Thank You, Mayor Newsom

One question that I’ve heard this week is “who was most responsible for Bush’s re-election.” In addition to the President himself, there are several candidates,—Karl Rove is one that comes to mind. But the leading candidate may be San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom.



Back in March 2004, Mat Staver, president of Liberty Counsel, the law firm that filed suit against Newsom and other public figures that were playing fast and loose with the gay marriage issue, wrote:



“My hat’s off to Mayor Newsome for waking up the rest of the sleeping Americans who were fooled into thinking that the same-sex marriage movement was about tolerance and equality. It’s not, and it never has been. Mayor Newsome has clarified what the movement is all about. His message is loud and clear. America has heard and they will respond.”



Respond they did. Now, the Democrats are suggesting that the San Francisco action had its toll. "I believe it did energize a very conservative vote," Senator Dianne Feinstein, a fellow Democrat and Newsom supporter said of the same-sex marriages in San Francisco. "I think it gave them a position to rally around. I'm not casting a value judgment. I'm just saying I do believe that's what happened."



On the other hand, there are a lot of candidates in naming the one who most energized the conservative base. Michael Moore and Whoopi Goldberg also come to mind.

--James Jewell