Walla Walla Rep's Speech Goes Viral
State Rep. Maureen Walsh (R) 16th District
Rep. Maureen Walsh, (R) 16th District, made a speech on the floor of the Washington State House of Representatives Wednesday that has gone viral.
Walsh was talking about the importance of allowing everybody the right to marry who they chose, and it has become the speech representing the passage of Washington's same-sex marriage bill.
The speech has 34,000 views on YouTube, and it was posted on George Takei's Facebook website and the video has nearly 14,000 likes.
"There's been an overwhelming response to my speech," Walsh said. "I'm just completely blown away by it to be perfectly honest with you."
Walsh comes from a traditionally republican district, and as a republican, there was an assumption that constituents from her district would be upset by the vote.
People in Walla Walla had the following responses to her vote on Friday:
Carl Nelson: "I'd support her on that."
Melanie Reiswig: "I think overall most people are pretty open minded here."
Norman Osterman: "I think she was very courageous, I'm 100% behind it, so is my wife."
Jim Johnson, Chairman of the Walla Walla County Republicans, said the platform in his county states marriage should be between a man and a woman, but he said most republicans he spoke to support her voting for what she believed in.
The bill passed 55-43 on Wednesday, and Gov. Gregoire is expected to sign the bill into law on Monday.
To see Walsh's speech via YouTube, please click here.