October 19, 2005
Danny Thomas on 2
By Karl-Thomas Musselman
Austin Councilman Danny Thomas was the one city council member who was not signed on with Mayor Wynn's press conference Monday in opposition to Amendment #2. A reader sent in this information.
“I just made it clear that I don’t have anything against anyone, but I don’t believe in same sex marriage,” said Thomas. “I'm in favor of proposition 2.” Danny Thomas was attending a church convention in Lubbock Monday.
Posted by Karl-Thomas Musselman at October 19, 2005 01:36 PM
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Most likely, he can kiss his chances at ever getting elected mayor goodbye.
Hopefully this will also be his kiss of death for re-election to City Council as well.
He's not eligible for reelection due to term limits.
First, he could conceivably run for reelection, as term limits in Austin have a way out if you get a sufficient number of signatures. The number is prohibitively high so most members have retired at the end of their two "easy" terms.
Second, I wasn't aware of his desiring to run for Mayor, but I don't understand why this should be a litmus test for Mayor or City Council. They don't have the power to decide these things anyways, so its not like gay rights are doomed with him up there. He's good on environmental, public safety and economic development issues. He is one of the most consistently liberal voices on city council. He is also an evangelical pastor, which means that on a handful of issues he'll probably come down on a different side as everyone else. One bad issue does not a bad councilman make.
In other words, which would you rather have: a George W. Bush/Tom Craddick type with a pro-gay marriage stance or a Paul Wellstone type with an anti-gay marriage stance? Before you answer that question, remember that Wellstone voted FOR the Defense of Marriage Act and was generally more conservative on this issue than others. This is one issue, and it should not be a litmus test. Danny Thomas has been a wonderful city councilman, and this issue notwithstanding its a shame he won't be on our council any more.
"a George W. Bush/Tom Craddick type with a pro-gay marriage stance or a Paul Wellstone type with an anti-gay marriage stance?"
This makes no sense. Who on the current council is a George Bush type? Thomas has been an entirely unspectacular member of council, like most other council members not named Slusher. Social policy may not be the most important consideration in a mayoral race, but Austinites likely want a mayor who they can be proud of, and who reflects their values. Say what you will about Will Wynn, he has demonstrated this capacity on multiple occasions in his tenure, from his impressive handling of the Katrina evacuee situation to denouncing prop 2. Gay rights can come up in the context of city government in many ways, so it's a valid consideration. Just because one is an evangelical Christian, doesn't mean you have to be anti-gay. Quit apologizing for bigotry.
Where does County Judge Sam Biscoe stand?
"Social policy may not be the most important consideration in a mayoral race, but Austinites likely want a mayor who they can be proud of, and who reflects their values."
It's possible that Councilman Thomas is reflecting the values of a key segment of Austin. The black community is solidly for the traditional definition of marriage.
" The black community is solidly for the traditional definition of marriage."
Actually, you're completely wrong.
African-Americans aren't for or against same-sex marraige any more or less than any other demographic in the rest of the country. The distinction (and trouble) is that the black community is generally a progressive community, but not on this issue.
