He seems like a good Catholic kid (he’s in his 70s now). His affiliations are pretty wholesome – American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, and Knights of Columbus.
His town, Fitchburg, is alive, but not too healthy. Is 40,000 residents saw much better days when Worcester County was an important manufacturing area. Its downtown is a tarnished shell of its former diverse glory, the upper classes have deserted the area, and it shares abandoned mill buildings as a characteristic with many small New England cities.
First as a councilor and now as a state representative, Goguen has been the bring-it-home type of politician. He is unabashed in asking what he can do for Fitchburg.
A lot of years ago in my first college sociology class, the professor admonished us not to try to ascribe motives in our analyses or expect to predict behavior. Yet, I still have to wonder why Goguen would let his good works be overshadowed in this quixotic jousting at same-sex marriage.
He doesn’t have to posture with the voters for re-election. He undermines his credibility with other legislators. There is no tangible benefit to his constituents. So I am left assuming that as he has declared in letters to be quoted later, that he honestly believes that same-sex marriage is in some unspecified way harmful to his own heterosexual marriage.
Despite his speeches, letters and garment rending, he can’t line up enough legislators to support his silly bills. Sometimes, he has been the only sponsor of one. It’s embarrassing.
His main efforts have been toward having a DoMA passed in Massachusetts — long after the horses have left the barn, and lately to remove the judges who ruled in favor of same-sex marriage.
Part one of this series is here. Part three is here.
3 comments:
The trouble with having the same-sex marriage issue in the hands of the A-list folks is that they're too busy garnering positive press to hit the Goguens of the world below the belt. It is hate that blinds such people to the inconsistencies, and makes their statements-- and legislation -- incoherent with rage.
I'm still waiting to hear just one politician or talk show host open up and tell the truth: "I hate fags!" One breath of candour from a public figure would clarify the issue beyond any hope of nuancing. Then perhaps we could discard the posturing and move ahead.
Spot on, Uncle. His peers among others need to call Goguen and his ilk on their actions versus their words.
That's the road to ridicule and a great behavior changer. I'm convinced that Southern racism only began changing when it became unfashionable, when your neighbors would laugh at your pinheaded comments and actions.
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