LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
Capital Letters |
by Hastings Wyman |
President Kuehl? Lesbian state Sen. Sheila Kuehl (D) may be slated to become president pro tem of the California state senate when Sen. John Burton (D), the current occupant of that influential post, retires at the end of 2004 because of term limits. While Kuehl's elevation isn't a done deal, California political analyst Tony Quinn wrote recently that Kuehl "is the leading candidate" for the job, one of the legislature's two top positions. "She's respected by her peers, even some very conservative members of the Senate," says a straight-but-savvy Sacramento journalist, agreeing that she has a chance to climb to the Senate's top job.
One of four lesbians in the California legislaturethey've dubbed themselves "the lavender caucus"Kuehl consistently gets high marks from political observers. She was named the assembly member with the most intelligence and the most integrity in a poll of fellow legislators, key staffers, and members of the news media conducted by the California Journal, which also named her "rookie of the year" in her first year in the assembly. Should Kuehl move up to Senate president pro tem, she's likely to be a major influence for legislation that will help the gay and lesbian community. And not just gay peopleshe's already taking the lead on legislation to make California the first state to provide paid time off for family crises. During the six years she served in the state assembly, she authored some 73 bills that became law, including many providing protections based on gender and sexual orientation. Indeed, the long-time Sacramento journalist notes that Kuehl "could have been speaker of the Assembly" but for term limits. Kuehl is well known for portraying Zelda Gilroy on TV's The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis and still drives a red Porsche that was a product of her theatrical success. But she's not just another ballot-lucky celebrityKuehl later graduated from Harvard Law School and has been a professor at several law schools. Her show-biz background has nevertheless served her well. At the legislature's recent annual roast, Kuehl organized a women's choruscomplete with a repertoire of bawdy lyricsthat was the hit of the evening. Stay tuned. Vitter, Party of One Although Congressman David Vitter (R-La.) is a solidly conservative Republican, he has a history of alienating both fellow GOPers and Democrats. When he was in the legislature, Vitter made bitter enemies with his holier-than-thou attacks on government perks flowing to fellow legislators in both parties. And he recently made an enemy of Gov. Mike Foster (R-La.) over the governor's granting of a casino license. Vitter is now declaring moral war onwho else?gays and lesbians. The Washington Blade reports that, according to Vitter's staff, the contentious lawmaker will try to overturn the District of Columbia's domestic partners law, which Congress finally allowed to take effect last September, after 10 years of keeping the law in deep freeze. Once again, Vitter's straight-laced righteousness is likely to lead him into conflict, not just with Democrats but with his own party. House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) doesn't like controversial issues getting in the way of appropriations measures. And many other GOP powers-that-be, in the White House as well as in Congress, don't want Republican lawmakers having to go on record on such issues. Vitter isn't likely to get his way. When Congress approved the D.C. Appropriations bill last September, which had a provision that allowed the nation's capital to implement its domestic partners law, a minority of 41 Republicans joined a majority of 184 Democrats to defeat an effortsimilar to Vitter'sthat would have scuttled the law. So why is Vitter taking such a course? Some recent history: Despite his passel of political foes, Vitter is a skilled campaigner and fundraiser, so he had been considered the favorite in next year's governor's race. He even transferred $700,000 from his federal to a state account to accommodate such a race, putting the money out of reach unless he ran for state office. Then in May, Vitter surprised political insiders with a sudden reversal, announcing thatdespite the potential loss of $700,000he would not run for governor next year. He cited the all-too-familiar reason of family concerns but went further, noting that he and his wife were undergoing counseling because of stress from his political career. Since then, Louisiana's rumor mill has been working overtime. None of the sub rosa dish has been confirmed for the record. However, Robert Namer, Vitter's opponent in this year's nonpartisan congressional primary, contended recently in an interview with Louisiana columnist Jeff Crouere that he plans to drop "a major bombshell" into the campaign. Namer, a former radio talk show host and a GOPer, has a kooky reputation, but the Democrats are trying to recruit a more formidable challenger. Thus, it is quite possible thatin taking on the District of Columbia's domestic partners registryVitter hopes to divert attention from his own problems. Given Vitter's history, it's not a surprise that he would ignore the wishes of GOP leaders. But it is hard to understand why he would make gays the target of his diversion strategy. By attacking a domestic partners law in the District of Columbia, Vitter cannot help but draw attention to his own domestic difficultiesand in Louisiana, there is no domestic partnership law to "undermine" his marriage.Hastings Wyman publishes Southern Political Report, a nonpartisan biweekly political newsletter. He may be reached in care of Letters from CAMP Rehoboth or at HWymanSPR@aol.com. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 12, No. 11, August 9, 2002. |