John Sugg: Hello, any Democrats out there?

Creative Loafing's John Sugg had a great column on the absolutely pathetic Democratic response to the gay marriage situation in Georgia: "Just how pathetic is the Democratic Party?

Last week, a Fulton County judge struck down the 2004 'gay marriage amendment' to the state's constitution. The reasoning was precise. The amendment addresses two points -- gay marriage and civil unions -- and thus isn't kosher because the state constitution requires amendments to be single-issue.

There's no dispute that most Georgians want to ban gay marriage. But I'm not sure we'd see the same majority lusting to carve a further pound of flesh from gays by denying them any civil benefits.

At the very least, it was an opportunity for the Democrats to stake out some sort of position. They didn't have to embrace gay marriage -- after all, it's a non-issue other than as a goad to get social conservatives to the polls. (Gay marriage was illegal in Georgia before the constitutional amendment, and it remains illegal now.)

Democrats could have said:

'We stand for the rule of law. The amendment that was passed was flawed -- and intentionally flawed -- to exact cruel sanctions on many of our citizens. Let's do it right, and by the constitution.'

Or, 'We are a party of deep moral and religious values. Jesus ministered to those who were despised by society. The Republicans trample the weakest among us, and rely on hatred and division to win.'

Or, 'We stand for families. Nothing in the amendment protects families. The Republicans are destroying families -- by poor education, lack of good jobs and inadequate health care.'

So, what did the Democrats do? They rushed to kiss Republican butt."