Posted on 06/28/2004 9:41:23 AM PDT by BenLurkin
Some Assembly Democrats who remember William J. "Pete" Knight for his opposition to same-sex marriage rather than his status as a test pilot and war hero are trying to derail an effort to name a portion of the Antelope Valley Freeway in his honor. After the state senator died May 7 of leukemia, Asssemblywoman Sharon Runner, R-Lancaster, proposed the name change, while Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich suggested naming Air Force Plant 42 after Knight.
The Lancaster Veterans Home, when it is built by the state, also will be named after Knight, who served three decades in the Air Force.
Runner recently learned, however, that naming the freeway from Pearblossom Highway to Highway 395 won't come easily. A two-page listing of reasons not to honor Knight was distributed in a Democratic Caucus meeting, she said, around the same time Runner's resolution was removed from the calendar of the Assembly Transportation Committee.
The statement begins, "Pete Knight's record - in opposition to gays and lesbians, Latinos, the environment, immigrants, women and working families - speaks for itself."
It points out Knight's efforts to keep same-sex couples from legally marrying and the flap Knight caused in 1993 when he distributed a poem mocking Latino immigrants to his Republican colleagues. Knight, then in his first year in the state Assembly, apologized for his insensitivity.
"There's nothing new that has been pointed out in this - they're drudging up the past on a man that contributed immensely to his district and the state of California," said David Orosco, who served as Knight's spokesman in the 17th Senate District. "This should not be a contentious issue whatsoever. It's standard for someone of his stature to receive an honor (like this).
"It will show them to be exceedingly coldhearted if they try to refuse him the honor."
Knight, who set still-standing speed records as a test pilot, became a lightning rod for criticism among gay and lesbian activists when he sponsored the 2000 ballot initiative that defined marriage as an institution between one man and one woman.
Antelope Valley Democratic activist Lynda von Husen said she could understand why some members of the Assembly would not want to see Knight's name on a state highway.
"It's not surprising to me that Democrats in the state Assembly would oppose that resolution, considering Knight's obstructionist record in the Senate and his opposing stands with Democrats on social issues such as gay marriage and immigrants," said von Husen, who is president of the Democratic Club of the High Desert.
"My response would be that those who favor the section of highway being named after Pete Knight should contact Assemblywoman Runner, and those that oppose it should contact her. She should make the effort to get the sense of the district, to the best of her ability."
Runner's resolution could be taken up again in August after the Legislature's summer break, which will begin after the state budget is signed into law.
"His plane is hanging in the Smithsonian - what better patriot do we need to recognize?" asked Runner, who called the opposition "absolutely ridiculous."
The Senate today will remember Knight in a special session; Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and members of Knight's family, including his widow, Gail, are expected to be in attendance.
Schwarzenegger is expected to announce an executive order naming the Lancaster veterans home after Knight, who lobbied for it for many years.
What would they prefer, "The Hershey Highway"?
;^)
Exactly. Mere opposition to the gay agenda gets you drummed out of society and rendered like Pete Knight, an "unperson." The Democrats have taken Orwellian politics to a new level.
Even better.
True. And very scary.
BTW I've been informed that after Cheney's direct address to that swarming coward Leahy, donantions to the RNC skyrocketed.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.