Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett is going down, and he’s trying to take the gays with him.
The troubled Republican, who has been accused of accepting gifts in exchange for government contracts, is trying to distract attention from himself by attacking Montgomery County Register of Wills D. Bruce Hanes.
On July 24, Hanes began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. As he told NBC News Philadelphia, “I just think it’s important for people to know that I’m not doing anything based upon my opinion; I think it’s an equal privilege issue.”
The Corbett Administration disagrees, despite the fact that in June the U.S. Supreme Court deemed key parts of the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional. Beyond that, Penn. Attorney General Kathleen Kane refused to defend the state’s gay marriage ban, citing its questionable legal grounding.
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As a result, last month Corbett instructed the Pennsylvania Department of Health to file a lawsuit against Hanes, who has issued more than 150 same-sex marriage licenses to date. The lawsuit cites a 1996 statute that defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman. Yesterday, Corbett further clarified his position.
According to Philly.com, states attorneys filed a brief in court that said, “Had the clerk issued marriage licenses to 12-year-olds in violation of state law, would anyone seriously contend that each 12-year-old … is entitled to a hearing on the validity of his ‘license’?”
Unless your name is Calvin Klein, the difference between marrying a person of the same sex and marrying a 12-year-old should be self-evident. Such rhetoric indicates desperation on the part of the state, as Corbett appears to be fighting a losing battle. He’s the subject of a separate ACLU lawsuit seeking to place an injunction on the state’s gay marriage ban, and he’s rapidly losing support among both colleagues and constituents.
Nevertheless, Corbett and Hanes’ teams will bring their arguments to court next Wednesday, Sept. 4. One of the key decisions to follow will be whether or not Haynes is allowed to use the unconstitutionality of Pennsylvania’s gay marriage ban to defend his decision to issue same-sex marriage licenses.
GlitterKidder
You just can’t help yourselves can you? You just had to bring Mr. Klein into this story of a sick bigot. You’re like a dog with a bone, please, LET IT GO! You’re just making this web site a sad joke. Or maybe that’s how you already view it?
Teleny
I hope we never, ever forget how these hateful. Conservative Republicans have harassed and opposed us to the end. No gay person should EVER vote for a conservative!
1EqualityUSA
It’s very odd, given how badly the Republicans did in the last election. They must have some devious plan up their sleeve. We already know about the cheating, gerrymandering, voter suppression, and new laws cropping up to sway the vote to their favor, but given how their massage hasn’t changed one bit… immigration, budget, LGBT, health care, vets, women’s issues … makes me suspicious that they have some state of the art voter tracking/voter cheating monster in place. Do you remember when they found Democratic votes in boxes deep in the river? They must have some impenetrable system of cheating in store for the Country in 2016. The, “rebranding” just isn’t happening. I read that they have some state of the art voter tracking system for the next election. Given how little they have changed their message, I wonder what these lying, cheating, bags of scum are up to.
1EqualityUSA
Presidents come and go, but Supreme Court Justices serve for life!
MK Ultra
What I got from this is that he wants to marry a 12 year old, and since he can’t he’s going to take it out on LGBT.
Dez
How can this idiot compare an elderly gay couple (for example) that’s been together for years that want to get married to a 12 year old that wants to get married? 12 years old is not legal adult status, cannot sign marriage certificates, doesn’t pay taxes etc… This is like when they say people will want to marry animals next. We’re talking about two adult human beings! Stop insulting us with these absurd comparisons! And go to hell while you’re at it!
dregstudios
Here in TN, they’ve gone as far as to declare this Saturday “Traditional Marriage Day” in which the bill passing this new state holiday quotes The Holy Bible. Why does the State feel it has the right to continually define marriage? Exactly what is “Traditional” Marriage in Tennessee seeing as even Interracial Marriage is STILL outlawed by the State Constitution along with Same Sex Marriage? http://dregstudiosart.blogspot.com/2013/08/on-wrong-side-of-hypocrisy-traditional.html
hf2hvit
And straight people should not be allowed to divorce…EVER
tjr101
The guy is an old, gray republican… no surprise here. How did a state like PA elect this mess anyway?
Joetx
Why the F did Pennsylvanians vote for Corbett in the first place???
It was a state-wide election. The RepubliCONS can’t gerrymander their way to a victory there.
Garth
He’s just a pathetic old man on his way out . let him have his say as he turns to dust.