10/16/2008
Christian Right-Wing Threatens West VA Governor Over Gays
The Family Policy Council of West Virginia has demanded that West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin call a special session of the legislature to pass a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage:
"[The group] told the governor on Oct. 9 that he had until Wednesday to agree to call the Legislature into session. The conservative group cites polling it commissioned of around 500 registered voters that it says found 73 percent supported an amendment defining marriage as a 'union of one man and one woman.' ... 'The donors to this organization, as well as my board, are asking -- rather stridently -- that we release the poll to the public as soon as possible,' Jeremy Dys, the group's president, said in a letter to the governor's office. 'If he has determined that the timing is not right, the duty I have to our donors and the Board of Directors requires that I release this as soon as possible.' But Manchin's office says West Virginia already passed a law in 2000 that calls marriage 'designed for a woman and a man.' The law also specifically rules out recognizing same-sex marriages granted elsewhere, Manchin general counsel Carte Goodwin noted."
The bigots are running scared of the civil rights victory that just happened in Connecticut and are running scred that a judge may void the anti-gay statute.
Posted 11:35 AM EST by Andy Towle in Gay Marriage, News, West Virginia | Permalink
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So let me get this right; they want a constitutional exclusion on something that is already excluded in the states constitution? Did they, like, READ their states constitution?
I vote for a constitutional amendment that would ban bigoted, wing-nut organizations from obtaining tax exempt status. "If any portion of an organizational charter or action directly imposes sanctions against any segment of American citizenry, that organization shall not be permitted to obtain monetary compensation from any government agency or regional representation. Furthermore, that organization shall not be permitted status of exempt in matters of Internal Revenue. Furthermore, the sanctions against American citizenry shall be considered unlawful acts warranting registering such organizations leadership and membership with the United States Department of Homeland Security..."
Anyone care to add anything else?
Rad
Posted by: Rad | Oct 16, 2008 11:48:21 AM
mmm and West Va. has nothing, really NOTHING ELSE to worry about? Say like UN-EMPLOYMENT,POVERTY,HOMELESSNESS,HUNGER...HOMELESS VETERANS,THE WAR??? ..and another reason to NEVER go to that state!
Posted by: Disgusted American | Oct 16, 2008 12:00:06 PM
I was married in CA, in June, and reside in Lost River, WV...I will help fight the bigots!!!!!
The very idea of this is crazy! There are already laws on the books that ban same-sex couples certain rights here in WV.
Posted by: TJ | Oct 16, 2008 12:03:28 PM
Notice the timing of this: Just weeks before the presidential election:
This is part of the GOP's typical hate machine. An election gets messyl, it's time to inject a little racism and homophobia. The did it with Obama and not it's the gays turn. MycCain tried to scare peoel with talk of Ayers and non-existent Arab backgrounds and it's time to get out homophobe vote tot he polls.
Remember this the next time some Republican troll pops up.
AGain, this is why we need control of Supreme Curt and federal legislative body to kill DOMA, DADT, insert ENDA, get civil unions and fight in the court for marriage. This is the only way to kill these state initiatives. They have no power to ignore federal law.
Posted by: noah | Oct 16, 2008 12:37:09 PM
Governor Manchin has no intention of giving in to such ridiculous demands. And for them to even issue such demands! What are they going to do, vote against him? He's going to win by a landslide anyway. The whole story is an embarrassment to the majority of West Virginians. And actually, Disgusted, West Virginia is a beautiful state, especially this time of year. Also, our unemployment is at an all time low right now. We're not all narrow minded bigots here. Most West Virginians are kind, caring people.
Posted by: Joe | Oct 16, 2008 12:52:39 PM
Talk about domestic terrorists!
Posted by: dave | Oct 16, 2008 1:10:36 PM
Respectfully disagree: this is not the American Taliban "running scared" but attacking emboldened after smelling the blood in the waters of California, the most liberal state in the US, as, at this moment, Prop 8 looks to win.
Look for more of this in state after state, all the more so if 8 does win. In the meantime, send money to NoOnProp8.com AND boycott McDonald's for having given in to such similar pressure and withdrawing from HRC's business council.
Posted by: Leland Frances | Oct 16, 2008 1:24:02 PM
These "pro-family" groups are to Christianity what the Taliban are to Islam -- radical extremists. The only difference is, they're not blowing up buses and markets like they do in Baghdad. (No, that was back in the 50s with the KKK!!)
As an Evangelical Christian myself, I'm appalled at these type of scare tactics. This is not how Jesus would have us live. He did not come to scare people into heaven, but to love them as they are and accept them in every part of life. And who were his friends and followers? None other than the very people these radicals are trying to eliminate, same as the religious leaders did back then!
I'm just thinking, in the Gospel according to John, John the Baptist (not the same person who wrote it) called the religious leaders of his day a bunch of snakes (ie, just like the devil and his minions)!! And, he threatened to chop them up with an axe!! OK, so that may not sound very loving like I just mentioned, but sometimes that's what I want to do with these preachers of fear and hatred! They ad me running scared for most of my life, joining ex-gay groups in every city where I lived and trying so hard to be the good Christian str8 boy. But in 2001, I stopped fighting against who I am and accepted that I'm a gay man who God loves - Just As I Am!!
Posted by: Timotito | Oct 20, 2008 5:23:39 AM