Believe it or not, I was looking for photos of beetles to try to ID some that frequent our house, but I instead ended up finding this gem:
So many people, so much effort. We needed 50 votes in the Vermont House to hold the veto in place. We got 49. It all came down to one vote in Vermont.
The post is in reference to Audette’s abstention, and the framing is that that one vote could have made the difference.
So here’s the thing– the vote was 100 – 49. Even if Audette had voted, they still would have lost. All we needed was 100 votes to win, and we got 100 votes. The opponents didn’t need 50. They needed 51.
To anti-marriage people, please, please, please, continue to be bad at math. Campaign for that one vote who won’t make a difference.
And while you’re at it:
For the rest of us, we’ve got to decide, where do we stand? And are we willing to make that stand, even under pressure? Even through persecution? Hate mail? Angry friends? What price is there on your vote?
How incredibly powerful one vote can be, and how dear the cost.
Ooh… angry friends. The horror.
Persecution. Give me a break. Claiming opponents of same-sex marriage are being persecuted is like complaining that all your riches are dragging you down.
As far as the price goes, the price of your opposing same sex marriage is paid by those whose rights you would choose to restrict. It is paid out in the form of lack of visitation rights when a same-sex partner is hospitalized. It is paid out in the form of failure to provide information to the parent of a child of a same-sex partner, As was made clear during the debates in Massachusetts:
“The human aspect of this debate is very important to understand,” said Sen. Jarrett T. Barrios. “If this were to pass, I would be denied basic human rights that most of you don’t even know you have.” The room stood silent for the first time in two days as Barrios talked about calling the hospital for his sick 7-year-old, only to be told that he was not listed as the boy’s parent.
The price of opposition to same-sex marriage is serious, it is real and it is severe.
It’s just not paid by those who would choose to oppose it.
Sorry Julie…with 149 members voting, 50 would have defeated us (I.E. we only would have had 99 yesses). I think that is what they were thinking. Obviously had Audette come then they would have needed 51 (as it would have been out of 150 votes cast).
That is how it is generally looked at by the clerks office. Not how many votes something got or did not get, but how many it got out of those numbers voting.
In either case…I certainly hope some of those who voted against marriage will have solid opposition that will gain the support of the majority across the board!
Thanks-
Dave Z