The Inky reports:

Said Chuck Ardo, Gov. Rendell's press secretary, "I can tell you unequivocally that if a pro-slavery bill were to reach the governor's desk, this governor would certainly veto it."

Have you been following this story? An African-American preacher, among many other crazy conservatives, testified at a hearing on Monday FOR a bill that would BAN same-sex marriage, civil unions, and possibly domestic partnership in the state constitution.

Sen. Fumo shot back that this was wrong, even if the legislature passed it. The preacher challenged him, and Fumo said that if there was a secret ballot, the legislature would likely pass a pro-slavery bill [apparently to make the point that majority opinion is not always morally right].

As a result, Fumo has gotten himself and this bill into the headlines.

The appropriations committee is scheduled to vote on it on Monday, and there is a very good chance it will pass. After that, it goes the Senate floor, where it is also likely to pass. That means the only way to stop it from going onto the ballot next year, where it will help pull out conservative R voters, is in the House. Scary huh?

It's interesting then that there has not been much in-depth coverage of the likelihood of this bill's passage which is pretty depressing for someone who is actually being denied most of the rights being discussed already, and will now see even more taken away. It's certainly a regional economic development prohibiter worthy of a lot of attention (remember City Council has already passed a resolution in opposition, with the dissent of the Rs and Anna Verna).

And there's also been very little probing coverage of what Fumo said and why.

It's some reflection (as of course is Obama and Wright and Clinton and all of the surface-level race conversation at the national level) of how bad Americans are at talking about and thinking about and dealing with racism and oppression. And obviously Fumo messed up. He was being really hyperbolic to make a point and he stepped over the line and offended his colleagues who can't believe that he thinks that of them.

And African-American legislators aren't happy either. From a John Baer column:

But Black Caucus Chairman Rep. Thaddeus Kirkland tells me: "It was very insensitive from such a senior senator. It's unfortunate folks don't stick to the issue at hand . . . to equate it [a gay marriage ban] with slavery is wrong."

Asked if he thinks the Legislature is racist, Kirkland said, "No, I don't."

Senate GOP Leader Dominic Pileggi said that if Fumo actually believes a majority of the Senate would vote to reinstate slavery, "It's hard to see how that wouldn't require an apology."

But this where there could be a bit more probing done by the reporters covering this.

Like, hmm. Raise your hand if you think it's plausible that there are racist members of the state legislature.

I mean Rep. Kirkland has to say that, and to accuse colleagues of being willing to vote to reenact slavery is pretty offensive, but come on...no racists in the state legislature?

And this from Sen. Anthony Williams (my Senator) about Fumo:

"Totally unacceptable," said fellow Philly Sen. Anthony Williams, a member of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus.

"And my view of my colleagues is they are not closet racists," he said, "They may not know everything about black culture . . . [but] I don't know the Amish and I don't hate them."

Ok. Sure.

I mean racist or not, when it comes to service to African-Americans by the state Senate particularly, how well are people of color doing? Take a look at the state of PA job growth, African American unemployment rates, housing rights, protection from predatory lending, wage growth, access to capital, access to quality education...and well, the Senate is not exactly performing at 110%.

But does this have much to do with the issue at hand? Yes and No.

Yes in the sense that you can never compartmentalize oppression or ignore a chance to make connection, but no in the sense that Fumo has made potential allies wary of him at a time when his leadership is needed by making a pretty outrageous statement.

But Fumo did say some other stuff at the hearing that was great, like this from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

The hearing turned at times into a verbal sparring match between Sen. Vince Fumo, D-Philadelphia, and various advocates for the amendment who argued that homosexuality is immoral and that government should encourage relationships that involve procreation. They said same-sex unions would undermine God's plan and cause traditional marriage to become undervalued and obsolete.

Mr. Fumo railed back, calling those arguments ignorant.

"If two homosexuals are allowed to get married, is that going to affect your marriage? Your marriage is that weak you're going to get a divorce over that?" he said to Philadelphian James Horn, a father of eight who testified in favor of the constitutional amendment.

Or this from the Harrisburg Patriot-News:

Throughout the hearing, advocates and opponents interrupted testimony with applause and heckling so often that committee Chairman Gib Armstrong, R-Lancaster, struggled to keep control of the hearing with the raucous crowd's outbursts.

That proved even more of a challenge during a lively exchange between former gubernatorial candidate Peg Luksik of the Pro-Life Coalition, who supported the amendment, and Sen. Vince Fumo, D-Philadelphia, who opposed it.

"This amendment is attempting to formalize in the constitution discrimination against people who are of the same sex and want to live together," Fumo said.

Luksik said marriage is an institution that "needs and deserves additional protections because of the attacks that have been made by judges across the country that have sought to redefine the institution of marriage." That's why the state's 1996 marriage-protection law is no longer enough, she said.

But yeah, the slavery comment was over the top...which reminds me, at the end of the day, you gotta love John Dougherty for saying this (from Inky):

"It obviously doesn't help with the advancement of gay rights," Dougherty said. "But maybe he is smarter than everyone else. Maybe he is looking to set up an insanity defense for his trial."

I am not sure if it does hurt the advancement of gay rights, rabid homophobia among Senate Republicans and handful of Dems is doing just fine thank you, but yea, Fumo is kinda nutty. It's gonna be a fun 7 months before he leaves office.

And meanwhile, Inquirer and Daily news: can you actually cover the rest of the action on the bill as in depth as you have covered Fumo? Jesus, is it too much to ask that our newspapers cover the issues as well as the antics?