Politics Now

   Local supporters of Sen. Mark J. Grisanti didn't take long to celebrate Tuesday's federal appeals court ruling that declared California's ban on same sex marriage unconstitutional.

   In fact, the Grisanti Grassroots group led by gay rights activist Kitty Lambert was slated to dispatch an email blast to some 7,000 supporters of same sex marriage Tuesday night seeking donations for Grisanti's tough re-election bid this fall.

   And she took a swipe at 2010 GOP gubernatorial candidate Carl P. Paladino in the process after he told The Buffalo News last week he would be targeting Grisanti and two other gay marriage supporters -- though not because they voted for the controversial measure.

     "While we're celebrating the victory in California, we have to be mindful of a battle brewing right herein Western New York," Lambert wrote. "Buffalo developer Carl Paladino has announced he will organize primary challenges against New York State Senators Mark Grisanti, James Alesi and Roy McDonald -- three Republicans who broke ranks and voted in favor of marriage equality in 2011.

   "Buffalo's best known gay hater claims he is targeting these Senators for defeat because of their fiscal policies, not because they voted for gay marriage. That's just a lie. 

   "Think about it: If Paladino was looking to primary senators he doesn't agree with on taxes, why is he just targeting three senators who voted for marriage equality?" she added.

   Lambert was part of an effort to sign up 300 gay and lesbian activists in the Conservative Party earlier this year,which could prove important in the event Grisanti faces a Conservative primary this year -- as some in the often-influential minor party have suggested.

--Robert J. McCarthy