Anti-family Fossella

I was doing some of my typical Fossella research and somewhere along the way wound up at a Gay City News article a bit perplexed as to how this was going to relate to Vito Fossella. Then I came across this paragraph;

Parade participants included a sizable number of gay and lesbian parents and their families. Victoria Fosella, the sister of Congressman Vito Fosella, the only Republican in the city’s congressional delegation and oft-mentioned mayoral aspirant, and Ms. Fossella’s partner, Maggie Scharsella, marched the route with their twins, 1-year-old Jake and sister Karlie, to whom Ms. Scharsella gave birth.

I have been thinking through how I wanted to approach this entry, being considerate of the fact that Vito is the elected public official and not any of his family. I do not know, nor can I find any public statements from Vito or his sister about her family.

The thirteenth congressional district certainly has numerous gay couples and gay parents. Many remarks and comments about a Democrats chances in this district are that it is too conservative for one to win. But I wonder is this district too family-centric to keep electing a Republican like Fossella? Pro-family is essentially pro-moral values, just not the predefined version we are used to having as the banner issue of the Republican party.

Consider the following votes and comments from Vito Fossella and tell me that he is not anti-family. In the end I have to believe that one who attacks the values of their own family can do very little to represent the values of a larger community.

Fossella on adoption:

"I am proud to have an opportunity to join the Congressional Coalition on Adoption and become an active member in reviewing, supporting and improving adoption policies and services throughout the nation," Fossella said. "It is a tremendous honor to lend my assistance to the Coalition and to be able to play a role in helping to make it easier for families to grow. The Coalition is dedicated to one simple goal: That every child in America lives in a loving home as part of a loving family, I look forward to learning more about the complex issues surrounding adoption and to working with the Coalition on simplifying the system for families on Staten Island."

…

"I have seen hundreds of adoption success stories on Staten Island, and I am always touched by the love and happiness a child can bring to a family. There are literally thousands of infants and young children just waiting to be adopted, and the Coalition can serve as a valuable resource for families looking to grow. By slashing through the red tape that often delays adoptions for months and even years, we can bring families together even quicker."

Adoption
H AMDT 871 to HR 4380: Vito voted for an amendment to prohibit any funds to be used to carry out any joint adoption of a child between individuals who are not related by blood or marriage. 1998

HR 2587 Vito voted on an amendment banning adoptions in District of Columbia by gays or other individuals who are not related by blood or marriage. 1999


Partnership
H.J.RES.106 Vito voted for the Marriage Protection Amendment - Declares that marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman. Prohibits the Constitution or any State constitution from being construed to require that marital status or its legal incidents be conferred upon any union other than that of a man and a woman. 2004

Vito voted to withhold federal housing funds from San Francisco unless it repeals its domestic partnership law;

Vito voted to deny the District of Columbia the option of establishing domestic partnership laws;

Discrimination
Vito voted to overturn President Clinton's executive order banning job discrimination against lesbian and gay federal employees;

Only one candidate in this race thus far is anti-family and and anti-parent. Vito Fossella is most certainly a conservative legislator, however he is anything but a compassionate representative to his constituents.