Jerry Brown wins praise, criticism for stance on Proposition 8

[PatSeg]

Source: Sacramento Bee

A generation ago, then-Gov. Jerry Brown's conscientious stand against the death penalty prompted a revolt in the Legislature and eventually spurred voters to throw out his appointee as chief justice of the California Supreme Court.

Now the 70-year-old attorney general and would-be 2010 gubernatorial candidate is stirring a new storm by his legal challenge to voters' approval of a measure banning gay marriage in California.

It's a move that could pay political dividends in a June 2010 Democratic primary against another likely gubernatorial candidate, San Francisco mayor and gay marriage champion Gavin Newsom.

snip

"I think Jerry Brown becomes an historic figure in this," said Rick Jacobs, chair of the Courage Campaign, which supports gay marriage. "He has shown that the attorney general can and will stand up for the rights of the minority in this state. I think he is Madisonian. He opposes the tyranny of the majority."

Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/capitolandcalifornia/story/1516236.html

[Jamastiene]

1. I hope he is allowed to keep standing up for civil rights.

I hope the party big wigs don't make him stop. :(

[PatSeg]

2. Brown has been a part of California politics

for a long time. I don't think he will cave to political pressure at this point in his life.

[David__77]

3. All the important state leaders support marriage equality.

California is different. Our "moderates" support marriage rights, except a handful in places like Fresno.

[xchrom]

4. recommend