The Republicans have crossed the line: destruction of America complete

[Brian_Expat]

http://www.hrc.org/Template.cfm?Section=Press_Room&CONTENTID=21498&TEMPLATE=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm

By a 233 to 194 vote, the House of Representatives today passed the Marriage Protection Act, a dangerous and discriminatory measure that would strip the federal courts of jurisdiction over challenges to the Defense of Marriage Act and block access for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community to the judicial system. This vote took place just after the 9/11 Commission issued its final report sharply criticizing Congress. Also, polling data released this week affirms that the American public opposes the politics of division.

Not only is this a noxious effort to strip gays and lesbians of their constitutional right to access for the court to redress unconstitutional issues, but it's an attempted coup against the constitutional order.

By passing this law declaring a law "off limits" from court review of its constitutionality, the Republicans have illustrated their complete contempt for the rule of law and have finally succeeded in destroying the Constitution and everything that America stands for.

I am so sad that I don't know whether to cry or vomit. :(

[MallRat]

1. I don't think the Supremes will appreciate this.

If Congress strips the lower Federal courts of jurisdiction over cases involving same-sex marriage, then don't these cases have to go directly to the Supreme Court?

Law students, attorneys- please correct me if I'm wrong. The Supreme Court can choose to pass on hearing certain cases if they've come up through the appeals system... that is- if there's already a lower court decision, the SCOTUS can opt to let it stand without hearing the case themselves.

But what if there ISN'T a lower court ruling? Doesn't the Supreme Court HAVE TO HEAR THE CASE? I imagine that even folks like Rehnquist and Scalia will not look forward to spending half of their court term hearing nothing but gay marriage cases.

-MR

[Brian_Expat]

2. Duplicate -- am deleting

Sorry. :(

[MallRat]

3. 27 Democrats voted YES to emasculate our Federal Courts.

I hope your Rep. is not on this list:

Alexander
Berry
Boucher
Boyd
Carson (OK)
Chandler
Costello
Cramer
Davis (TN)
Edwards
Gordon
Herseth
Holden
John
Lucas (KY)
Marshall
Matheson
McIntyre
Peterson (MN)
Rahall
Ross
Sandlin
Skelton
Stenholm
Tanner
Taylor (MS)
Turner (TX)


3 Democrats did not vote:
Carson (IN)
Kucinich
Lowey

17 Republicans voted against the measure, but that's little consolation.

-MR