Hope for a bipartisan approach in this year's legislative session may be fleeting considering recent political moves by some politicians and political activists.
We hope that single-issue agendas, such as a proposed constitutional ban on gay marriage, will not hamstring the Legislature from dealing with the critical issues of the state.
Some political ploys on the gay marriage issue, which have been rampant in recent days, have been disappointing.
House Speaker Steve Sviggum visited Willmar last month talking of the need for a return to bipartisanship in the Legislature, only to return to Willmar the next day to criticize Senate Majority Leader Dean Johnson on the gay marriage amendment issue.
Minnesota Republican Party Chairman Ron Carey visited Willmar last week calling for a return to bipartisanship in the Legislature, but spent the majority of his time attacking Sen. Johnson on the gay marriage amendment issue.
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Tuesday the Minnesota Citizens in Defense of Marriage announced their advertising campaign starting today against 12 Minnesota senators, including Johnson, claiming the senators are stopping a public vote on the gay marriage amendment issue.
The right appears to be using the gay marriage issue as a "wedge" issue and as an issue to get more conservatives to the polls in this election year. The move is also a political strategy to "stay on message" and deflect attention from recent concerns about some Republican leadership.
Nationally, President George W. Bush's approval rating has fallen to an all-time low of 34 percent, according to a CBS News poll released Monday. More than 70 percent of believe the Dubai Ports World transaction should not be allowed to go through, according to the same poll.
It is sad to see some Minnesota politicians so willing to sacrifice any bipartisan momentum for a political agenda on a divisive single issue.
Minnesota historically has found success in its ability to work cooperatively to find solutions to the state's challenges. Spreading fear and misinformation on the gay marriage issue is not the way to build a bipartisan partnership in the Legislature.
