Yahoo! News - S.F. Mayor Happy With Marriage Decision
SAN FRANCISCO - He's been called a renegade and a rogue, a thorn in the side of the Democratic Party's presidential ambitions. Enemies are calling for his political head and old allies are keeping a noticeable distance.

Yet what really matters to Mayor Gavin Newsom is what they're saying in the neighborhoods of San Francisco — that his decision to buck California law and grant marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples makes him a hero.

"I've never felt more certain about something than this," he said. "It was almost non-debatable."

But he acknowledged that he's been surprised by the lack of support he's gotten from fellow Democrats, including longtime gay rights champions like U.S. Rep. Barney Frank of Massachusetts and mentors such as U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, both San Franciscans.

"A lot of people that I believed would be quite supportive publicly were not. A lot of people I never imagined, never could conceive, on any basis, would ever support the comments, they supported (me)," Newsom said.

Then he parsed the responses he's received into one more category: "Those who privately are telling me one thing and saying another publicly."

That's because the Democrats are a bunch of gutless wonders when it comes to sticking up for the things they supposedly believe in. The time to stand up against bigotry is now, people.

Mr. Newsom, you are a hero.

If more Democrats could find the courage to put their money where their mouth is, we would have a chance to win this battle. If they stay silent, we might as well pass those state and federal constitutional amendments right now. The Republicans are serious about this one, are we?