If the majority of the people want [same-sex marriage], prove it. Put it on the ballot, let it be voted on… I’ve called upon every Republican in the state legislature to vote to put it on the ballot. You need three-fifths to put it on the ballot. The Republicans have two-fifths in the legislature. So that means the Democrats only need to come up with one-fifth of the legislature…
We’re making this really easy for them. I have not heard yet from one Republican who wouldn’t vote to put it on the ballot… This is the bargain of your life! I’m giving ’em two-fifths!
And the polls they show me say that if it goes on the ballot, it will lose. How much more magnanimous can I be? What else do you want me to do? Go campaign for it too? [laughter in crowd] Look, I’m doing the best I can here!” [crowd applauds]
Chris Christie talks out of his ass at a town hall in Denville, NJ
Ian
Fat, dumb, and stupid is no way to go through life…..
Jim Hlavac
Of what need is a legislature and a governor if matters should be put to the people in referendums? We live in a representative republic precisely to remove the passions of the mob, the politicizing of the people, so that more reasonable people can make decisions based on real debate instead of mere politicking by slogan. Plus, it is doubtful that “All” the people will vote, but merely 35% or so. Ergo, the result will not be what the “people” want, but what a few fanatics would wish.
Meanwhile, this man has not called for a public referendum on any other issue which he has sought to change New Jersey law and policies. And all of those laws and policies affect everyone in the state, while marriage for gays will really only affect gay folks. He’s just so full of it it is astounding.
Friend of Christie
And let the fat jokes begin . . .
DC Dookie
@Friend of Christie: Are you saying that gay people can be viciously judgmental about someone’s appearance just because they disagree with their politics? Say it ain’t so!
orpheus_lost
@Friend of Christie: You know, normally I’d agree with you that fat jokes have no place in our commentary on this subject. My problem with your pearl clutching defense of Christie, though shows that you’re far, far more concerned that someone’s feelings could be hurt than you are that people’s rights will continue to be trampled on because of his hateful ideology. Those are some fucked up priorities you have.
So save us your indignation on behalf of that hateful fuck until you can muster up a little compassion for those who are being denied their equality.
Robert in NYC
I agree with Jim Hlavac. Why have legislatures? Referenda are really about mob rule, a violation of the 14th amendment. I think we should all demand that Christie put every bill to referenda, see how he wiggles out of that one. The majority of people don’t agree that the corporatists should get away with paying lower or next to nothing in taxes while the middles class are paying far more. How about putting that to referendum Christie? He’s not too bright obviously and will pull some ridiculous excuse out of his fat ass not to do it.
Robert in NYC
What is even more galling is knowing that gay republicans vote for this moron. At least the democrats don’t put hate ballots on the agenda which is what this is all about, pandering to the haters and homophobes. Much of it obviously rooted in religion where it all stems from, pure bigotry. That’s what Christie is all about.
Tom
As I said to Christie in an email I sent him ,,,, I want what college his son is going to put to a public vote. Let HIM see what its like to have your private decisions put to the whim of a ballot box. Maybe we should also get to vote on his wife’s hair color too.
QJ201
Gluttony is a sin in the Catholic Church.
Has Christie been to confession lately?
Friend of Christie
@orpheus_lost: Actually, I respect you for referring to Christie as a “hateful fuck” rather than an irrelevant snipe like “fat-ass slob”. At least you’re being adult and to the point, rather than blurting out nonsequitur insults that a 12-year-old would find immature.
And in all sincerity, my objection to the name-calling is legitimate. Image is important in politics, I realize, and I don’t believe it’s more important than issues. But to use one’s physical image to decry his politics is a ploy nothing short of desperation.
Cam
@Friend of Christie:
Oh annnnnddd it begins again.
Funny, you, in a previous post tried to claim that EVERYBODY was calling him fat, when in reality on multiple posts 3 mentioned his weight and all the others made legitimate comments about his politics.
You however know that there is no defense of his abdication of his responsibilities, and so you were EAGER for somebody to comment on his weight, as can be shown by your comment about fat jokes, when the ONLY comment made so far had been a well thought out legitimate comment about his politics. But again, since you have no legit response to that, you ignored it so you could pretend that Christie is a victim.
I’ll ask you the same question you refused to answer in the other posting.
How do you feel about Christies abdication of his responsibility, and if everything can be put to a referendum, why is there a need for a governor or a legislature?
christopher di spirito
What a guy. FAIL.
Jim
@Cam: Yes! You are exactly right about this guy’s tactic.
I say call his bluff. If he does veto the bill as he’s been threatening, that shit stays on the public record; he’ll have to answer for it (among other things) in the following election. If you can’t override that veto, then you can put it to a vote, not before.
TJ
He’s just out of control with all this typical Jersey Nanny State nonsense. Other states have done this, and nothing awful has happened, people just went on with their lives.
Steve
150 years ago, the Southern Baptists, the Methodists, and the southern Bishops of the Catholic church, all preached that slaves should not be freed. They cited Bible verses to prove, in their theology, that slavery is ordained by God, and that black people should be slaves.
100 years ago, those same churches all preached that Women should not have the right to vote. They cited Bible verses to prove that women should be subservient to men, and that men should control all decisions of finance and government.
50 years ago, those same churches all preached that black people should not have civil rights, or be allowed to vote. They cited Bible verses to prove that black people are sinners, that they are inferior to white people, that black people should be subservient. Many preachers used the same verses that had been used to support slavery.
Recently, those same churches are all preaching that gay people should not have civil rights, or be allowed to marry. They cite Bible verses to “prove” that gays are sinners, that they are inferior to heterosexual people, that even that gay people should be imprisoned or killed.
Why should we believe them?
The only important question is, “What would Jesus do?”
The answer is, of course, “Love Them!”
HM
Long, large and self-righteous……This guy reminds me of every asshole gym teacher I ever had.
orpheus_lost
@Friend of Christie: As I said before, calling Christie “fat” is nothing compared to his hateful desire to use marriage equality as a wedge issue while taxpaying citizens of New Jersey are left without basic human rights just because of who they love.
Much more than your respect, I’d prefer you support our equal rights. If you can’t do that, then I honestly don’t care what you think about a powerful man being called names by those he oppresses. You do realize that real human beings die because people like Christie find it politically convenient to withhold their ability to use their spouse’s insurance, don’t you? Is hurting a wealthy politician’s feelings more “legitimate” than that?
So, here’s the question for you. Do you support marriage equality?
Patsy Stoned
He’s full of shit. He knows full well if you put the rights of a much hated, maligned minority up for a vote those rights will easily be trampled. As California and Maine both revealed, people will lie to a pollster because they don’t want to sound like a bigot, but in the safety of the voting booth they’ll jump right to the bigot side, especially since older people are more likely to take the time to vote.
So according to Christie, the representative democracy we live in is pointless when you can have mob rule? I’ll say one thing – he’s a pure politician – craven, cowardly and beholden to the special interests of right-wing douches. He’d have been better off if he was Gov of an out and out hate state, then he wouldn’t have to pretend to be moderate.
No-Obot
Obama said that “I believe marriage (should only be) between a man and a woman because I think god is in the mix.”
So, for all of you “Satan-only blessed” same-sex married couples in the US, I wonder what’s the difference between Governor Lard-ass and Obama. Obama has repeatedly said that he favors segregationist-style “civil unions” and, until very recently (after the Dems lost control of the House) Obama used the US Department of Justice to fight to UPHOLD DOMA so that GLBT Americans couples can continue to face discrimination and be treated as legal strangers to one another. Then, Obama just handed the defense of DOMA to the Republican-controlled House when he, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid could have repealed DOMA legislatively or, at the very least, not fought to appeal every federal courts decision that finally went in our favor.
Obama also said that he prefers that “individual states should decide the issue of marriage” equality”. Of course, his position on state-rights would shift dramatically if the issue of interracial marriage hadn’t already been decided by the Supreme Court in 1967. I doubt if he would have wanted the “individual states” to continued to decide on that one or on any other aspect of racially inequality.
And yet there are so many fools in the GLBT community that give that back-stabbing bastard, Obama, a pass on betraying us and dwell only on equally despicable Republicans — as if the Democrats are not a least equally responsible for our being denied our civil rights.
Sure it is Republican Right-wing theocratic thugs who constantly put our rights up to the mob to decide. But, because of that, you’d think that when Democrats had control of Congress and the White House; when we were in the most need for a federal shield against the bloodthirsty mob, that they would have done something to protect us. Instead, we got zilch!
…And now they want our votes? Really? Cowardice, apathy, callousness, bigotry, and hypocrisy are all terms that fit most Democrats (especially Obama) quite well? Now, it is our turn to send a message and to tell them that there are consequences to be had and a price to be paid for fucking with your liberal base.
If the Democratic Platform, as well as Obama, does not come out and fully support marriage equality at this year’s Democratic Convention, when over 50% of the general public supports us and over 70% of registered Democrats do, then why should an oppressed and persecuted minority, such as ours, vote to put the sons-of-bitches back into office — just so they can act like Republicans again? Why?
And please, for you Obama apologist out there, don’t tell us that there are “more important” issues than our Human Rights. If you do, then you sound just like the GOProud Gay Republicans which you revile so very much.
B
No. 19 · No-Obot wrote (misleadingly), “Obama said that “I believe marriage (should only be) between a man and a woman because I think god is in the mix.””
But he also opposed California Proposition Eight on the grounds that constitutions should not take rights away. I don’t know how sincere his stated belief on marriage was, but when you put both statements together, Obama was clearly distinguishing between personal beliefs and public policy. Talking about one statement and ignoring the other is misleading.
Joetx
I bet Christie, along w/ other Republicons, would mind putting taxing the rich up for a vote.
B
Correction: Actually, I apologize because I was being stupid and misleading everyone. Obama really did say that “Gawd was in the mix and that marriage is between a man and a woman.”
And that was just before the presidential election in 2008 at Rick Warren’s church which was a big time hornet’s hive of hate activists pushing Prop 8. In fact, Obama’s stupid remarks at Rick (kill the gay in Uganda) Warren’s church of demon worshippers was played over and over and over again through robo calls throughout the entire state of California just before the vote of Prop 8.
So no, dumbass Obama was nooooo help at all. In fact, his retarded “gawds in the mix” homophobic remarks just help our opposition.
Vote Romney!!! At least you get a hater you can trust who will hate you to your face — unlike Obama’s backstabbing.
Cam
@B: said…
“Vote Romney!!! At least you get a hater you can trust who will hate you to your face — unlike Obama’s backstabbing.”
____________________
The issue is though, Obama at least signed DADT repeal when it came to his desk, where Romney would not sign it.
GOD (gay old dude)
@Cam: Question for you: What proof do you have that Romney would not have signed a DADT repeal? Has he ever stated as much? Or is this just more projection on your part? Not picking a fight, just genuinely curious.
Friend of Christie
@orpheus_lost: Of course I support marriage equality, however, I don’t understand for the life of me this sudden, hysterical need by gay people to be legally married, especially when most state laws provide all types of ways for gay couples to be legally bound in every respect. Know what happened when I couldn’t get put on my partner’s insurance? I got my own. What a concept!
And for you to claim that people are dying because they can’t get married is like claiming people are dying because they can’t get cable TV. Just lame.
chuck
Friend of Christie-> hetero:get married and that one piece of paper is worth 1200 pieces if you are LGBT. Your partner is very sick/dying…make sure that you have gone to court to get visitation rights. Your sister died and wanted you to take care of her kids…go to court and spend several years trying to get custody because you can’t adopt. Your hetero neighbor with the same income gets back $2000 more than you because they have a piece of paper. Your individual insurance policy costs you $1000 more because your partner can’t put you on his policy all because of one piece of paper. Your partner dies and his family won’t let you attend the funeral because of one piece of paper…ON AND ON AND ON.
Friend of Christie
@chuck: I hear ya, Chuck, and I fully support marriage equality. I agree that gay couples should be able to marry, have legal spousal rights, adopt without prejudice, and everything else that you advocate. I hear your pain, and believe me, marriage equality will happen in our lifetime, we just have to work at it and be patient with the system, like anything else. By passing this off as a referendum (as so many governors do), Christie is playing it safe because he has a promising politcal future. I might not approve of the tactic (as all politicians tend to practice it), but I still respect the man’s politics. Sorry, but just because he’s honest doesn’t make him wrong.
Cam
@GOD (gay old dude):
“”Romney said in 2007 that he thinks that the “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy is working and he would not change it, especially in the middle of a war, and that “we have much bigger issues as a nation that we ought to be talking about than that policy right now.””
Additionally he actually supported amending the U.S. Constitution to oppose gay rights.
“”In 2006, Romney announced his support of the Federal Marriage Amendment, which would have federally defined marriage in the U.S. Constitution as the union of one man and one woman.”
R.A.
@QJ201: @B:
“Vote Romney!!! At least you get a hater you can trust who will hate you to your face”
Well then, maybe we should support Santorum!
Cam
@Friend of Christie: said…
“Of course I support marriage equality, however, I don’t understand for the life of me this sudden, hysterical need by gay people to be legally married, especially when most state laws provide all types of ways for gay couples to be legally bound in every respect. Know what happened when I couldn’t get put on my partner’s insurance? I got my own. What a concept!””
_____________________
That is the typical excuse to blocking rights. “Gee, I don’t understand for the life of me this sudden hysterical need by women to vote. Especially when some states already provide ways for women to make their opinions known.” or “Gee, I don’t understand for the life of me this hysterical need by Blacks to be allowed to drink at the same water fountains as whites. Especially when most states already provide separate water fountains for them.
Additionally, I get it, you have internalized your second class status, so you don’t mind having to get your own insurance when you couldn’t get on your partners. But sorry if some of us do not feel like we should smile and sit in the back of the bus or enter by the servants quarters.
The fact is, this isn’t about marriage, it’s about equality. Some women don’t vote, should they speak out against women’s right to vote? Of course not.
B
No. 22 , attributed to B, is the cyberstalker continuing to play childish games.
Friend of Christie
@Cam: Sure, go ahead and fall back on the old cliche we’re-as-victimed-as-women-and-blacks cushion. It serves you well (if nothing else, at least as an indication to your character). Obviously you believe we’re all victims of Da Man (heterosexual white males who don’t belong to unions), and Da Man been keeping us down, right? Who’re you going to blame next, the church? Corporations? Wall Street? Are we victims of all institutions? (I’m betting you think we are)
You’re not a proponent of gay rights, you’re a provocoteur of a revolution that would quietly run its course to success were it not for boneheads like you who are so angry about society’s view on gays that you’ll never allow it a chance to make things right. It ain’t Da Man who’s keeping us down, it’s Da Militants like you who keep showcasing to the world how crass we can be. And hey, thanks a lot for that.
B
No. 28 · Cam wrote, “Additionally he [Romney] actually supported amending the U.S. Constitution to oppose gay rights.”
Also check out http://www.deseretnews.com/article/635210773/LDS-to-push-marriage-amendment.html which indicates that the Mormon church was also behind that amendment: “Voice your support for a federal marriage amendment, the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints urges in a letter to be read in LDS sacrament meetings Sunday. The letter, sent to priesthood leaders in the United States, calls on Latter-day Saints to contact their senators to support a resolution calling for a constitutional amendment that would limit lawful marriages to those between a man and a woman.”
This raises an interesting question: it is possible that Romney’s support of the amendment was in part due to this letter or similar missives, in which case one just might wonder to what extent Romney would follow the American tradition of “separation of church and state.” Usually, Americans take the view that a candidate’s religion should not be held against the candidate, following the “no religious test” clause of the U.S. Constitution, but it is really a two-way street – you don’t want to elect someone who won’t play by those rules. It’s one thing to elect a Mormon as president, but quite another if that guy would try to force Mormon religious practices on the rest of us.
Shannon1981
@B: While the US Constitution can say “no religious test,” it’s patently false in practice. The only reason we have no rights is because religious bigots run the show. Do you really think an atheist is electable? I don’t.
Furthermore, I WANT to know a candidate’s religious convictions. That way I don’t blindly elect some nutjob who thinks I should be killed. (BTW, many Christians bloody well DO want us dead).
Joetx
If Friend of Christie hadn’t already showed his/her true colors, he/she has now – homophobic troll.
Cam
@Friend of Christie: said…
“@Cam: Sure, go ahead and fall back on the old cliche we’re-as-victimed-as-women-and-blacks cushion. It serves you well (if nothing else, at least as an indication to your character). Obviously you believe we’re all victims of Da Man (heterosexual white males who don’t belong to unions), and Da Man been keeping us down, right? Who’re you going to blame next, the church? Corporations? Wall Street? Are we victims of all institutions? (I’m betting you think we are)
You’re not a proponent of gay rights, you’re a provocoteur of a revolution that would quietly run its course to success were it not for boneheads like you who are so angry about society’s view on gays that you’ll never allow it a chance to make things right. It ain’t Da Man who’s keeping us down, it’s Da Militants like you who keep showcasing to the world how crass we can be. And hey, thanks a lot for that.””
_________________________________________________
So many many words for the simple reason of avoiding answering the simple questions put to you.
Your comment was “”“Of course I support marriage equality, however, I don’t understand for the life of me this sudden, hysterical need by gay people to be legally married, especially when most state laws provide all types of ways for gay couples to be legally bound in every respect. “”
I merely responded that women could have said the same thing about the vote, and blacks could have said the same thing about drinking fountains. Was a revolution to allow blacks to drink at the same fountain as whites? No of course not, but you have to desperately squeeze out Hyperbole in order to avoid having to answer some simple questions.
How sad you are, you’ve so accepted that you aren’t as good as others that you spend your entire life defending the very people who keep you down in hopes that they will accept you. You’re like the only black guy in the country club who KNOWS he’s only there so they club doesn’t get sued.
iDavid
@Steve et al ……..
Christianity—Welcome to the Anti-Christ
The God of evil is among us, it’s called the Abramic God, and it is in all our bones and must be removed to escape the darkness of this planet. Wake up, your cheerios have been laced with arsenic for thousands of years and you are all suffering.
B
No. 31 & 33 , attributed to B, the cyberstalker who is continuing to play childish games.
christopher di spirito
Gov. Fatso is so disgusting. He looks like a pig walking upright.
Friend of Christie
@christopher di spirito: And again, all you have in your arsenal is petty name-calling. It’s become boringly predictable. And you’re so original in your choice of words like “fatso” and “pig.” I’m surprised your mom and dad didn’t put some sort of software in it that prevents you from accessing web sites that discuss adult material. Damn inattentive parents these days. No wonder you turned out the way you did.
But in all actuality, your actions speak volumes about how frightened you are of Christie’s rocket-like success as a genuine leader, as opposed to our current campaigner-in-chief, who couldn’t lead a whore to the red-light district. Christie’s on a roll, and that scares you so badly that your (only) knee-jerk reponse is to call him out on his weight. And what if he gets a stomach-staple and loses the weight? What then? I’m sure it’ll be panic time in the dispirito household.
B
No. 34 · Shannon1981 wrote, “@B: While the US Constitution can say “no religious test,” it’s patently false in practice.”
It isn’t false – if you passed a law that says you must be a Christian to hold an elected office, that law would be found to be unconstitutional. It does not, however, constrain how voters make decisions.
Try re-reading the comment – I was clearly indicating that there are responsibilities both ways – if candidates don’t want the voters to reject them due to the church, if any, they go to, then the candidates shouldn’t enshrine their church’s particular theological beliefs into law.
R.A.
They should put Christie’s paycheck up for a referendum.
christopher di spirito
@Friend of Christie: Gov. Fatso. Gov. Fatso. Gov. Fatso. Gov. Fatso. Gov. Fatso. Gov. Fatso. Gov. Fatso. Gov. Fatso. Gov. Fatso. Gov. Fatso. Gov. Fatso. Gov. Fatso. Gov. Fatso. Gov. Fatso. Gov. Fatso. Gov. Fatso. Gov. Fatso. Gov. Fatso. Gov. Fatso. Gov. Fatso. Gov. Fatso. Gov. Fatso. Gov. Fatso. Gov. Fatso.
B
Romney would be much better as President of the United States as it would then push Democrats to fight harder to regain our votes. When the Dems were in complete control they ignored us and even fought to uphold DADT and DOMA (just like George W. Bush did, Obama used his Justice Department to fight against our civil rights). The Dems must pay the consequence of their treacherous behavior or they will continue to take advantage of us.
Any other minority group would be mad as hell and the DEMS would have to kiss their asses to get them back. Why are we any different? In a close election our 12% to 16% of the Democratic voter base(especially in large metropolitian areas) makes a huge difference, just like Blacks only make up 13% of the general population but make up 25% or more percent of the voting base of the Democratic party. Our percentage of the Democratic base is much higher than our percentage of the population. The DEMS know that and expect our votes, but do not think they have to work for it.
If the Democratic Platform later this year does not include full marriage equality and if Obama does not come out in his candidate acceptance speech and support full marriage equality then neither the Dems nor Obama deserver our votes. All national polls in the last few years show 51%+ support for marriage equality among the general population while registered Democrats support us at 70% +. And yet we ask less from the politians that ask for our votes? Really? That’s fucked up. Who in hell does Obama fear at the voting booths when Democratic voters (you know the people that actually vote for Democrats) support our marriage equality, even in the South?
NoObama in 2012 if he doesn’t support us, we shouldn’t support him. The GLBT community needs to grow a spine, even if Obama does have one.