Six of the Republican candidates vying for the presidency have signed a pledge promising to support legislation during their first 100 days in the White House that would use the guise of “religious liberty” to give individuals and businesses the right to openly discriminate against LGBT people.
Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Ben Carson, Carly Fiorina, Rick Santorum, and Mike Huckabee vowed to push for the passage of the First Amendment Defense Act (FADA), legislation that would prohibit the federal government from stopping discrimination by people or businesses that believe “marriage is or should be recognized as the union of one man and one woman” or that “sexual relations are properly reserved to such a marriage.”
The pledge is supported by three conservative groups: the American Principles Project, Heritage Action for America, and Family Research Council Action.
“It has become clear that the First Amendment Defense Act is rapidly becoming a signature issue that unifies the GOP,” Maggie Gallagher, Senior Fellow at American Principles Project, said in the group’s statement announcing the pledge. “Three out of the four top contenders for the nomination — Carson, Cruz, and Rubio — have pledged to prioritize passing FADA in their first 100 days of office. Additionally, Bush, Graham, Paul, and now for the first time, Donald Trump, have publicly expressed support for FADA.”
Gallagher added that a Republican win in 2016 could mean that FADA becomes reality. “Real, concrete protections for gay marriage dissenters appear to be just one election victory away,” she said.
This is for all of you who are claiming they will sit this election out if the Democratic candidate of your choice does not win the nomination.
Time to grow the fuck up and recognize just what is at stake.
Or should I also bring up the potential Supreme Court appointments?
"'It has become clear that the First Amendment Defense Act is rapidly becoming a signature issue that unifies the GOP,' Maggie Gallagher, Senior Fellow at American Principles Project, said in the group’s statement announcing the pledge."
ReplyDeleteEven this isn't believable.
"...or that sexual relations are properly reserved to such a marriage."
ReplyDeleteThe wording on that phrase alone should make every liberal quake in their boots because it says pre-marital sex could be criminalized in the law, not just the religion. Just another weapon in the war on women.
This is off-topic (and I only mention that because of the comment-nazis who object to posting a Palin comment on a non-Palin article) but as we begin the week anticipating the arrival of a new bundle of joy in the Palin family let's all remember this one little fact:
ReplyDeleteThe Palin women do not give birth the way most mammalian females do.
The Palin women CALVE like icebergs.
Palin on the brain. You are as idiotic as she is.
DeleteThis is off-topic (and I only mention that because of the comment-nazis …)
DeleteIt's in your own best interests to flag the beginning of an off-topic comment. That way, anyone who reads it only has themselves to blame.
There's no need for you to sound aggrieved at the expectation of simple politeness.
You might enjoy "Budding Explorer" by Ralph Robin.
I could excuse your off-topicness if your comment wasn't so incredibly stupid.
DeleteThis should eliminate every one of those ignoramuses from even running for President! Good grief. So now blocking the human rights of American citizens is cause for celebration? Vote, people. Vote before it's the rights of the rest of us at stake. Don't think they aren't coming after contraception next. The voting rights of women and minorities. These men are white male supremacists, and will stop at nothing to make sure all the power is in their greedy sick hands.
ReplyDeleteAmong the candidates named I did not see one whom I felt had a real shot at the nomination anyway, but it does confirm what bigots they are.
DeleteGraham is gay, yet he would sign this? What a hypocrite! Nobody should be discriminated against, for any reason. Taxpaying citizens should all be treated equally. God help us if one of these posers makes it into the WH.
ReplyDeleteRelax; their chances range from slim to none.
DeleteFor the last seven years, Republican whiners, despite having been soundly defeated in two presidential elections, have basically said if they can't have their way, they're going to go and sulk in the corner and do absolutely nothing for the good of the average people in this country.
ReplyDeleteNow, almost everyday, I read on this blog and elsewhere, people saying that if Bernie Sanders isn't the Democratic nominee, that they're going to sit out the election or write in Bernie for President anyway.
If you subscribe to this idea, then you're no better than the Republicans who take their toys and go home if we don't play by their rules.
I've always thought that we Democrats are better than the Republicans. We are not motivated solely by greed and fear. It's not just "What's in it for us?", but what is good for all of us as a community, a whole society, country and world. We welcome people of all ethnicities, backgrounds, religions, orientations, and with a wide spectrum of different viewpoints. We believe in giving people a hand when they need help, and in giving children especially, a good start in life so they can reach their maximum potential. We realize that we succeed best when we all succeed and no-one gets left behind.
I like Bernie a lot and may well vote for him in my state's primary, but whether he wins or loses, I will support the Democratic nominee next November. If you do not do the same, then you might as well register as a Republican right now, because you're no better than they are.
Imagine a country with no Affordable Care Act, with a Supreme Court bought and paid for and beholden to no-one but the Koch brothers or Sheldon Adelson, with rollbacks in LGBT rights, with profiling of Muslims and Latinos, and possible expulsion of these groups from our country, with another 50 million guns in the hands of unhinged RWNJs.
If you need persuading, then just ask yourself, "What do you think Bernie will be doing when faced with the choice between Hillary and Ted Cruz?" Then do it, dammit!
I agree with everything except your first paragraph.
DeleteIf the Republicans had done nothing but sit in the corner and pout, our country would be in much better shape than it is now. Unfortunately, what they did was work feverishly to obstruct and undermine everything the President and Democrats tried to do to correct the mess that Bush left us in, even going so far as to block legislation they had originally proposed or supported.
If we let them regain control of this country, we will be in deep, DEEP trouble!
I would dearly love to see gutsy businesses post No Evangelical Bigots Served Here signs.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, me too.
DeleteSorry, TC, but I will ask you the same question asked of Trump when he proposed allowing only christians in: How the hell can you tell?
DeleteYes, because then anyone who voluntarily turns away would be admitting their true feelings.
DeleteIsn't it just amazing how poorly GOP potential presidential candidates understand the US Constitution or US history? Actually, it's downright scary and pathetic.
ReplyDeleteBeaglemom
Every time I look the republicans are bound and determined to set us back to the 50's. I'm a huge supporter of LGBT rights. I'm going to become a much more vocal supporter of Gay rights now. I will never for a republican.
ReplyDeleteBeaglemom, it's precisely along the lines the American christotaliban has been screaming about since they began to scream in the fifties (and before).They keep insisting the US is a christian country, refusing to recognize the difference between a christian country and a christian majority population!
ReplyDeleteThey are dead certain the Constitution was meant only for xtians and refuse to consider any other interpretation -precisely as Goldwater predicted.
Is it me or does Trig look like he is going bald in Brizzle's latest IG pic? Also it looks like he is trying to imitate her by holding the small of his back. What the hell is wrong with that kid?
ReplyDeleteAll six have a Palin's chance of getting to the White House. Meaning, of course, never gonna happen!
ReplyDeleteI am SO SICK of the conflation of religion and politics
ReplyDelete"First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Socialist.
ReplyDeleteThen they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me."
That is what fascism looks like, folks. Either vote for freedom, or vote for a Talibangelical Dominionist takeover. If you must, hold your nose and vote for the better of 2 candidates.
Well, Marco Rubio, who has been put forward by some pundits as the young, engaging, GOP establishment candidate who will draw all the young voters away from Hillary (yeah, sure) just signed his political death certificate for the general election. Couldn't happen to a more worthy hypocrite. Don't any of these clowns have real world advisers? Or do they believe in the magical powers of etch-a-sketch?
ReplyDeleteAt least they pronounce their bigotry publicly. If they win then we know this is the kind of discrimination Americans want. It wouldn't be the first time a majority of Americans voted for discrimination and bigotry.
ReplyDelete"If they win then we know this is the kind of discrimination Americans want."
DeleteI'm not convinced of that, Tom. With the gerrymandering done by the repubes and the questionable access to the voting machines, I'm not sure that would be true.
Then I guess not enough people are participating in the process, which still leaves a majority of people voting, winning their day, as it should be. Getting out the vote has ALWAYS been the key to winning an election. The Democrats would stack the deck in their favor when they get the chance, and did for decades. What has happened is Republicans response to the Democrats domination for decades.
DeleteWho's going to enforce what goes on in people's bedrooms and how are we going to pay for it? I've never seen this level of hatred, discrimination and violence until, oh, about seven years ago.
ReplyDeleteThis seems related. Religious zealots in Israel get their own education system. Victims realize they didn't get an education. So they sue.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/in-israel-former-ultra-orthodox-jews-demand-basic-education/
Now the internal stability of the country is threatened by unemployed and quickly reproducing zealots. Kind of like a Jewish version of Valley Trash?