Keep your eyes on the prize

Massachusetts Governor Witness Wrongly is following through on his threats to try to use a old, almost-forgotten law that was originally intended to block interracial marriages to nullify marriage licenses issued to same-sex couples from outside the state.

Earlier this week, as gay marriage became legal in Massachusetts, Mr. Romney's administration demanded copies of marriage license applications from four cities and towns that were defying the governor by issuing licenses to out-of-state couples.

On Thursday, the governor said he had received the applications from two communities, Provincetown and Springfield, and found 10 out-of-state marriage applications that the state would not record, effectively nullifying those marriages. Out-of-state applications from the other two cities, Somerville and Worcester, would be treated the same way, he said.

Mr. Romney's actions are based on his interpretation of a 1913 law which says that the state cannot issue marriage licenses to couples if the marriage would be illegal in their home state. Mr. Romney has concluded that because no other state allows gay marriage, only Massachusetts residents, or people who intend to move to the state, can receive marriage licenses.

In addition, Governor Rockhead has asked the state's attorney general to consider taking legal action against the city clerks that issued the licenses.

While Wrongway's supporters say he's acting out of conscience, many others - me included - think there's another reason.

The gambit, capping months in which he has stood as the most visible opponent of gay marriage here, could jeopardize Romney's chances for reelection even as it thrusts him more prominently onto the national stage. Indeed, any political calculations behind his latest moves, experts say, are directed more at winning office in Washington than in Boston. ...

Analysts believe he is using the gay-marriage debate to build on his national profile. Some suggest he is being groomed as a possible replacement for vice president Dick Cheney on Bush's 2004 presidential ticket,

says the Christian Science Monitor for May 24. I don't know that I'd go quite that far, but it's well-known that his aspirations go far beyond a corner office on Beacon Hill and I'm convinced there's more of presidential politics than personal passion here.

There will undoubtedly be suits arising from this; what I noticed particularly is that among the marriages nullified, at least one was from New York - but the attorney general of New York has said that his state will recognize same-sex marriages performed in Massachusetts, so on what basis did Robbery void it? It will be interesting to see him defend that.

Footnote, Hypocrisy Div.: Gen. Rommel, in the course of announcing his intention to invalidate same sex marriages via a racist law that would have been overturned long ago if anyone remembered it was there, declared "this is a time for opening ourselves to others and for respecting other individuals."

Footnote, Unintentional Humor Div.: Romney downplayed his threat of action against the clerks, saying

his expectation was that the attorney general would tell the defiant town clerks, "Gosh, you need to get back on track."

"Aw gee, c'mon, pleeeze? C'mon! Golly gee whillikers!"