In the California Governor's race, character - and courage - are at stake.
Like many California Democrats, I admire the life's body of work done by Governor Gavin Newsom. Early on, I had my doubts about the man (truth be told, I voted instead for the Green Candidate the first time Newsom ran for Mayor of San Francisco). But, the man won me over by turning out to be one of the most courageous politicians of his era. And, herein lies the problem. It is nearing the time when I, along with the rest of my fellow Californians, must let go of Governor Newsom...to allow him to become President Newsom. So, the question arises - who is worthy of succeeding him? And, I am concerned. Because, as Joe Biden would say - This is a big fucking deal.
Courage, I believe, stems from curiosity. It begins with the willingness to pry into matters where some - typically those invested in maintaining a status quo - might say we don't belong. It is the willingness to ask why things are the way they are and, where inequity exists, the willingness to question whether there might not be a better way. As a law school student in San Francisco in the early 90's, I had begun to take my first steps towards a more courageous path. The body of Constitutional law that I was reading was spotty at best. In particular, I had begun to question the fact that the lesbian and gay community was not then recognized as a federally protected class. This fact was all the more poignant considering that San Francisco's hospitals were, at the time, loaded with persons dying in the last stages of AIDS - all of them ignored and mistreated under twelve consecutive years of Republican Presidential administrations since the disease had first been detected and reported in the early 80's. The situation was, to me, quite clear...There is what the law is. And, there is what the law can be. And, only courage separates the two.
Sadly, courage in politics is rare. It is the exception that, choosing to be curious and choosing to question and defy the sometimes arbitrary nature of the law, begins issuing same sex marriage licenses in 2004 when doing so was deemed illegal. But, again, there is what the law is. And, there is what the law can be. Today, two decades later, we here in California again find ourselves in need of such courage. With an election coming to fill a seat that is the most powerful non Federal political position in the country, we have to get this right. We are facing a temper tantrum throwing tyrant in Washington. A bully. A person who's personality can turn on a dime, lashing out at friend and foe alike. A person who can't face the scrutiny of the simplest of questions...because, at their core, this person lacks a moral compass.
The clock is ticking. In thirteen short months, California will pick a new Governor. Character - and courage - has to take center stage. Joe was right. It is a big fucking deal.
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