Cruz warns of ‘mandatory’ same-sex marriage

[applegrove]

Cruz warns of ‘mandatory’ same-sex marriage

By Steve Benen at the Maddow Blog

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/cruz-warns-mandatory-same-sex-marriage

"SNIP..................



A few weeks ago, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) condemned Democrats’ “devotion to mandatory gay marriage in all 50 states.” On Friday, as Right Wing Watch’s Brian Tashman noted, Cruz used the phrase again.


Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, the Republican presidential candidate who believes that the gay “jihad” may soon lead to the imprisonment of pastors and the end of free speech, told a right-wing radio host yesterday that the legalization of same-sex marriage represents the greatest threat to religious liberty in the history of the United States. […]

Cruz said that the fights over “religious freedom” laws in Indiana and Arkansas were “heartbreaking” examples of how the Democratic Party has “gotten so extreme and so radical in its devotion to mandatory gay marriage that they’ve decided there’s no room for the religious liberty protected under the First Amendment.”

It remains a deeply odd perspective. For one thing, there’s nothing “extreme” or “radical” about support for marriage equality – it’s already legal in most of the country and a clear majority of Americans already support the idea. If anyone’s taking the “extreme” view in the debate, such as it is, it’s Cruz.

..................SNIP"

[applegrove]

1. We should keep a list of Cruz's 'mistakes'. To show a pattern of him terrorizing the base.

[MohRokTah]

2. Cruz is throwing red meat to the batshit insane. eom

[onecaliberal]

3. Carnival Cruz throws out one of these assinine statements

Just to stay relevent.

[Coventina]

4. This would be hilarious if so many didn't believe it.

Gay jihad?!?!?

"There is no Gay but Gay, and Madonna is the Prophet!"

Now, Adam and Steve, I pronounce you GAY MARRIED!!!

[Behind the Aegis]

5. Fascinating.

He is slightly, ever so slightly, correct. As a matter of fact, something like this was already posted here at DU and received quite a warm welcome, as it would prevent "heterophobia" and the rampant discrimination against heterosexuals. No, I am not kidding, and only being slightly hyperbolic. It seems some companies, upon a positive SCOTUS ruling for marriage equality, would 'demand' same-sex couples wed if they want to keep their benefits, not taking into consideration, so it would seem, for the political landscape of certain states, which allow for gays to be denied housing, and fired from employment...legally. So, while Cruz is braying about something completely different, there is a sliver, a splinter, if you will, of truth. What a shame when a right-wing nutbar and those on the left can find common ground, even if for different reasons.

[applegrove]

6. My guess is Cruz is putting the idea out there that

Last edited Tue May 19, 2015, 02:06 PM - Edit history (2)

heterosexual will be forced into a mandatory gay marriage. Ted Cruz is a terrorist. Of course when pressed he will say he did not mean it to be taken that way. But he successfully has put a rape meme in the heads of some in the base. Their senses have been assaulted by the gay people. They will make good little pasties or pawns for Ted Cruz in the months to come. And they will hate the LGBT community even more and even with nobody from the LGBT community having participated in any way. To quote Sarah Mclaughlin, Cruz is 'building a mystery'. Who knows where his narrative will go next i the dance deep within the gut of the GOP base that Cruz leads... but build it he will. And the base will be none the wiser.

[Warren DeMontague]

8. Can we at least pick the gay guy we are forced to marry?

I think I'd have lots to talk about with someone like Michael Stipe.

That guy who plays Sheldon Cooper on that annoyingly middlebrow network TV show with the hokey laugh track, not so much.

[Behind the Aegis]

10. Hey Warrrrrreeeennnnn...

[Warren DeMontague]

11. Yes, someone who meets the exacting criteria of my value system!

Precisely.

Sorry, though, Stipe's in line first. Take this song, for example: "Maps and Legends". Ostensibly about the folk artist Howard Finster, it manages to touch on the notion of symbolism and language, as well as that ineffable 'what' the symbols represent ("point to&quot also evoking the old Zen line about the finger pointing at the moon; don't concentrate on the finger or you miss the moon.

I think sometimes that's why people here can't relate to each other- it's like trying to give directions to a common destination, but when operating two totally different maps.

Goes without saying that Ted Cruz is operating with a really fucked up map in his oddly bean-shaped head.

But anyway, how many other American Rock and Roll bands write songs that deep? Not many.

[Behind the Aegis]

15. You can have Stipe!

LOL! I just couldn't resist using that gif!

I find things like what Cruz said both funny and scary. The absurdity is just astounding. What makes me fearful is more than a few, not limited to nutbars, will find what he is saying "truthtopower" and it presents real dangers to people like me.

[Warren DeMontague]

18. Doogie Howser is WAY too young for me.

Anyway, with Ted Cruz I have to beliece these are the final yowlings of dinosaurs. I hope.

[Behind the Aegis]

19. "Doogie" is 41.

WAY too young?! I don't think so! LOL!

[Warren DeMontague]

20. Ugh.

Thanks a ton.

Okay, you're right, except maybe in the part of my head that thinks it is perpetually 1991.

[Behind the Aegis]

9. I know excatly what he is doing.

I am gay and have been involved in GLBT activism for years. I know the memes. I was simply pointing out others are doing the same, just not with the same motivation. Both are despicable. The difference? Only one, Cruz, is easily identified as "squirrel shit nutty", the other, is seen as "making everything fair."

[Warren DeMontague]

12. I think people should be offered the choice, in all things.

The current status quo is not the fault of LGBT workers, obviously.

They should be given the opportunity to leave things as they are with their benefits, etc. if that is preferable to them.

[Behind the Aegis]

13. I am of two minds with this situation.

If they are in a state where GLBT people are on equal grounds legally, then having "two systems" isn't helpful. However, if they are in a state, such as mine, where being outed as gay can cost you your job or home and/or children, then they shouldn't be forced to choose. Marriage equality would be nice, but the reality is GLBT equality isn't limited to marriage, at least not in this country.

[Warren DeMontague]

14. Good point.

I guess I was just operating from the spot of "they didn't ask to be put in this position, so it's sort of unfair to force them to make a change unless it's something they want". I mean, people might have reasons to not want to get married now, etc. .. It just seems like the sort of decision an employer shouldn't be making for people.

The "not two systems" thing makes sense, although one figures that if you have benefit structures for hetero married couples AND for LGBT couples in domestic partnerships or otherwise designated, you've already got two systems, presumably working. It wouldn't be all that much more onerous to let people move from one group to the other on their own terms and timeline, rather than employers'.

[Behind the Aegis]

16. I get what you are saying.

The "not having two systems" is mainly for states where our equality is more or less complete. I wouldn't be opposed to a 'grandfather clause' for GLBT people, even in states where GLBT equality isn't a threat. However, as I said before, states like mine, where other areas are still under threat from anti-GLBT laws, "two systems" would still need to be in place for some. To me, it demonstrates that even though we achieved equality in one area (marriage), the lack of equality in others (employment/housing), threatens our supposed equality in the original area (marriage). What seems to be a wonderful step forward, isn't really a complete step because of other factors.

[Warren DeMontague]

17. I hear that.

[Warren DeMontague]

7. AH KNEW IT