Texas Governor and potential Republican Presidential Candidate Rick Perry seemed almost reasonable last week when he supported the New York state legislature’s decision to approve gay marriage, touting states’ rights. Perry buttressed his support by invoking the 10th Amendment–the Constitution’s principle of federalism by providing that powers not granted to the federal government nor prohibited to the states by the Constitution are reserved, respectively, to the states or the people.
“Our friends in New York six weeks ago passed a statute that said marriage can be between two people of the same-sex. And you know what? That’s New York, and that’s their business, and that’s fine with me…If you believe in the 10th Amendment, stay out of their business,” said Perry last week at a Republican function in Aspen, Co.
However, upon realizing that his decision to back the gay marriage decision could inflame the far-right, foaming loons that make up the inane clown posse in today’s Republican Party by giving the impression that Perry doesn’t hate queers enough, Perry blatantly belied his earlier support for states’ rights by calling for a constitutional amendment overruling New York on gay marriage
So afraid of having an opinion with but a scintilla of Queerdom, Governor Perry had a grand old christian time, cherry picking and manipulating the meaning of the 10th amendment, in an interview with Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council.
TONY PERKINS I think marriage and family policy is best dealt with at the state level. But the tenth amendment — and I am a strong supporter. I fought the federal government on a number of issues when they were trying to force us to do things. But when you look at what’s happening on marriage, the real fear is that states like New York will change the definition of marriage for Texas. At that point the states rights argument is lost.
GOV. PERRY Right and that is the reason that the federal marriage amendment is being offered, it’s that small group of activist judges, and frankly a small handful, if you will, of states, and liberal special interests groups that intend on a redefinition of, if you will, marriage on the nation, for all of us, which I adamantly oppose. Indeed to not pass the federal marriage amendment would impinge on Texas, and other states not to have marriage forced upon us by these activist judges and special interest groups.
Curiously enough, Perry now only supports the 10th Amendment and states acting on their own behalf if the issue affects neighboring states. In this view, a state’s drinking age, gambling laws, agricultural policies, and drug laws have an virtually “no” impact on neighboring states, but those issues don’t necessarily annoy his political benefactors. In other wards, gays are bad around presidential election season, everything else is just fine and dandy.
In his insatiable thirst for power and willingness to do and say anything to appease the far-right, Perry also overlooked the glaring fact that it was New York’s legislature that passed the gay marriage bill, not activist judges. Worse yet, Perry’s complete and utter lack of an elementary understanding of gay marriage overlooked the fact that gay marriage in every state includes more straight people than gay people. Thus, it is totally fallacious to refer to it as a ‘special interest’ (one of those dirty hippie things).
Much like with Newt Gingrich and nuptials, Governor Perry has shown himself to have positively no credibility on 10th amendment issues. If he has a modicum of humility (he’s a Governor from Texas and a conservative republican so he doesn’t), he would stay as far away from issues pertaining to federalism as he does with books pertaining to reason and historical facts.
The GOP loves State’s rights if the federal gov’ment has an idea which the greedy ol perverts don’t like or can’t profit from……and they believe the federal gov’ment has total control over all States if the GOP loves the idea and can make a profit from it.
The elephant has two faces.
Hi, Mr. Perry. I am a single parent putting my children through school, ages 22,18,16. When we push our children to do better than we did, and the system fails them, who do we turn to for help. My daughter, actually my bonus child since the age of three. Our programs in this state are awesome as long as they are up to par. My daughter began Del Mar college in Corpus Christi, Tx right out of high school. She was accepted in the R.N. program. My daughter gave it her all for three years. However, taking some advise from her professors, she has been dropped from the program.. When a person in trust’s a superior and they default it leaves them in a state that is disappointing. She wants to give up. Mr. Perry she can’t give up. She has been let down. She is bright,intelligent,a people person and a self motivator. We are in desperate need of you help, before she gives up… Please help..
“Back to the McDonalds, paupers! My fries aren’t going to cook themselves!” ~ Rick Perry
….okay he hasn’t said it. *Yet.* But don’t expect much sympathy from this asshole.
Leticia… this is another case of the academia nuts in the over priced school system placing their own interest ahead of your daughters. First, I would find the professor that discouraged your daughter, and hang him up by his nuts. Then, I would corral that Jon Bon wannabe and send his illegal ass back to Canada for projecting his prejudices. Finally, I would tell your daughter that there are many nursing programs, including the US Military, that will bust their butts to get your daughter a license.
Yes, Rick, and back in the 1850s you would have argued that you can’t have freedom for black people in any one state because it threatens slavery in all the other states. Thus you have articulated the “Dred Scott” argument against gay marriage. Way to go, genius.
I’m in Texas and I assure you, our embarrassment of a governor does not, has never, will never and only accidentally in gay fantasies might have ever considered marriage rights for anyone other than Barbie and Ken. Pair him up with Bachman and he is the Teapublican Wet Dream. No reasonable voter should worry about him. Which means EVERY reasonable voter should worry about him, because reason has left the building in America these days.
Reason didn’t just leave the building, it gave it the bird and then detonated some structural charges to knock the whole damn building into rubble.
Am I the only one who finds the hypocrisy of these individuals to be beyond nauseating? They claim to champion personal liberty, while working tirelessly to destroy the rights of others.
“Don’t tread on me while I’m curb-stomping you, you socialist asshole!”
TELL IT, BROTHA!!!
Seriously Jon, the only hypocrisy you see is on the right wing? The Clintons’ and Obamas’ both call for more taxes on the wealthy, but both take every loophole allowed. Obama paid under 20% of his income in taxes, but wants to place a 35% tax on the “evil” millionaires that actually produce something. Regressive limousine liberals preach about feeding and housing the poor, while they feast and live in huge houses. AlGore receives millions to speak about climate change, and uses private jets and Suburban caravans to arrive in style. The democratic black caucus “fights” for the common black man, as long as that black man votes liberal democrat. Have you ever heard of the NAACP or NOW fighting for the rights of conservative minorities? Me neither, in fact they usually call them names.
Listen closely, the regressive liberal democrats have persistently removed your freedoms, liberties, and rights… and without people like the TEA party patriots, Barry and the ‘Bots would be tap dancing on the constitution and laughing at your misery.