Another Repug knuckledragger pushes a federal same-sex marriage ban.....

[marmar]

New antigay fed. marriage amendment introduced

Original DOMA author and Libertarian presidential candidate vows to repeal current law

By Jen Colletta
PGN Staff Writer
© 2008 Philadelphia Gay News

In response to the California Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage, U.S. Rep. Paul Broun (R-Ga.) introduced an amendment to the U.S. Constitution defining marriage as a union between one man and one woman.

Broun, along with 28 co-sponsors, introduced the “Marriage Protection Amendment” May 22 and it was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), one of two openly gay Congressmembers, is a member of that committee.

Pennsylvania Rep. John Peterson (R-Fifth Dist.) is the only local co-sponsor of the resolution. He could not be reached for comment.

The amendment would include the following language in the constitution: “Marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman. Neither this constitution, nor the constitution of any state, shall be construed to require that marriage or the legal incidents thereof be conferred upon any union other than the union of a man and a woman.”

The federal Defense of Marriage Act, which includes similar language, became law in 1996. One of DOMA’s primary authors, Libertarian presidential candidate and former Georgia Congressman Bob Barr, spoke out against the law at the party’s convention May 25, calling it a “mistake.”

“The Defense of Marriage Act, insofar as it provided the federal government a club to club down the rights of law-abiding, American citizens, has been abused, misused and should be repealed. And I will work to repeal that,” Barr said in his nomination acceptance speech.

Brian Miller, national secretary for Outright Libertarians, an LGBT political organization, said Barr’s position on DOMA is a “huge about-face” and that he’s confident that as a presidential candidate, Barr and his party will rally against the Marriage Protection Amendment.

“Barr shocked all of us by calling for the repeal of DOMA,” Miller said. “But the Libertarian Party’s delegates, members and just people on the street are strong supporters of marriage equality and opponents of DOMA and will work to end efforts to amend the federal constitution to discriminate against LGBT people.” ......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.epgn.com/053008/1LibAntiGayMarriage053008%20.htm

[Prophet 451]

1. Hardly a surprise

Sadly, it was inevitible that the Cali decision would bring the bigots out of the woodwork.

[DemoTex]

2. Rep. Paul Broun (R-Ga) is a house-call only physician in northeast Georgia.

He was fined last year by the State of Georgia for practicing medicine without a license. Broun recently lectured un-amused colleagues (wasting their time, as it were) in the U.S. House of Representatives how to correctly recite the "One nation under God .." part of the flag pledge.

He has only been in the House for about a year, winning the seat vacated by the death of Rep. Charlie Norwood in a special election last year. Although he is a right-wing nut-job, I hear that Dr. Broun is in trouble in his district (Athens, Ga. and surrounds) for not being conservative enough. Ergo, he feels it in his best interest to pander to his base.

BTW: US-441 between Athens and Commerce is now officially named the Paul Broun Highway.