As a diehard liberal and promoter of social justice, I have days when it seems like every single cause that I support is under attack. Clinics that provide basic health care to women are under attack. Supposedly thoughtful members of the judiciary are still using the "Won't somebody please think of the children?!?" line of jurisprudence in making decisions that affect millions of people. Lawmakers are wasting time condemning Move On instead of a looking seriously at four-year-long war that has killed tens of thousands and which was entered into under false pretenses.
But I'm not saying anything that hasn't been repeated over and over since January 20, 2001. It's a pretty frustrating time to be a liberal.
That's why, when good things happen, when unexpected decisions are made, I have to celebrate. I still remember how I felt the day after the 2006 elections, when Jon Tester was on national TV and found out that the only county where votes were still outstanding was Butte-Silver Bow. Everybody watching in Montana knew that Tester would be going to the Senate. For once, something was going our way. Today, my mini-celebration comes courtesy of Joan Walsh on Salon. She posted a video and short commentary about the decision of San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders to publicly support gay marriage and not veto a resolution on the topic. It's worth watching, but here's the main thrust of what he had to say:
"The arrival of the resolution to sign or veto in my office late last night -- [pauses] please excuse me -- forced me to reflect and search my soul for the right thing to do. I've decided to lead with my heart, which is probably obvious at the moment, to do what I think is right and to take a stand on behalf of equality and social justice."
He tells reporters that his daughter Lisa and members of his staff are gay, and explains: "In the end, I could not look any of them in the face and tell them that their relationships -- their very lives -- were any less meaningful than the marriage that I share with my wife, Rana," Sanders said.
This seems like such a simple concept, but it is one that has eluded plenty of officials out there--including plenty of Democrats. Sanders, for the record, is a Republican.
But for today, Sanders is enough. Sanders gives me hope.