01/24/2008
Bigots Seeking Iowa Judge's Impeachment Turn in Signatures
Bill Salier, the pig farmer who was spearheading the Iowa campaign to impeach Judge Robert Hanson for declaring the state's ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional, has turned in petitions urging impeachment containing 6,000 signatures to the Iowa legislature, the AP reports:
"He says the goal is to 'stop a runaway judiciary.' Salier says Polk County Judge Robert Hanson overstepped his authority by legalizing gay marriage last summer. Hanson stayed his ruling while it's under appeal to the Iowa Supreme Court. Impeaching a judge takes an act of the Legislature."
Salier, a big supporter of Republican Tom Tancredo, began his campaign last September.
Getting rid of the 'evil' judge who ruled for tolerance is not the only goal of religious conservatives in the state: "Critics of Hanson's ruling are pushing lawmakers for a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. Democrats who control both the House and Senate have taken the issue off the table and are dismissing Salier's effort. House Speaker Pat Murphy says they're 'not doing anything on it.'"
Last week, a "pro-family" group demonstrated at the Iowa State House in order to pressure the judiciary to take up their cause. The justices declined to comment on it.
Hanson's ruling last August was stayed almost immediately after it happened, but not before Sean Fritz and Tim McQuillan had the chance to get married. Iowa's only same-sex married couple took a few moments last week to reflect on what has happened in the meantime.
Petitions seeking judge's impeachment over gay marriage delivered [ap]
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Posted 3:01 PM EST by Andy Towle in Gay Marriage, Iowa, News | Permalink
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How many of those signatures are from his pigs (not a euphemism, the actual animal)?
But seriously, there are almost 3 million people in Iowa, so 6,000 people can hardly be construed as the voice of all Iowans.
While I don't plan to marry another man, I have no problem with two men or women marrying. This is clearly an action of one man trying to force his beliefs on others, which is unconstitutional.
Posted by: Garst | Jan 24, 2008 5:39:42 PM
Isn't there any happy news today?
I'm not mad at you for reporting this Andy. I'm just having one of those days where I can't seem to find something happy to hear/read about.
Posted by: gabriel | Jan 24, 2008 6:50:05 PM
I don't think there's anything to be gained by characterizing a person's politics or philosophy by derogatorily calling him a "pig farmer." It's wrong to be a bigot, not to be a pig farmer, and there are probably some folks out there who would be inclined to agree with you who will be put off by the perception that you're minimizing someone's views because of the kind of work they do.
Posted by: Patrick | Jan 25, 2008 9:40:17 AM
So sorry to burst the liberal feel-good bubble here. Well, actually, I'm very happy to!
Whatever the motivations of Salier's fellow petition signers are, he should be taken at his word -- that he is concerned about out of control judges -- because his cause makes perfect sense.
The notion that Iowa's constitution requires marriage to be gender neutral is dubious in the extreme. Judge Hanson chose to rewrite Iowa law to suit his own beliefs, and that is perfect grounds for removing him.
Posted by: David | Jan 25, 2008 2:11:03 PM