Doherty: Out of Touch now, Out of Time --- come November

It’s that time of year again folks!

Time to let the people of New Jersey know just how out of touch the values of Assemblyman Mike Doherty really are. And there is no better way to expose the values of our right-wing Repub rep than to give a sampling of the bills he has sponsored. Let’s begin!

Civil Unions

Right-wing Mike sponsored bill A1398, a bill that “Includes same sex marriages among marriages declared void”. The bill also “provides that New Jersey will not recognize marriages in other jurisdictions which are void in New Jersey.”

Doherty even wants to change the New Jersey Constitution with ACR250 which “Proposes a constitutional amendment to provide that only the union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as marriage.”

Other right-wing Repubs joining Doherty in sponsoring this type of legislation include Assembly members Richard A. Merkt, Alison Littell McHose, Alex DeCroce, and Guy Gregg.

Doherty also voted against the Domestic Partnership law, and Civil Unions, in spite of the Lewis v. Harris New Jersey Supreme Court ruling making civil unions legal.

What is it exactly about civil unions that so scares Doherty? If he has a religious objection, the law does not force religious institutions to perform civil unions. And civil unions will not dimish marriage in New Jersey one bit.

If Mike were a true conservative, rather than a neo-con, he would support civil unions as an institution because it is the law, and oppose the Defense of Marriage Act as an infringement of states' rights. He is first and foremost a 'situational conservative', and espouses all the situational ethics that results.

Stem Cell Research

Doherty was the primary sponsor of two bills --- A3949 and A3950, which would have a devastating impact on stem cell research in New Jersey. A3949 “Repeals the statute setting forth public policy of State on stem cell research.”

Even more harmful to stem cell research would be A3950, which “Prohibits use of public funds for embryonic stem cell research.” New Jersey needs to be at the forefront of the nation in this research because of the enormous economic and medical benefits.

If Mike were a true conservative, rather than a neo-con, he would support stem cell research as the result of good scientific research, for the many economic benefits for New Jersey, and for the many possible medical benefits for those with dibilitating disease. However, one cannot expect much from someone who says it does not matter if you believe in the science of evolution or in 'creationism'. Once again, Doherty is first and foremost a 'situational conservative', and espouses all the situational ethics that results.

The working families of New Jersey should not let the "out of touch" perspective of Doherty win the day on these issues.

Doherty wants to run for Senate? Just let him try.