Gay Democrats ask for marital history of GOP legislators

[rodbarnett]

Claiming divorce -- not same-sex unions -- is undermining the sanctity of marriage, a group of gay Democrats on Monday asked state GOP Chairman Jim Kittle to identify Republican legislators who have been divorced.

The request comes as House Republicans are attempting to force a vote on a proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. The amendment -- which Republicans last week called "the most important issue we're dealing with this session" -- was approved by the Senate but has been stalled in the House by Democratic leadership.

"We think it is fair to ask during this debate how many legislators who are demonizing gay marriage have actually committed the most grievous possible injury to the institution they claim to want to protect," said Linda Perdue, president of the Indiana Stonewall Democrats.

The political action committee, which works to elect gay and gay-friendly candidates to public office, also asked Kittle to release the marital histories of the party's two candidates for governor, Mitch Daniels and Eric Miller -- and their stands on a proposed constitutional ban.

http://www.indystar.com/articles/3/123589-3253-092.html

comment : oops! this ought to cloud the issue a little

[WillParkinson]

1. FINALLY!

Someone asks the question that I've been pointing out every since DOMA.

[Robb]

2. Right on!

Glass houses, etc. :thumbsup:

[Protagoras]

38. Where did that Henry Hyde

go anyway? I swear he used to be around all the time didn't he? Ohhhhh.

[Faygo Kid]

3. Good stuff. What a red herring this whole issue is.

Been married and divorced twice (sadly). Can't say gays played a role in either. This is good; if you are going to preach sanctimoniously about marriage, you better have a clean slate. Otherwise, stick to a few issues that just might be more important - jobs, preemptive war, the environment - just to name a few.

[truthspeaker]

10. au contraire

Society's growing acceptance of homosexual activity sent a message that morality is no longer important, making it easier for you to consider divorce as an option. </Repug think>

Ow, that made my brain hurt.

[Supormom]

24. Wow!

You've figured out a way understand how these repugs think? That's got to hurt!

[DFLer4edu]

41. Makes my brain hurt too!

[northzax]

28. really? it wasn't the gay who made you get divorced?

I don't know, but I'm pretty sure that's why my parents got divorced, certainly it had nothing to do with my dad's girlfirend, musta been the gays. thanks for clearing that up.



this post was sarcasm if you don't get it, well then, I'm sorry.

[chelaque liberal]

4. Bravo!

This is the best response.

[Melsky]

5. Yay

I think this is a great idea. It sickens me that people like Gingrich have long affairs with staff and no one talks about it. Let's tear down those double standards!

[Bertha Venation]

12. gasp -- the Mighty Newt had an affair with staff?

Say it ain't so!

Why wasn't Newt impeached?

/rhetoric

[caledesi]

50. Newt is on his THIRD marriage to some young staffer...

Oh yeah, while he was calling the "Big Dog" a felon, he was having an affair w/ some young staffer who he eventually married. That is, after dumping wife #2.

I really think that is the reason he resigned from Sec. of State. I think the "Big Dog" called him up or someone got on his case about the hypocrisy.

He's a consultant now on MSNBC or some other cable channel. Make sense to me. <sarcasm>

[caledesi]

51. Mel - I love "Your life on canvas" - very cool nt

[Rockholm]

6. EXCELLENT....Maybe It Should Happen Nationwide!

[yellowcanine]

7. Yep - finally someone is saying it - the "gay marriage threat to

hetero marriage" issue wears no clothes - it won't stand up to the light of informed debate. Bravo!

[salin]

8. idiots... one repub claims this is the most important issue

facing the state house... anyone in Indiana paying attention to the budget crisis... to the struggles in adjusting the new property tax system (which was ruled unconstitutional in 1999, but the folks in the statehouse were so afraid of making the court mandated changes lest they look like they are "raising taxes" drug their feet until the last moment... and there are enough kinks in the "new" system that for many voters it is the primary issue of concern)... but suddenly this is the most important issue facing the statehouse... ah to put on public display, the sheer idiocy that can prevail in our statehouse.

[BiggJawn]

15. And the ReTHUGs walked out of the statehouse yesterday.

I sent an Email to Rich McClain that said "Get back to Work. we Heteros have certainly been stellar 'protectors of the sanctity of marriage' with our 50% divorce rate, haven't we? Now get back to work and EARN that money we pay you..."

[salin]

25. Missed that - over what issue did the walk out?

on this "most important issue facing us" issue?

[BiggJawn]

47. They want to "Blast" the anti-gay ammendment proposal...

to the floor, bypassing all the usual procedures.

The organized Right killed us on this. All those people (2146 phone calls to Bosma in favour vs. 41 against) who called in supporting an ammendment. Where were we? At least I sent an email saying "get back to work, and NO, I don't support this motion..."
But I think it was too little too late. I'm so focussed on the RW wind trying to blow the roof off our house that I didn't notice the termites gnawing on the floor beams....

[denverbill]

9. And their hero Ronnie Reagan signed the nations first no-fault divorce law

Of course, seeing as how he dumped Jane Wyman to marry Nancy, I can understand how he might be interested in a 'no-fault' divorce law.

[noonwitch]

20. I like to think that Jane dumped him

She doesn't talk about RR, will not comment on him or their marriage, probably because she likes privacy. My guess is she found out about Selena Waters or she caught him f#&%@*& Nancy. And while he was President, Nancy f@&*$% Sinatra in the White House (or so it is said), so I guess they're all even now.
But I always like Jane Wyman, especially on "Falcon Crest". God, she played a manipulative bi*$# on that show.

[brook]

32. According to a mutual friend...

Jane indeed dumped RR. Walked out of the house in her bathrobe one morning and never went back. Something about him pontificating his political views daily from behind the morning paper. True or not, I love the image!

[roguevalley]

35. I remember when divorce was illegal in America. We were just as

f**ked up then as now. Nice little window dressing
making a group that mostly hides out the 'excuse'
for your own philandering or immaturity or whatever.
Time to face the facts.

Put one hundred divorced people in a room and ask
them how many are divorced because of homosexuality
and I think unless Arianna Huffington or Liza
Minelli or Carey Fisher are there, no one will raise
their hands.

I think I want to know the sexual orientation of
everyone in congress. All the closeted ass holes too.
If they are going to poke their nose into someone
else's privacy and orientation, they forfeit their
own.

[JusticeForAll]

42. I need a little lesson in marriage history

On the maternal side of my family the women have each gotten divorces for four generations now (spanning many many years). When was divorce illegal? Varies by state? or was there a federal regulation?

My mom didn't have any girls just her gay son (me) and my unmarried 39-year old brother (smirk). Maybe the family tradition will be broken...

[Bertha Venation]

11. I think the Indystar is off a little on its facts.

Article: "The amendment -- which Republicans last week called "the most important issue we're dealing with this session" -- was approved by the Senate but has been stalled in the House by Democratic leadership."

According to Thomas, the last two actions taken on Senate Joint Resolution 26 were on May 21, 2003, when it was referred to the House Judiciary Committee, which, on June 25, referred it to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.

Also according to Thomas, the last action taken on House Joint Resolution 56 was on November 25, 2003, when the bill was read out twice then referred to the House Judiciary Committee.

Granted I do not know the exact processes that bills go through. But this "stall" is part of the procedure -- the the House Judiciary Committee and its Constitution Subcommittee have to do whatever they do, then vote on it. If they vote "yay" it goes -- next to the floor for a vote? (Does anyone know for sure?)

But no matter, I think the Indystar's comment that the bill "has been stalled in the House by Democratic leadership" is specious. Democratic leadership would have no say on the committees -- they're all chaired by Republicans, since the GOP is in the majority.

edit: this is THOMAS -- an invaluable tool.

[Bertha Venation]

21. Duh.

Ignore the message above.

Well, don't ignore it, but realize that I failed to see we were talking about the Indiana legislature, not the U.S. Congress. :eyes: at self.

[mac2]

13. What's good for the goose is good for the gander..

The Repubs are using this as an distraction away from the important issues, debt, war, and fraud,etc, and should be accused of doing so. Every other election it was abortion, flag buring, "under God" on everything and every where as an election distraction. Why aren't Democrats saying so?

Repubs divide us to win.

[BR_Parkway]

14. This is the issue that needs "amending" n/t

[eileen_d]

16. Standing ovation for these Democrats

Thank you! :thumbsup:

[calimary]

27. Here's a GREAT way to say Thank You - for FREE!

Check out the details in my new sig line. Doesn't cost ANYTHING. PLUS: if you call someone in the enemy camp, AND you get some snot-nose staffer who decides to argue with you (probably thinking the least damage that can be done is to run up your phone bill and teach you a lesson), then the joke's on him/her.

I've had this happen before, when I've called Susan Collins, Orrin Hatch, and a few other republi-CONS. They often have supremely uppity staffers who wanna give me hell. I give it to 'em right back.

[Malva Zebrina]

30. agree about Collins

arrogant staff--and also her reply letters are ridiculous. I have somewhat of a phone phobia--don't ask--stutter and stammer--so I usually rehearse what I am going to say--I just state my case and do not get into discussions.

[calimary]

34. I would say so! I called them once on the Valerie Plame issue

I think it was - and some schmuck in her office barked into the phone at me "What does this have to do with the state of Maine?!?!" I barked right back - "my young friend, it has EVERYTHING to do with ALL 50 states, Maine included. And the people in those states. And our national security." He didn't bark anything back at that. Guess he didn't have a comeback, or perhaps chose not to. Jarring experience, though, when you're actually street-fighting, as opposed to doing so in the safety of supervised sparring class...

[bushisanidiot]

17. Hell Yeah! Good move, dems! Point out how HYPOCRITICALthe repukes are!

let's go through rudy G.'s marital history first, shall we?

[central scrutinizer]

37. remember the House Speaker search

I've forgotten all of the names, but the repukes had one candidate after another drop out, because he too had had an affair while married or something - they finally found Hastert and gave it to him - I remember Henry Hyde, but forget the other names who had to drop out.

[Art_from_Ark]

48. That was Bob Livingston

Speaker of the House for two days, until Larry Flynt got the goods on him and Livingston had to resign.

[kskiska]

18. And then there's Rudy

Thrice married, once to his cousin. And how about Neil Bush?Bob Dole comes to mind, too.

[ignatius]

19. Hooray, that is my state legislature. Way to go folks, turn the table

on these jackoffs who are posturing at this point.

I wish the democratic congress would do the same damn thing and why don't we do something to actually set the agenda? I think the reich wingers find the absoluted most divisive, polarizing issue and make it a # 1 priority. Why can't we bring healthcare(the eplosion of cost and the lack there of for 42Million Americans) to the forefront.

We need some marketers in the party..a way in 25 words or less to bring issues to the masses.

[Crachet2004]

33. We do need better marketing.

I was a management major in B-school, and I learned one thing: the worse your product, the better your marketing needs to be...and George Bush is living proof of what effective marketing can do-for he is an empty package!

But what if you had great candidates (ours), great ideas (again, ours) AND great marketing? The sky would be the limit. Can't we go to Europe or something and hire some innovative marketers? Or hire some 100% mercenary Madison Avenue types? Why cede all the PR advances to the opposition? Why can't we be cool? And less filling?

Already, I am hearing that Kerry drones, is dull, etc.. Shouldn't be the case. He could be dynamite if packaged right. And Edwards shines so bright we might have to put a lampshade on him! Imagine what Madison Avenue could do with John Edwards?

[Bridget Burke]

22. Lalo Alcarez drew this some time ago

[Tracer]

23. Well, call me stupid, but ...

... I've got a feeling that if gay marriages are allowed, we'll be seeing a 50% divorce rate among gays too.

(And I'm FOR gay marriage!)

[Malikshah]

52. That would actually support the cause

Would just go to show we're no different, and hence should not be treated differently.

In any case--my thought is that the "divorce" issue being raised is to show that the argument of protecting the institution is bogus--it's all about bigotry.

I've actually gone from pro-civil unions to pro marriage at this point. (Talked w/ religious scholars -- folks who make their living studying the history of religions-- they basically threw the religion argument out on its ear)

[TankLV]

26. Beautiful. Simply beautiful.

Uncomplicated.

Direct.

Simply stated.

Can you say GOPig/Fundie "hypocrits"?

[rocktivity]

29. Outing some gay Repubs might be just what the doctor ordered, too!

Hey, they wrote the rules.

But there's no need to wait on the Dems--we can put such a list together ourselves!

:headbang:
rocknation

[Isere]

31. Bravo! Just the right response!

This is just what needs to be done!

Gee, too bad Strom Thurmond and Newtie are no longer in Congress. They would need a full page for each of them.

Oh, and Bob Barr is no longer around either. What a shame...

[caledesi]

53. Bob Barr who drove his wife to have an abortion and paid for

it by check! Oh yeah, meanwhile he had a girlfriend. (from Bartcop)
They are all such hypocrites, I cannot stand it!

[GaryL]

36. Don't forget adultery!

And how about banning outsourcing too! That's the stuff that really pisses me off. :evilgrin:

[varun]

39. Remember Georgia Attorney General Michael Bowers?

The homophobe who took the case of sodomy to the Supreme Court and won?

He had a 15 year affair with another woman...while married, and in OFFICE.

talk about hyprocrisy.
:mad:
sanctity of marriage...my foot!

[chasqui]

40. Hypocrisy is their weakness

Attack them where it hurts!

[JohnOneillsMemory]

43. SchwarzenGroper-SchwarzenGroper-ScwarzenGroper-SchwarzenGroper

Besides the Enron-ian Knight of the Nazi Party conquering Califoria,

How about that the HELLISH ECONOMY DESTROYS MARRIAGES and lives?!

[SideshowScott]

44. HA! Watch the issue get swept under the rug as the gay dems press on!

Watch the issue get dropped like a hot potato when the Gays turn up the heat..Fox news will act like it never happend..too funny!
Go Gays!

[SideshowScott]

45. HA! Watch the issue get swept under the rug as the gay dems press on!

Watch the issue get dropped like a hot potato when the Gays turn up the heat..Fox news will act like it never happend..too funny!
Go Gays!

[Forkboy]

46. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Put that in your homophobic pipes and smoke it you fucking Repuke shitheels!

[caledesi]

49. Brilliant! Some of these repugs will need calculators!! nt