We can flash back to 2008 when Florida Republicans said it was necessary to place a ban on gay marriage in the Florida Constitution. The Left made the argument that gay marriage was already illegal in Florida and the way the ballot was written could affect hetrosexual marriages. The Left argument was weak and Republicans got a ban in the Florida Constitution.
The Left failed to make the emotional case that banning gay marriage was discrimation and morally wrong. The Right played on people's fears to rally Christian Right voters to the polls. Gov. Charlie Crist is now using the outrage at BP to pass a Constitutional amendment to permanently ban offshore drilling off the coast of Florida. Republicans are suddely screaming about how the special session is unneeded because offshore drilling is already illegal.
House Specker Larry Cretul has called the special session "smoke and mirrors." Marco Rubio has accused Crist of staging a photo op session." Rubio bills himself as the candidate with real solutions. Rubio's solution is more offshore drilling and tax cuts for small businesses. Rubio seeked publicity during his House Speaker days and passed a property tax amendment that was ruled unconstitutional. For Rubio to say Crist is using a special session for publicity doesn't pass the laugh test.
Jeff Atwater is running for Chief Financial Officer and Mike Haridopolos is the incoming Senate President. They are as pro-oil as Rubio and Cretul but are politically savvy enough not to piss off voters by being against the special session. Haridopolos is even willing to listen to proposals about renewable energy. Don't expect Atwater or Haridopolos to vote for a offshore drilling ban.
The whole argument about 'let's not put this on the ballot' because it is already illegal is lame. Progressives want a constitutional ban against offshore drilling. Christian conservatives got their constitutional ban against gay marriage. Political factions support a constitutional amendment when it is an issue they are passionate about. Past arguments about how gay marriage or offshore drilling can't be placed on the ballot because it is already illegal is rather disingenuous. I wanted the gay marriage amendment ballot to fail and an offshore drilling amendment ballot to come out of the Florida legislature. I was against the former and support the latter. Progressives did a horrible job framing thir position on gay marriage. I hope Republicans make the same mistakes on offshore drilling.
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