Free Republic

Senators James Alesi, Mark Grisanti, Roy McDonald and Stephen Saland Benefiting from Bloomberg-Hosted Fundraiser This Evening New York, NY---- The National Organization for Marriage (NOM) today announced it is running an online advertisement throughout New York state in response to a Bloomberg-held fundraiser this evening for the four GOP senators that betrayed the trust of New Yorkers last summer by exchanging a vote for same-sex marriage for campaign contributions. The advertisement, called "Money Dance," is modeled after the practice of some brides and grooms dancing for money with supporters at their wedding. In this case, the four Senators -- Roy...

Albany, NY - Breaking pack from the vast majority of his fellow senate Republicans, Saland’s deliberation over and eventual deciding “vote of conscience” on the Marriage Equality act June 24, has brought the media-shy legislator to national and even global attention. Saland’s vote to support gay marriage in New York did not come easy. Throughout his district and beyond, passionate constituents on both sides of the contentious issue applied overwhelming pressure in an attempt to get Saland to “do the right thing.” “It was a very difficult and anguishing process,” Saland said, estimating that he received anywhere from 100,000 to...

Gay Marriage- A Milestone Though there was unnecessary secrecy in the negotiations, Gov. Andrew Cuomo made a determined effort to achieve marriage equality in New York. He shares credit with the four Republican state senators who bucked their party and threats from conservatives to do what they knew was right. State Senators James Alesi, Roy McDonald, Mark Grisanti and Stephen Saland, all from upstate districts, deserve the support of their communities. They showed the kind of strength that is extremely hard to find in today’s politics. In drafting a compromise, however, Senator Saland and other Republicans insisted on language that...