Schizephrenic Schwarzenegger

I don't get it.

First the Governorator says he likes same-sex marriage.

Then, he says that he won't let the City and County of San Francisco issue same-sex marriage licenses because Prop. 22 was the decision of the people of the state, whether he liked the peoples' decision or not.

So far, I can kind of see that. "Yah, I like the gay marriage but that's my personal preference and the people disagreed with me, so I have to do what the people want." I can see that.

But then, the state Supreme Court overruled Prop. 22 and said that gays can get married after all, Prop. 22 be damned. And the Governator says he accepts the Supreme Court's ruling and congratulates gay couples.

And then the people pass Prop. 8, amending the Constitution, and again, Schwarzenegger's attitude is all "okay, that's how they want it after all, so that's what the people said."

But then the latest passive reversal from the Governor's office is this -- he sees that Attorney General Jerry "Moonbeam" Brown supported the plaintiffs in Perry v. Schwarzenegger, urging the overturn of Prop. 8. And yesterday, Schwarzenegger himself elected to not oppose the plaintiffs. This means that there are no state officials who are defending Prop. 8.

I'm not complaining; it pleases me to see moves that make it easier for same-sex marriage to become a reality here again. But the people amending the state constitution is not insignificant, and that's important, too. Attorney General Brown is taking a stand that there are federal rights violated by Prop. 8. At least he's taking a stand, even if he isn't defending the state in his capacity as the state's top lawyer. If Schwarzenegger joined Brown, that would be his position. Or, Schwarzenegger could take a position consistent with his statements that regardless of his personal appearance, his intent as a public servant is to fulfill the desires of the people and seek to uphold the law as written. That makes sense, too.

But the passivity is maddening. To be sure, the Governor's top priority has to be getting the state's finances back on track -- but at the same time, the issue is of great importance to a lot of people, on both sides of the issue. It's disappointing at best to see him ducking the issue completely.