Cory Booker ...To Christie: ‘I Wouldn’t Be Where I Am’ If Civil Rights Were Put To A Popular Vote

[ProSense]

Cory Booker Responds To Christie: ‘I Wouldn’t Be Where I Am’ If Civil Rights Were Put To A Popular Vote

By Igor Volsky

Newark Mayor Cory Booker called into WNYC’s The Brian Lehrer show this morning to condemn New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) for suggesting that voters should decide whether gay and lesbian people should be allowed to marry in the state. Christie expanded on his comments yesterday, claiming “people would have been happy to have a referendum on civil rights rather than fighting and dying in the streets in the South.”

“Frankly, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” if states had voted on equal rights legislation for African Americans during the 1960s, Booker told Lehrer. “This is not about a choice, it’s about a fundamental right and the 14th Amendment is very clear. It says, ‘equal protections under the law’ and right now in America we have second-class citizenship set-up where certain Americans can have privileges that certain Americans do not enjoy and that is just wrong.” Listen:

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Booker has registered his outrage with Christie’s comments in a formal statement, during a press conference, and through his Twitter account. “This isn’t a right/left issue. There are many Republicans that are in favor of marriage equality, I’m just hoping that our legislature acts,” he said on the radio and predicted that putting the issue on the November ballot could help the GOP turn out conservative voters.

He added, “there are somethings I don’t mind putting on the ballot — we’re thinking about here in Newark putting on the ballot a question of do we want to pay a 1 percent more in property taxes to fund our police department — those kinds of things I think are good, but when it comes to fundamental rights that I believe are explicitly guaranteed by the Constitution… I do not think they should be subject to popular whim.”

- more -

http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2012/01/26/412684/cory-booker-responds-to-christie-i-wouldnt-be-where-i-am-if-civil-rights-were-put-to-a-popular-vote/

[marmar]

1. Good for Cory Booker !!!

[LynneSin]

2. Cory Booker should run for Governor. I think he would make mincemeat of CHristie

I think Booker has a huge future in politics. I just adore the guy!

[karynnj]

4. +10000

He really is someone who could really beat Christie. I know that even in my largely Republican county, he has really impressed people when they heard him speak. In 2009, I did a small amount of GOTV and phone banking for Corzine - and it was PAINFUL. We were only speaking to Democrats - and sometimes Democrats and Independents. Many asked me for reasons to trust Corzine and deflecting by how bad Christie was really didn't work - nor did speaking of the good things the Corzine did, like maintaining the education funding even as he made huge cuts to balanve the budget.

[ProSense]

7. Yup

Booker is a good guy.

While New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and his lieutenant were taking heat for enjoying the sun during the snowstorm, Newark Mayor Cory Booker became a one-man snowplow, personally shoveling out residents and vehicles.

Throughout the storm, those in distress hit up Mr. Booker on Twitter, one of the mayor's preferred methods of keeping in touch with residents. After they cried out for plows, ambulances and diapers, he responded, electronically and sometimes by driving to the location, shovel in hand.

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http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203525404576050242601770616.html

[joeybee12]

6. I agree...he doesn't appear to be afarid of standing up

to the POS Christie.

[KamaAina]

3. I am not a big fan of Booker's efforts in education deform

but it's about time someone cut Christie down to size, so to speak!

[Bandit]

5. One of the reasons the Constitution was created was to stymie

"Tyranny of the Majority" The founders figured some things were just too important to be left up to Majority Rule..