Rep. Steve King : Iowa In Danger Of Becoming a "Gay Marriage Mecca"

[ccharles000]

Just made a fresh batch of Schadenfreude- help yourself!
After watching King snark at Barney Frank last night on C-SPAN, I can't help but enjoy this probably more than I should.

From CNN:



Iowa Rep. Steve King condemned his state Supreme Court's Friday decision to lift a decade-long ban on same-sex marriage, saying it puts the state in danger of becoming a "gay marriage Mecca."
"This is an unconstitutional ruling and another example of activist judges molding the Constitution to achieve their personal political ends," King said in statement. "Iowa law says that marriage is between one man and one woman.

"Now it is the Iowa legislature's responsibility to pass the Marriage Amendment to the Iowa Constitution, clarifying that marriage is between one man and one woman, to give the power that the Supreme Court has arrogated to itself back to the people of Iowa," he added. "Along with a constitutional amendment, the legislature must also enact marriage license residency requirements so that Iowa does not become the gay marriage Mecca due to the Supreme Court's latest experiment in social engineering."

Let's see what other GOP members have to say:

RNC Chairman Michael Steele:

"The Iowa Supreme Court's decision today to reverse an 11 year old state law outlawing same-sex marriage is sadly another example of judicial activism currently threatening family values in America. While I respect an individual's right to live his or her life as they see fit, decisions like this are better left in the hands of legislators and governors."

"I firmly believe that marriage should be between one man and one woman. A state's autonomous nature allows it to change its laws as the citizenry sees fit, but it should be done by the people, not through judicial decree."

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney:

"I believe marriage is a relationship between a man and a woman and the definition of marriage should be left to the people and not to activist courts."

Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee (via Twitter):

"Iowa Sup. Court dec. to allow same sex marriage is disappointing. All Iowans should have a say in this matter, not legislative judges ... must fight to preserve family and amend the Constitution of the United States to define marriage as one man and one woman."

South Carolina governor Mark Sanford:

Joel Sawyer, a spokesman for Sanford, did not react to the Iowa ruling specifically, but said the governor is "against same-sex marriage." Sawyer pointed out that "South Carolina passed a same-sex marriage ban last year, and the governor was supportive of it."

Alaska governor Sarah Palin:

Bill McAllister, a spokesman for Palin, said that as of this morning, "we haven't discussed it." Palin has said she opposes defining marriage as anything but between a man and a woman.

http://www.pamshouseblend.com

[Zynx]

1. What's funny is that they then make the argument that relatively few gay couples

take advantage of their right to be married. So is it an epidemic or is it irrelevant? I never can keep that one straight.

[AnnieBW]

2. They should be so lucky

Think of all of teh gayz that will now come to Iowa to get married! The wedding industry will bring up the rest of the economy!

[Tangerine LaBamba]

5. The new Las Vegas or Reno,

only gays will have better taste, and spend WAY more money. And have a hell of a lot more fun.

Iowa just hit the economic jackpot.

I mean, can't you see the Hayride-themed wedding packages?

The Farmer In The Dell package?

AMERICAN GOTHIC!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh, the potential is HUGH!!!1111!!!111

[Me.]

6. Dead On

Britain is thrilled with the wedding bonanza

[sakabatou]

3. O NOES! Not "teh gay!!!1111eleventy"

[bluestateguy]

4. They need to dial back their rhetoric

As we have seen in the recent Pittsburgh police killings and last year's Knoxville church shootings, inflammatory rhetoric can push fragile people over the edge into violence.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

7. Jesus.........

That's a sad and sobering observation.

And, hideously correct.

What is happening to us?

[Fovea]

19. delamination.

We are not falling apart regionally, we are falling apart across
lines of education, lines of intentional community.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

20. Finally, equal rights .........

How's THAT for a strange twist to what our Founding Fathers had in mind?

I agree. You're right, and thank you for the gorgeous use of that great word.............

:toast:

[Sal Minella]

8. I wish somebody would push Steve King over the border into Nebraska.

He'd be happier there and we'd be happier to have him there. Or Mars. Mars would be a good place for Steve King.

[LuvNewcastle]

13. My best friend said that

just the other day. He is very active in the community and they all know he's gay. He said lately that people have been not quite so warm towards him and he thinks its because of his sexuality. I'm talking about people he's known for years. He thinks it's backlash from all this attention to gay marriage. Our town is pretty accepting towards gay people -- or at least it always has been. I'm glad I'm not in one of those towns full of fundies.

[provis99]

22. yeah, Mississippi's always had unorthodox ideas towards gays

I remember Oxford had a pretty well-known and active gay community too. Outsiders might think that in the heart of the Bible Belt South gays might be fairly hidden, but that doesn't seem to be the case. Maybe because everyone is heavily armed in Mississippi, and you don't want to piss off a gay guy with a gun.

[LuvNewcastle]

23. LOL!

Yeah, Biloxi is pretty laid-back. My only gripe about living here is the weather (the heat and the hurricanes). But in general,the people are tolerant and they like to have fun. It's a well-kept secret.

[Kazak]

9. Well, yay!

Pfft...danger?

[NV Whino]

10. Yeah, like everyone is going to move to Iowa.

[RoyGBiv]

11. Damn, beat me to it ...

Now offense to Iowans, but I've been there. I slept a lot.

[Hobarticus]

18. No need...Iowa doesn't require residency for a license

Fly in, get hitched at a local courthouse, and be home in no time.

And if you're not careful, you just might meet some nice people while you're here.

[Cali_Democrat]

12. This is the douchebag that said Al Qaeda will be dancing in the steets if Obama wins

I didn't see much dancing. He also inferred that it would be because Obama's middle name is Hussein.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/08/steve-king-republican-con_n_90540.html

[Hobarticus]

14. This Iowan sez, Steve King and his ilk can go suck eggs

Haven't talked to a single person yet who thinks this isn't the right thing to do. We're pretty goddamned proud of our state, today.

[BlooInBloo]

15. Psst - King - Sooner or later, the entire country will be a "gay marriage mecca"...

You've already lost, King. You're just too stupid to know it.

[Mz Pip]

16. He makes it sound like that's

a bad thing...

Here's a newsflash for you, Steve. If the gay couple down the block from you get married is the worse thing that happens to you this year you should count yourself a very lucky person. A bad cold impacts you more than Ted and Phil getting married. time to get oer it and find something really outrageous to complain about.

Here's to Iowa! :toast:

[metapunditedgy]

17. When two prejudices combine to make a bad metaphor...

Because gay folks worldwide have been making the pilgrimage to Mecca so they can get married...

[Adsos Letter]

21. Iowa? Mecca? Don't gey me wrong, I've driven through on a number of occasions...

Beautiful state...but Mecca has never sprung to mind... :hide:

[efilon]

24. Equal Rights

I, for one, am very proud of our state and the Iowa Supreme Court. I had two phone messages when I got up yesterday, one from my lesbian daughter and one from my gay son. Of course they were both overjoyed. I don't know as they will get married right away, it's just knowing that they can if they want to.
There were several e-mails on our extended family mailing list yesterday in response to one my son sent. This gave affirmation to my children, and made them feel quite good, even though no one in my family has ever said a word or treated them differently because they are gay.

Original, from my son: Iowa... Proud
"I couldn't be prouder to be from Iowa today. The supreme court announced the gay marriage would be legal. As they say... So goes Iowa... so goes the nation. Let's hope! Ahh, if only i STILL lived in iowa. I dont' see conservative .... going that way any time soon, but we can dream!

One from my brother:

"Nominating a black man for president. Granting same-sex marriage. Fer cryin’ out loud, Iowa is becoming the Massachusetts of the Midwest!!!

Well, here’s my part. In my life, I’ve moved from singing filthy, racist songs to being an Obama precinct captain. I’ve also moved from being your average redneck homophobe to being a person who loves and accepts gay and lesbian friends and family members.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.“

(My son's name), I’m proud to be from Iowa too."

[Puzzler]

25. Good for Iowa!

.

[Egnever]

26. Whats dangerous about that?

[Forkboy]

27. Ooooo....clever way to compare gays to Muslims, and by extension, terrorists. These guys are good.

:puke:

[Sal Minella]

30. Actually, I think the phobics just lump everyone they are afraid of into one big "Other"

category -- keeps the rhetoric less complex for them, reduces the stress of hatemongering.

Saw a clip of Steve King asking a reporter, what's next, a mother and son being allowed to marry, a father and daughter?

I have no idea what sort of sexual issues SK may have and I really don't want to know, I just want him removed from any position of any political responsibility in our great state. Maybe he'll become horrified enough by teh gayz and The Tarists to move to Paraguay or Tierra del Fuego or somewhere. We can hope.

GOP = Garrulous Onerous Phobics.

[emulatorloo]

28. Just so you have some context - Steve King = Iowa's version of Michele Bachmann

About as wacky as a right wing politician can get. Which is plenty darn wacky.

Why would CNN give such a kook so much coverage???????

[Peacetrain]

29. Very good comparison..