Iowa's Attorney General Tom Miller told county clerks they don't have the power to refuse marriage licenses to same-sex couples, given the State Supreme Court's recent ruling. And if they don't comply come April 27, when the rules go into effect? Miller (pictured, right) delivers this thinly veiled threat: "If necessary, we will explore legal actions to enforce and implement the Court’s ruling, working with the Iowa Department of Public Health and county attorneys." That is: fire them. It's sent State Sen. Merlin Bartz into a tizzy.
The Republican senator (pictured, left) responded with his own choice words: "It is truly amazing to me that the state’s Attorney General chose to not follow his own rules of providing legal council to the state regarding cases where the state has an interest, and yet he’s stating publicly that county recorders cannot refuse to issue same sex marriage licenses. Evidently, the Attorney General gets a conscience clause free pass but the county recorders don’t."
If his statement didn't make it clear, Bartz doesn't want you homos enjoying the same freedom to divorce as the heteros. Working with the uber-conservative Iowa Family Policy Center, Bartz is trying to drum up support with a petition drive to allow county clerks to use their "conscience" in deciding who gets a marriage license. Bartz already failed to insert language into a bill that would allow it.
So, let's break this down: County clerks/recorders are elected officials, which means they vow to uphold various local regulations and laws and — oh, what's that? The Iowa Constitution? Which the Supreme Court had the final say in how it's interpreted? And some state senator (also an elected official) thinks there's a way around this?
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There are always neanderthals who dig their heels in against respecting the civil rights of people, even after a supreme court has spoken. In the past, the National Guard had to be called out to facilitate school desegregation. The Governor of Alabama stood in the doorway to try to block other kids from attending school. The self-righteous who justify their attacks on equality, no matter what group they wish to demean, almost always cite the basis of their beliefs as respect for their "traditions" or the Bible, or both.
Who in the hell does Bartz think he is! He thinks county clerks can ignore the LAW based on their conscience. Are you fucking kidding me. I wish these scumbags would just have the balls to come out and say how they really feel: "You faggots disgust me and I hope you all die from AIDS".
Why is it Republicans always seem to think they are above the law?
This is the next line of argument: People should be permitted to discriminate against gays and lesbians because of their religious beliefs, even when they're individuals administering public services. We should all cater to their beliefs and permit an exemption to antidiscrimination laws where no other exemptions have been tolerated.
That's what Maggie Gallagher and others are pushing for.
@Alec:
This is exactly what the Maggie Gallagher type fears. We tend to dismiss it very readily, but it comes to light in these cases.
What they have to understand is that if you're going to be in a business where you have to deal with people you disagree with or don't like for some reason, your choices are to leave that business or to get over it. This is what the crux of the CA case regarding the sperm bank person's refusal to inseminate a lesbian couple.
they are government employees and it is their duty to uphold the law. period. they can be fired and any legislation otherwise for religious grounds would be tossed out by the courts.
The Republicans have been ignoring the laws of this country for 8 years so why should this surprise anyone…the only thing is this idiot forgot the bimbos are no longer in charge!
What? Fire a city official for not performing an aspect of their job that they don't like? Outrageous! I'm an ER nurse. I pick and choose who I want to help at the triage. If they are wearing a crucifix around their necks I pretend that they're not there. I would be so pissed off if my superiors insisted that I treat them equally.
Go religious zealots. Rise up against those annoying fags. You know that as soon as they receive their marriage license, its off to the fields to sodomize the sugar corn!
GOOD FOR THEM THIS IS THE STUPID THAT GAYS EXPECT THE SAME AS STRAIGHTS IF THEY WANT TO GET MARRIED FIND A GIRLFRIEND