Flanked by Rowan County Sheriff's deputies and her son, Nathan, Davis said she loves God and her job but won't authorize the issuing of marriage licenses to gay couples.
"I am here before you this morning with a seemingly impossible choice, which I do not wish on any of my fellow Americans," she said. "My conscience or my freedom."
"My conscience or my ability to serve the people that I love," Davis said, choking back tears. "Obey God or a directive that forces me to disobey God."
Her decision was clear, she said: "Effective immediately, and until an accommodation is provided, by those with the authority to provide it, any marriage license issued by my office will not be issued or authorized by me."
"I love my deputy clerks and I hate that they have been caught in the middle. If any of them feels that they must issue an unauthorized license to avoid being thrown in jail, I understand their tough choice and I will take no action against them," Davis said, but added: "Any unauthorized license that they issue will not have my name, my title or my authority on it. Instead, the license will state that they are issued pursuant to a federal court order."
Davis is asking the Governor to change the guidelines and allow marriage licenses for gay couples to be issued under the "generic authority of the state," meaning I suppose that she would not have to have her name attached to their marriage licenses.
So to be clear Davis is still not complying with the law, and is instead simply not stopping the issuance of marriage licenses that she views as unauthorized and therefore illegal.
Yeah, she really needs to go.
And by the way she is not alone.
There you go. The government should get out of the marriage business. If they stoped issuing licenses to everyone there would be a true separation of church and state. People could get married by their church, synagogue, or whatever they wanted.
ReplyDeleteYoung couples should refuse to have their license issued by an adulterous 4 times married sinner. She may jinx their marriage. This woman needs to GO. There are plenty of people who would take her job, at that salary, in a heartbeat.
DeleteSince marriage is a legally binding contract, it's churches who should step out of the way to be a true separation of church and state.
DeleteI wouldn't trust some of these nutty religious folks to have diligence to make sure that people weren't already married to someone else, marrying minors, cousins or even siblings. No way, I'll trust our legal system any day before I'd trust any church.
DeleteReligion had and never will have anything to do with my 38 yr marriage. Maybe it's about time to quit pretending that churches have any legal standing( they have zero) in legal marriages in the US of A.
Delete@ 9:13 AM
DeleteI don't know what country you live in, but even if you get married in a church, you still have to get a marriage license issued by the USA government, it is a legal contract. The church is just a religious ceremony.
I think they are using Kim as a test case and if they let this bully have her way it is going to open up Pandora's box of other "Christians" to do the same. What happens if a Muslim, Hindu etc decides the couple doesn't fit their criteria for marriage?
They should get her out of office, since she is collecting wages and not performing the duties of her job description. Dereliction of duties.
And what of the rest that need certification of a union for tax purposes?
DeleteI say take the European model and the government is the sole issuer of certification of a legal union. Then if the couples what to go to a church and do it again, fine. But once the civil union takes place at city hall, they're "married". No church needed.
There's your separation of church and state.
“Half of the harm done in the world is due to people who want to feel important.”
ReplyDelete*
What other accomplishment or capability might have found this dumpy 49 year old clasping hands with a famous presidential wannabe in a triumphant photo-op? Both Huckabee and Cruz will deepsix Davis when she’s no longer good for any campaign octane. Ask Josh Duggar. If she’s too dumb to know it, her lawyers surely do. Nor does Davis make Cruz and Huckabee’s core constituency – racist old white men – reach for the Viagra like a combative blonde Fox anchor or Sarah Palin with the Belmonts at 100%.
It would seem that the collective wisdom is that if a carve out is not made for this woman and her duties, others will be emboldened to thwart this law when actually it will be the opposite. Allowing her the ability to decide her own duties is going to bring crazies out all over the country, looking to do the same in their own instances.
ReplyDeletePlease can somebody explain to me why this UGLY Kim Davis woman is still allowed to go back to work? she clearly broke the law for not doing her job, and picked her freaking god instead.
ReplyDeleteWhat does her physical appearance have to do with anything about this story?
Delete10:36 AM Her actions towards others are ugly. Did someone hit your ugly nerve?
Delete@ 10:36am
DeleteThe word ugly is used to describe people's behavior in most southern states, though she is ugly in appearance also. And as for her appearance, most jobs in the 80K range expect someone who is earning that to dress professionally.
I'd like to know how she can expect to get paid $80,000 a year for NOT doing her job?
DeleteShe should be impeached or whatever they can do to get rid of the woman! Know she was elected. If she doesn't want her name applied (even though elected to do so!) dump her immediately!
ReplyDeleteA typical self-righteous Christian battleax is my take!
If she won't perform her duties she was hired for,why is she still employed at EIGHTY GRAND a year?
DeleteThis chick has an awful high opinion of her own importance.
ReplyDeleteProudly ignorant.
DeleteIf her actions were truly due to a religious objection, she would resign instead of trying to collect her generous salary while not performing her duties.
ReplyDeleteI know!!! I disagree with her beliefs, but I'd actually respect her integrity if she resigned.
DeleteThis is like a Quaker taking a job as an army recruiter, and then simply sitting there with arms crossed, staring into space day after day---because he is a pacifist---and then expecting a hefty paycheck for this great sacrificial martyrdom.
Not only is she refusing to perform HER duties, but she is trying to indirectly prevent her staff from doing THEIR job as well.
DeleteWhile she is claiming to not be interfering with them issuing licenses, she is trying to make those licenses invalid.
Exactly. She doesn't want to give up the money so she's trying to find a way to keep it and still not do her job.
DeleteThen why isn't she back in jail? Lock the self righteous bitch up any throw away the key!!!
ReplyDeleteShe's not interfering with the licenses being issued. The deputy clerks are still issuing them. So she gets to be free until her trial dates. And I'm sure get paid too.
DeleteShe's long overdue for impeachment. Her lawyers have a pretty poor grasp of the constitution if they think she's allowed to force her beliefs on others. I honestly question just how deeply held they are and think this is more of her being a publicity whore on behalf of her lawyers
ReplyDeleteKim Davis is misinformed and misguided. Her Liberty Counsel attorney is full of bullshit. As Trump would say, 'He's stupid and a loser. He's bad at his job.'
ReplyDelete:-D Thanks, love it.
DeleteDavis may have opened a whole new can of worms
ReplyDeletestate Rep. Dennis Keene (D-Wilder). “Be careful what you wish for.”
Keene said the Davis saga could draw more attention to ways to cut government spending.
“It may be time to look at whether county clerks are worth the time and money,” Keene said.
http://www.rawstory.com/2015/09/kim-davis-makes-ky-lawmakers-question-whether-county-clerks-are-worth-the-time-and-money/
drlager
Hey drlager! I have enjoyed your drive-bys immensely.
DeleteAnd that's how you make lemonade
DeleteI'm sure there are much better ways to make use of her $80k salary
DeleteExactly 9:42! And I can't help but think that Huckabee and the rest of the crazies are more than a little disappointed that their martyr didn't stop her subordinates from issuing licenses. They would pee all over themselves with happiness if she went back to jail. That's why it's a good thing that the judge let her out. Don't give them any fuel for their pitiful fire.
ReplyDeleteShe's In Contempt again then - slap the cuffs on her again.
ReplyDeleteIf Kim Davis finds herself unwilling/unable to do her job because of her religious beliefs, then fine - resign from the position. You are allowed to oppose the death penalty; just don't expect to be allowed to have the executioner's job.
ReplyDeleteGet rid of elected County Clerks. Why in the hell is that even an elected position? Should just be a regular state job.
ReplyDeleteSome kind of holdover from before the Information Age? I read that Kentucky also elects "Jailers", and there are jailers pulling down 40K a year in counties that don't even have a jail! The Kentucky Legislature really could trim some governmental costs, and Davis may be sorry she started this whole conversation. Davis' son is probably thinking dammit Mom!
Deleteya the jailer story is here...
Deletehttp://kycir.org/2015/01/02/only-in-kentucky-jailers-without-jails/
man O man...kim might be thinking she should be keeping her big fat yap closed
now she done pissed off the "Jailers"
GarColga11:04 AM
there are jailers pulling down 40K a year in counties that don't even have a jail! The Kentucky Legislature really could trim some governmental costs, and Davis may be sorry she started this whole conversation. Davis' son is probably thinking dammit Mom!
added
drlager
Seems the state of Kentucky has money to blow out of their ass. Very obvious that they don't spend it on education.
DeletePut her back in jail until she resigns or complies.
ReplyDeleteThis ol' gal needs to be sent back to jail until she learns a lesson.
ReplyDeleteAnd hold that paycheck. She prob already has a gofundme account
and has millionaire status thanks to the fundies. Being an asshole
is better than a lottery ticket in the US today.
Separation of church and state was created so that all would have freedom from religion. She has no business injecting her personal religious beliefs into government business!
ReplyDeleteThe requirements for getting a marriage licence in Rowan County are set out (albeit slightly out of date) at http://www.usmarriagelaws.com/search/united_states/kentucky/marriage_licenses/rowan_county.shtml The issuance of a licence presumably certifies that these requirements have been checked and found to be satisfied. I couldn't find any requirement on that page that the proposed marriage have the personal approval of the County Clerk, or any evidence that an issued licence certifies that the couple has the personal approval of the County Clerk—or the County Clerk's god.
ReplyDeleteIs that her son who is also her employee standing with her? Is that what he wears to work?
ReplyDeleteNo, that's her second and fourth husband, but not the father of the bastard twins. But she was probably having an adulterous affair with him while married to husband number one.
DeleteI wonder if any mail carriers that are
ReplyDeleteHindu
Buddhist
Jewish
Muslim
Sikh
etc.
will refuse to deliver any Christmas cards or presents from or to Kim Davis
...because of their religious convictions?
Or Jehova's Witnesses refusing to deliver birthday cards.
DeleteMuslim DMV employees refusing to issue driver's licenses to women.
Yeah, the list can go on and on.