60% true. But their policies can and often do have negative business impacts. Doesn't anyone beyond Zelle get that?