Republicans and Democrats are in a fever pitch over the Supreme Court's gay marriage ruling. One is in panic mode, the other is in a rush to push the issue by expanding discrimination laws.
Perhaps both should slow down.
The Tennessee GOP is rushing to create an issue that does not exist. In a panic, many GOP legislators packed a meeting to discuss protecting pastors from the fallout of refusing to perform gay marriages. The protection arises from the refusal to perform marriages based on religious beliefs.
The GOP panic is misplaced. There is no threat to pastors and churches. Religious freedom is not being attacked.
The GOP is operating on a misinterpretation of the scope of the Supreme Court opinion. Moreover, as usual the GOP mistakenly believes that " marriage is a construct of the church."
Believe it or not, marriage is not a construct of the church. Historically, " most ancient societies needed a secure environment for the perpetuation of the species, a system of rules to handle the granting of property rights, and the protection of bloodlines. The institution of marriage handled these needs."
Marriage, therefore, was a very practical thing. Not much romance or religious significance here.
Therefore, the Tennessee GOP is operating on misplaced facts because they are losing on an important social issue. The GOP is simply out of touch with reality.
The Democratic push for non-discrimination laws is probably too much too soon. Chattanooga City Councilman Chris Anderson almost immediately pushed for a non-discrimination law for gay employees of Chattanooga.
Unfortunately, a good measure is getting caught up in red tape. Moreover, the councilman is looking more like a politician seeking the limelight than a politician working for gay rights.
The issue with Anderson is timing and patience. A good deed can backfire in a climate where people are having intense reactions, reacting before they know the impact of the Supreme Court ruling. It is time for perspective, caution and careful planning not a rush to fix issues that need addressing with thoughtful, well-planned strategy giving people an opportunity for acceptance.
In this environment this ordinance may face a legal challenge by the out-of-touch opposition.
Timing is everything. Political patience is very much a virtue.
Slow down, you are moving too fast. This is an important ruling for equality after years of planning and hard work. Therefore, it is time for caution, care and careful steps in moving forward.
Quick political action can undermine years of work to ensure equality, not only for the LBGT community, but for all of us who live in this great society.
The Republicans look foolish, they are out of touch with almost 60 percent of Americans. The Democrats have an opportunity to talk about an issue that moves our society into an age of "great equality."
The Democrats should not blow this opportunity by moving too fast.
The Republicans already have failed by looking like a group of sore losers and creating issues that do not exist.
Advice to Democrats: We live in exciting times, sometimes the excitement must be tempered by patience and planning.
Keep perspective, plan for creating a new era in America: the era of "great equality."
Stuart James, a former chairman of the Hamilton County Democratic Party, is a lawyer, political consultant and publisher of theBlog at www.theblogg.org.