Thursday, October 09, 2014

Ron Richard: We need the attorney general to fight gay marriage

(From the Missouri Senate Republican Leadership)

On Monday, Senate leaders called on Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster to abide by the will of the people as expressed in the state constitution and defend their decision to define marriage as the union of a man and a woman.

Last week, a circuit court judge from Kansas City ruled that Missouri must recognize same-sex marriages from other states and countries, a ruling which clearly conflicts with a constitutional amendment adopted by Missouri voters.

In 2004, by more than a 70 percent margin, voters approved a change to the Missouri Constitution, stating that “to be valid and recognized in this state a marriage shall exist only between a man and a woman.”

“This ruling by one local judge stands in direct contradiction to our constitution which was approved by a statewide vote,” said Senate Leader Tom Dempsey, R-St. Charles. “The Attorney General is a clever lawyer and knows full-well that the ‘full faith and credit clause’ he cites as a justification not to perform the clear duty of his office does not apply when the law of one state flatly contradicts the public policy of a sister state. He is simply hiding behind thin legal justifications as he seeks to undermine the will of Missouri voters.”

Also, the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has already ruled that there are several rational bases for defining marriage in traditional terms. In a 2006 case, Citizens for Equal Protection v. Bruning, the 8th Circuit ruled unequivocally that states do not violate the Equal Protection Clause when they define marriage as being between a man and women.

“Each state has the authority to establish laws governing the institution of marriage,” said Majority Floor Leader Ron Richard, R-Joplin. “Missouri voters spoke loud and clear in 2004 by passing the constitutional amendment. This issue should now be brought to the Missouri Supreme Court for their review of the lower court’s decision. To do that, we will need the support of our Attorney General, Chris Koster.”

“I urge the Attorney General Chris Koster to do his duty as the state’s lawyer and defend the law the voters enshrined in our constitution. If he wants to substitute his own opinions in place of the clear will of the people, perhaps he should make his views a plank in his campaign for governor. However, at present he is still the Attorney General of our great state and as such has a duty to defend the law as actually written, not as he wishes it were written,” said Dempsey.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Tim Jones to Ron Richards: "My mind's telling me no, but my body, my body's telling me yes..."

kitty chiwawa said...

Sent this yay-hoo an email as well.

Anonymous said...

Don't be hatin' on Ronnie boy. He's been upset ever since he found out that his boyfriend is gay. It is a beautiful story really. They met over the ball washer at the bowling alley. He looked deep into Timmy's eyes, and saw something haunting, yet familiar. The two fell fast in love, and, well, you know the rest of the story.

Anonymous said...

Something I actually agree w/ Ron on, no wonder it is raining

Anonymous said...

Why is it all these Gay Police look so....well gay?

Anonymous said...

My wife and I used to worry about our kids' future, the economy, and the daily challenges of getting by. Then we found out about the rainbiw menace. Now we spend every waking moment gripped by terror. What if two same sex adults get married?Will our marriage be immediately annuled? Will our children be recruited into the Gay Army? Oh my God! Will I turn.... Please save us politicians. Deliver us from this fate worse this death. Whatever the cost in taxes and distraction from governing will be well wotth it. I don't want to be gay. I'm scared.

Anonymous said...

So, say you did want one if your kids to be gay; you know, to spice up Thanksgiving, and add a little flair to family get togethers. Is there a form you can fill out? Does anyone know the process? Any advice would be welcome.

Anonymous said...

I remember when there were no gays. You could sit naked in a hot tub, drinking a beer with all your buddies; with no worries. Yeah, that's when men were men. You could get drunk, beat your kids, and when the wife said no, you knew she was screaming yes. A man's home was his castle. A place where all would tread carefully; knowing not to antagonise the master of the domain. These cherished memories would bring tears to my eyes. But of course real men don't cry. Now the sissy, liberal, dope smokin' commies have put a foreign, America hater in the White House. Alas, all is lost. Let the gays have it. I'm going back down in my bunker to wait for the end of this apocalypse.

Anonymous said...

Ron Richards: Falling on the wrong side of history to whip up a few more votes back home. Still not doing much to help our economy in any real way.

Anonymous said...

We shall fight in the bath houses.
We shall fight in the rest stops.
We shall fight in the airport restroom stalls.
We will never ever ever surrender!

Anonymous said...

I like you.
You like me.
Homosexuality.
Some people think that we're just friends.
But we're really lesbians... @-: