bobbyw24
08-05-2010, 04:02 AM
Congressman Ron Paul's position on the role of federal judges in the gay marriage debate.
by Jake Morphonios
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Congressman Ron Paul does not believe that the issue of gay marriage is a matter to be decided at the federal level. He has said that the effort of a federal official to change the definition of marriage is "an act of social engineering profoundly hostile to liberty." He stated further, "Americans understandably fear that if gay marriage is legalized in one state, all other states will be forced to accept such marriages." The issue of gay marriage is one to be decided at the state-level by the citizens of the state, as the people of California did when they passed Proposition 8. Ron Paul supported the Defense of Marriage Act to ensure that the US Constitution's Full Faith and Credit Clause continued to allow one state to refuse to recognize the same-sex marriages of another state.
Paul also co-sponsored the Marriage Protection Act, which would have barred federal judges from hearing cases pertaining to the constitutionality of same-sex marriages. Had this legislation passed, today's headlines might have been different.
Today a federal judge in San Francisco, Vaughn R. Walker, ruled that the California Constitution violates the US Constitution by refusing to recognize gay marriage. While opponents of homosexual marriage are disappointed, some are breathing a sigh of relief. The ruling, which favors gay Americans, is unlikely to result in the kinds of violence, personal intimidation and property destruction perpetrated by pro-gay activists relating to the 2008 Proposition 8 ballot initiative.
Prior to the Prop 8 vote, Fresno Mayor Alan Autry spoke in favor of the ballot initiative from City Hall. That week, both he and Pastor Jim Franklin received death threats from Prop 8 opponents. Property belonging to the LDS Church in Orangevale was spray-painted with insulting messages and an affiliate group of the Trans/***** organization known as Bash Back! spray painted the church's walls and poured glue into the buildings locks. Several other churches of various denominations similarly reported vandalism, property destruction and harassment against their members by anti-Prop 8 activists.
Homeowners in San Jose with pro-Prop 8 yard signs awoke to find "No on 8!" messages spray painted onto their garage doors. Kelly and Tom Byrne were among the victims. "I can't think of a way that is more counter-productive, or against those kinds of beliefs than coming and damaging someone's personal property, trespassing, and really showing a message of hate," said Tom. Police noted a significant increase in politically motivated vandalism. Sergeant Mike Sullivan stated, "People are passionate about the issue, but we just ask that they make their points in the voting booth, not on other people's [property]. If they're caught, they could be arrested for felonies. That should be a concern to them." Regardless of such voter intimidation tactics, Proposition 8 was passed by a majority of Californians.
http://llnw.image.cbslocal.com/23/2008/10/27/320x240/prop8vandals.jpg
Following the vote, gay activists took to the streets in a union of mass protests. Cars, businesses and other property were vandalized in the demonstrations. Again, churches were targeted, including the Mormon temple in Los Angeles. At the scene of this particular protest, activists flooded the streets to halt traffic and police were called to the scene. After one protester jumped on top of a police car and physical aggression broke out, a number of activists were arrested. The violence continued, with the windows of Mormon and Evangelical churches being shot out by protesters in Utah and Florida.
more
http://www.nolanchart.com/article7900.html
by Jake Morphonios
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Congressman Ron Paul does not believe that the issue of gay marriage is a matter to be decided at the federal level. He has said that the effort of a federal official to change the definition of marriage is "an act of social engineering profoundly hostile to liberty." He stated further, "Americans understandably fear that if gay marriage is legalized in one state, all other states will be forced to accept such marriages." The issue of gay marriage is one to be decided at the state-level by the citizens of the state, as the people of California did when they passed Proposition 8. Ron Paul supported the Defense of Marriage Act to ensure that the US Constitution's Full Faith and Credit Clause continued to allow one state to refuse to recognize the same-sex marriages of another state.
Paul also co-sponsored the Marriage Protection Act, which would have barred federal judges from hearing cases pertaining to the constitutionality of same-sex marriages. Had this legislation passed, today's headlines might have been different.
Today a federal judge in San Francisco, Vaughn R. Walker, ruled that the California Constitution violates the US Constitution by refusing to recognize gay marriage. While opponents of homosexual marriage are disappointed, some are breathing a sigh of relief. The ruling, which favors gay Americans, is unlikely to result in the kinds of violence, personal intimidation and property destruction perpetrated by pro-gay activists relating to the 2008 Proposition 8 ballot initiative.
Prior to the Prop 8 vote, Fresno Mayor Alan Autry spoke in favor of the ballot initiative from City Hall. That week, both he and Pastor Jim Franklin received death threats from Prop 8 opponents. Property belonging to the LDS Church in Orangevale was spray-painted with insulting messages and an affiliate group of the Trans/***** organization known as Bash Back! spray painted the church's walls and poured glue into the buildings locks. Several other churches of various denominations similarly reported vandalism, property destruction and harassment against their members by anti-Prop 8 activists.
Homeowners in San Jose with pro-Prop 8 yard signs awoke to find "No on 8!" messages spray painted onto their garage doors. Kelly and Tom Byrne were among the victims. "I can't think of a way that is more counter-productive, or against those kinds of beliefs than coming and damaging someone's personal property, trespassing, and really showing a message of hate," said Tom. Police noted a significant increase in politically motivated vandalism. Sergeant Mike Sullivan stated, "People are passionate about the issue, but we just ask that they make their points in the voting booth, not on other people's [property]. If they're caught, they could be arrested for felonies. That should be a concern to them." Regardless of such voter intimidation tactics, Proposition 8 was passed by a majority of Californians.
http://llnw.image.cbslocal.com/23/2008/10/27/320x240/prop8vandals.jpg
Following the vote, gay activists took to the streets in a union of mass protests. Cars, businesses and other property were vandalized in the demonstrations. Again, churches were targeted, including the Mormon temple in Los Angeles. At the scene of this particular protest, activists flooded the streets to halt traffic and police were called to the scene. After one protester jumped on top of a police car and physical aggression broke out, a number of activists were arrested. The violence continued, with the windows of Mormon and Evangelical churches being shot out by protesters in Utah and Florida.
more
http://www.nolanchart.com/article7900.html