Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Human rights Mike Beebe's very bad night
Posted by Max Brantley on Wed, Jun 29, 2011 at 6:46 AM
There was some discussion last night of Gov. Mike Beebe's lamentable remarks before Stonewall Democrats. In fuller reporting, his remarks look even worse.
He personally opposes gay marriage. He personally opposes civil unions. He proclaims it an "appropriate" societal judgment. His judgment (for all of society? Not me, Bro. Beebe) condemns loving couples in hundreds of ways to legal discrimination. This is "appropriate" to Mike Beebe. It is a sad coda days after a historic legislative victory in New York pushed by a governor with both political skill and stature — which Beebe possesses, too — and courage, a quality in which Beebe is clearly deficient.
It is not just discrimination in partnerships that Beebe endorses. He endorses by his lack of concern discrimination in housing. He explicitly endorses continued legal protection for discrimination in employment based on sexual orientation.
It is a wonder in retrospect, against these hardened feelings, that he made the one small gesture for humanity with his meek endorsement of allowing unmarried partners to be foster parents in Arkansas.
Some Stonewall Democrats, happy to have the great man appear before them, were unwilling to criticize. They "respect" him for appearing and sharing his discriminatory thoughts. Would members of the NAACP have accorded Orval Faubus similar "respect" in 1957 had he been willing to appear and candidly share his beliefs in legal discrimination against black people?
Beebe thinks Arkansas won't change. It won't with leadership such as his. It's clear that the increasing witnessing of gay people contributed to the atmosphere that converted resisters in New York. Respect for messengers like Mike Beebe is not an effective witness for change.
RELATED TOPIC: Nate Silver of New York Times crunches numbers on the likelihood of the states to support same-sex or civil union bans. Arkansas is among the six Deep South states most unfriendly to gay unions. But, hey, we're the friendliest toward the prospect of the six.
ALSO: Bible prof reviews what the Bible says about same-sex marriage.
Speaking of...
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Beebe names Bunny Adcock to UCA Board of Trustees
May 16, 2012Gov. Mike Beebe has named Robert "Bunny" Adcock, a Conway banker, to the University of Central Arkanas Board of Trustees. /more/
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Virginia sets back equality
May 16, 2012Despite bipartisan support, the Virginia legislature failed to muster a sufficient majority to confirm a prosecutor nominated to a district judgeship in Richmond. /more/
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Look who's defending marriage
May 11, 2012A slow morning. But Joe Conason on President Obama's reversal on same-sex marriage bears quoting. /more/
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Pride in a president's support for marriage rights
May 10, 2012Jay Barth, Hendrix professor and regular Arkansas Times columnist, wrote last night with a reaction to President Obama's support for same-sex marriage. /more/
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Rise in revenues means state spending increase
May 9, 2012An unexpected rise in state revenue will enable an increase in state spending in the final two months of this fiscal year, which ends June 30, Gov. Mike Beebe has announced. /more/
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Mitt Romney torpedoes a gay adviser
May 3, 2012The more you read about Richard Grenell, the foreign policy adviser forced out of the Mitt Romney campaign because of right-wing Republicans' objection to his employment of a gay man, the more you don't much regret the departure. /more/
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The roots of homophobia
April 29, 2012From op-ed today in New York Times on scientific research into homophobia and the periodic examples of campaigners against gay rights who turn up in same-sex encounters: In this month’s issue of the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, we and our fellow researchers provide empirical evidence that homophobia can result, at least in part, from the suppression of same-sex desire. /more/
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Slowing the rise in health care spending
April 29, 2012Nobody's declaring victory yet, but there are enormous implications in the finding reported today that something may be finally arresting the rise in health care spending. /more/
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Hopeful signs for defeat of N.C. 'marriage' amendment
April 27, 2012A strong campaign in opposition has produced some encouragement that North Carolina voters might defeat an anti-gay marriage constitutional amendment. /more/
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Resolved: Scott Roussel should resign from UCA Board
April 27, 2012The faculty Senate of the University of Central Arkansas yesterday adopted a resolution urging Scott Roussel to resign from the UCA Board of Trustees. /more/
- More »
Comments (126)
Showing 1-50 of 126
What a sorry state of affairs. Never realized that he of all people is nothing more than a than a christian bigot.
According to what he said he's more in align with the following ilk than he is with we normal people:
Fighting the Culture Wars With Hate, Violence and Even Bullets: Meet the Most Extreme of the Radical Christians
From the Army of God to the Hutaree Militia to Gary North and his Christian reconstructionists, radical Christianity is alive and well in the United States.
http://tinyurl.com/4526s6e
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"Beebe thinks Arkansas won't change. It won't with leadership such as his."
It won't, with the LACK of leadership he and almost every other "leader" in this state, in any field whatsoever, exhibit.
It won't, as long as being a leader in almost any field in Arkansas is equated with being male. And heterosexual.
It won't, as long as the leadership of the state in almost any field at all is an old boys' club (with old boys of both genders ruling the roost in these clubs).
It won't, as long as the religious communities that dominate the state's culture and thinking promote, defend, excuse, refuse to talk about discrimination practiced against vulnerable minority groups.
It won't, as long as creative, educated people are driven from the state by its retrograde "leaders" and citizens, and as long as the retrograde ideas and policies that characterize our state and form its image at a national level keep creative, educated people from settling here.
Mike Beebe may not be a George Wallace or Ross Barnett firebrand, but last night demonstrated that he enables and supports much of the opposition to LGBTQ civil rights.
I give Beebe credit for at least addressing the Stonewall Democrats. Still this does not excuse his ignorance of a lack of a anti-discrimination law. This does not excuse his support for opposing Civil Unions and Marriage Equality. This does not excuse his continued support for Amendment 83 of the Arkansas Constitution.
And finally, Beebe is morally wrong in his bully pulpit as Arkansas Governor in giving support to the publishers of the Batesville Daily Guard in printing filthy editorials condemning a person's character in order to justify a lost cause in the Culture Wars.
I attended last night's meeting and walked away stunned and numb from his response to the questions.
I thought he had nothing to lose and everything to gain since he is not up for re-election. Coming out in support of discrimination of people is not what leadership is about. He is a coward and a bigot.
He talked last night about his mother's lack of parenting skills. He said every few months he had a different step-dad or male figure in his life. He talked about one unstable relationship after another and it's detrimental affect on him as a kid. I don't see how he can justify not allowing two loving people who want to share their lives together the opportunity to marry and do so just because they are the same gender. I am baffled.
His tone was unsympathetic to the struggles of the LGBT community. Not only did I not appreciate his words, but I did not appreciate the way in which he delivered them. He was very condescending. IMHO.
Governor Beebe can kiss my ass. Sadly, we have no other electable leadership in line to run for governor.
Joyce Elliott has bigger balls than him.
You will never be able to relate in print the feeling we all had in that room last night. Beebe exposed himself as a homophobic bigot, ignorant of the law and the current events in Batesville, in front of a room of his LGBT supporters. To be told you deserve no equality, no protections under the law by the governor stings enough, but to be told to stand pat and play nice so that some benevolent politician might throw you a few crumbs- but only if you don't stand up for your rights- that is nothing less than a bigoted insult. He showed his ignorance of the law on employment rights, and a total lack of compassion for fro Terence james in the Batesville Guard case. (Of course, he might have been more familiar with this business if the Times would cover it.) He was disrespectful of his audience. I wouldn't count on any more endorsements from Stonewall, Mike.
Mike Beebe is a lame duck anyway. When his term is over in 2014 what would or could he run for? At the end of his term he is 68. The only seat other than Congress he could run for would be Sen. Pryor's seat who is up for re-election in '14, and he won't run against him, despite the fact Pryor is a lightweight, too.
He has the freedom to be his own man. Sadly, he's not.
People, including Governor Beebe, are not educated sufficiently on this subject. They hear the term "same sex marriage" and immediately envision two men or two women standing together in a ceremony in their own church. They don't know what to think, what to believe, or what this all means.
In New York, one of the big concerns of a lot of people was that churches would be open to lawsuits if they refused to allow a same-sex marriage. They included the following language in the law to satisfy those concerns:
". . . NO CLERGYMAN OR MINISTER AS DEFINED IN SECTION TWO OF THE RELIGIOUS CORPORATIONS LAW, OR SOCIETY FOR ETHICAL CULTURE LEADER SHALL BE REQUIRED TO SOLEMNIZE ANY MARRIAGE WHEN ACTING IN HIS OR HER CAPACITY UNDER THIS SUBDIVISION. A REFUSAL BY A CLERGYMAN OR MINISTER AS DEFINED IN SECTION TWO OF THE RELIGIOUS CORPORATIONS LAW, OR SOCIETY FOR ETHICAL CULTURE LEADER TO SOLEMNIZE ANY MARRIAGE UNDER THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL NOT CREATE A CIVIL CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION."
I also believe that one way the media can help people understand the issues here would be to do some reporting on the impact to same-sex couples of not having the same protections, responsibilities, rights, obligations, and benefits of civil marriage that hetero-couples enjoy.
If you are going to throw around charged words such as bigot, why not do actual reporting instead of half-opinionated reporting?
Your reports always read as opinion, rather than fact-based.
The KUAR story reads quite differently than your rant here.
I will continue to hold your feet to the fire to report FACTS presented as FACTS, rather than charged opinions with very LITTLE facts.
How can people pretend this wasn't who Beebe is all along? How can a veal pen organization such as Stonewall feign anger and surprise at something so obvious for so many years? How can the glbt community possibly kid themselves into thinking the AR Dem party would actually represent them? ARe they just mad because he was at long last honest enough that they can no longer play denial games while expecting him to be somebody else?
ANd how could Beebe possibly wear a pink polo to this event with a straight face?
It's amazing that one article can take you from admiration to disgust. Beebe has in one meeting taken himself down to the level of Huckabee and again leaves the State with nothing but embarrassment.
JTSIMS
Speaking of "facts": Where does the word "bigoted" appear?
Please listen to the tape and read the Q&A for direct quotes from the governor stating 1) opposition to same sex marriage 2) opposition to civil union 3) assertion of societal acceptability 4) lack of opposition to discrimination in housing 5) explicit support for the current state of the law on employment discrimination. (I erred in characterizing Matt DeCample's remarks last night though I still find incredible that the governor was not aware that the law allows employment discrimination because people are gay.)
Journalism class dismissed.
Hulk unhappy with mechanics of writing in this blog. Article have bad grammar. Hulk smash!
You can take the boy out of Searcy, but you can't...
The Governor is a coward. Plain and simple. I don't think anyone was asking him to advocate for a state law recognizing same sex partnerships, but for him to hide behind "what voters want" on this issue is just shameful.
We are a Democracy but leadership is about being a leader and showing the less informed that the only thing to fear is fear itself. Mike, you are not running for anything? How hard is it to say "Yes, I personally believe that every human should be afforded the same rights to choose who they want to spend their life with as partners. I do not favor a state law, but I certainly believe any Arkansan should have the right to enter into a civil union. And I believe someday a majority of Arkansans will feel the same way."
done.
BUT no.
He is a joke: "Yeah my mamma married 17 deadbeat men, but thank the Lord two men in a long term monogamous relationship CAN'T enter into a will or have family visitation rights in a hospital, because that would just undermine family values in Arkansas"
He looked like John Boehner last night. Freshly tanned from the golf course, chain smoking until he exits his tahoe, and looking to advocate ignorant mob thinking as good policy in the name of favorable poll numbers...
At least Faubus was a progressive populist on all the other issues.
I guess our used car salesman of a Governor will leave office with record approval ratings... because that has always seemed to be his only guiding principle.
It's interesting to see what the Bible has to say on the subject, Max, and I don't fault you for linking to the prof. But it's also irrelevant to the secular civil law that allows and defines and circumscribes marriage in the several United States. And we've agreed in our Constitution to make no laws respecting an establishment of religion.
Thing is, once you go *there,* no one is going to win a same-gender marriage argument. Not yet. Ask the wrong question and you get the wrong answer.
Better, perhaps, to point out that the secular civil law allows people who think of God as an imaginary ceiling cat to marry. It allows those who believe in God but worship Satan to marry. It allows those who don't know and don't care about God to marry. It allows those who believe in God and curse Him day and night to marry. It allows those who believe in many Gods to marry. So why turn to the Bible to stop anyone from marrying?
Especially when we have a Constitutional guarantee against it.
It's Stonewall who needs a purge and rethink here. Beebe was always a lost cause. The fact Stonewall wasted years without figuring it out... and still invited him (and their members into this fiasco) is all one need to know.
Unless of course pearl-clutching and self loathing is your favorite pastime. WHile the Stonewallers follow the AARP model... "we have to have a seat at the table in order to get screwed properly."
Hey Guv, let's go after the Jews next!
I mean 85% of Arkansans believe that Jesus Christ is their savior. AND Jewish people don't even believe he was the son of God? Are we sure we can allow people like that to be trusted with the right to marry?
Why do people who are not gay get upset over the gay marriage issue? I have no problem with gay people living together, civil unions, being listed as a beneficiary, etc. But call it something else, not marriage. Why don't the AT readers understand that christian's will never stand up for gay marriage? It is against their religion, states it specifically in the bible. That is what they believe.
People always wonder why our country is in the shitter. Well we have too many people worrying about gay marriage (those for/against it). It is a pointless issue.
Time to add to the oxymoronic lexicon. In addition to "Republican Christian," we can now add "Arkansas Democrat."
Damned shame. Beebe is smart, secure, and a lame duck. And yet he still cowers before the bigots. Guess you just can't get the hick out of a hick.
Like apf, I've always wondered why white people would get upset over slavery or Jim Crow laws. I have no problem with black people enjoying some of the same things that white people do, but call it something else , not equality.
(Damn, I can't come up with suitably sarcastic comments related to why we should give a rodent's behind about what those with popular superstitions will stand up for.)
Mike Beebe resides in a neighborhood with one of the highest concentrations of gay people in the state.
Look out your window Mike. Gay and lesbian people’s homes surround you. They’ve invested millions and millions of dollars collectively to buy and restore 19th century homes in the Quapaw Quarter Historical District in which the Governor’s Mansion is located. They’ve made your neighborhood a more pleasant place to reside, and instead you show them a grinding despotism. They’ve fought burglaries, home invasions, muggings, and near foreclosures by banks to help a historical area survive while you sit, safely ensconced, in the Mansion compound.
Walk across the street Mike. Walk up and down Spring Street, down Center or up Louisiana. House after house is owned by your gay neighbors. Their yards LITERALLY back up to yours. I’d wager 40-45% of homes within a 3 block radius of the Mansion are gay/lesbian owned. And I know many of them. And like most gays and lesbians in Arkansas they’re too damned afraid to fly a rainbow flag on their house because they’re afraid of being recognized. The apartment buildings in the neighborhood are also full of gays and lesbians.
The contribution of gay people to this SINGLE Arkansas neighborhood is substantial, and across the state we continue over and over again--to prove we are productive citizens of Arkansas. And over and over again we are denied civil rights.
Beebe sounds as though he's afraid of frightful apparitions of gay zombies attacking the Mansion compound during the dark hours.
How could the governor of a state NOT know that it was legal to fire someone because they are gay? I found out it was legal, because I’ve been fired because I am gay. I believe many employers thought firing gays WAS illegal, but now the cat’s out of the bag. Can we now look for legal mass firings of gay people statewide?
Beebe states that he doesn’t believe in firing someone unless it’s based on merit. Then he should lead a campaign to pass laws protecting gay people from being fired for being gay or lesbian. It’s the least he can do to make up for the damage he’s done by supporting the overhung and overspread vines of anti gay hatred that is the State of Arkansas.
His coarse and grotesque statements are dangerous for Arkansas business. We’ve had European investment in Arkansas of late, and Europe takes care of its gays and lesbians. And so do forward thinking American companies. But his statements will put Arkansas on the bottom of the list when it comes to locating here. Why send their gay workers to Arkansas? These thoughts hurt tourism, and it hurts our chances of being perceived as a forward thinking state. Fewer excellent teachers and college professors and researchers will look at Arkansas as a destination. Why should they come to the “frog pond of Arkinsaw?”
What Beebe has said will encourage and justify the continued Arkansas “brain drain,” where our best and brightest leave the state in droves while enriching the coffers and lives of other states across this nation. Not all of those who leave are gay. Many are straight but cannot live under the tyranny of regressive social policies supported here. And Arkansas people left in the state will continue as the bedraggled wretches we are; living in damned house trailers, swatting mosquitoes, shoveling rice, trapping muskrats, refusing to be educated, eating corn bread and buttermilk, and voting against “the darkie in the Whitehouse.”
At least the anti-child bigot and gay hater Clint McCance knows he has an ally. Me? My faith is in the federal government, and I have no doubt that with leadership like Beebe’s, Arkansas will be forced to accept gay people at the point of the US Government’s bayonet. Faubus ruined the reputation of Arkansas world wide and we’ve suffered financially ever since. Beebe’s ilk will do it again, so we need to stop them.
Panic,
They not only call it something else, it IS something else. A civil union is an agreement under the law not a marriage. Just look at the New York law. Marriage is essentially just a religious ceremony and any religion or church has the right to refuse anyone they don't want to recognize in marriage: straight, gay or just plain stupid.
As for me I would start a church that...
Would bar Widespread Panicfans from marrying or procreating.
sincerely,
WSPsucks
Dear Gov. Bebe.
I do not CARE what the bible says or what you believe. You cannot deny a right to one group of American citizens that another group enjoys. NOR can you allow a group of people (the majority in AR) to vote on giving rights to another group of people (the minority) that the majority enjoy.
BTW people, my traditional marriage (28 years) has not only not ended over the past few years, but is actually better then ever.
Maybe Gov. Beebe can watch this short video from REAL leadership:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GjS2XrD2wc…
Since Gov Beebe's answers last night, I have been thinking about what type of personality one would have to have in order to look any other human being right in the eyes and explain to them how they don't deserve the same legal rights that you enjoy. And if that weren't narcissistic enough, to end your explanation by telling that person that it is he/she who needs to practice tolerance. Gov Beebe and his ilk should have their own diagnostic code.
"Why do people who are not gay get upset over the gay marriage issue?"
Why do people who are not gay get upset over the gay marriage issue and try to keep them from legally marrying?
It is none of their business and their religious beliefs should have NOTHING to do with allowing other American citizens enjoy the same rights that those awesome Christians already enjoy.
"Panic,
They not only call it something else, it IS something else. A civil union is an agreement under the law not a marriage. Just look at the New York law. Marriage is essentially just a religious ceremony and any religion or church has the right to refuse anyone they don't want to recognize in marriage: straight, gay or just plain stupid.
As for me I would start a church that...
Would bar Widespread Panicfans from marrying or procreating.
sincerely,
WSPsucks"
Then why do all the gaylords want to get married? Why do they want to call it marriage? As I stated, I could care less if 400 gay men decided to get married and consumate the marriage in front of the audience streamed over the internet. Let them get their gay on publically for all to see, because we all know that they are gay and proud of it. Blah Blah Blah. "I'm gay, look at me, I want to be someone's wife". I would guess that 80% of the heterosexual population is indifferent to it either way. 10% hate gays, and the other 10% are their crusaders.
The starting a church that barred all panic fans is potentially the dumbest statement I have read all day. Seriously. Is that your best shot?
Do you stay up all night cheering/worrying about civil unions? Is it constantly on your mind? If so, and you aren't batting for the other team, then you are doing life wrong.
I think it is funny has hell. Democrats are so two faced! Now you have it. It's kind of like when Jimmy Lou had her political fundraiser at Scott and Rickey's house a few years ago and then denounced Gay Marriage a few weeks later when she was interviewed on Statewide TV. Democrats will stab you in the back (say one thing then do another). Kind of the same treatment they gave the blacks for years. Wanted their votes, but didn't want them participating in the process. It's called Lip Service (No Pun Intended).
Dustin Lance Black's speech to San Francisco Pride:
It is my great honor to announce that a few weeks ago, inside of Harvey Milk’s old camera shop right down on Castro street, we opened the Harvey Milk Call Center, finally turning the Trevor Project into a fully self sufficient 24-7, nationwide crisis help line for LGBTQ youth.
After all, that was Harvey Milk’s mission, to be there to answer the call from that young person in Altoona, Pennsylvania who had lost hope -- giving hope to the hopeless, and not just here in SF but nationwide.
But that was not Milk’s end goal, and it’s certainly not our common dream today. Our dream today is to one day have no Altoona, Pennsylvanias, no more places in this country where children are told by their government that they are second class or less than. No more places where children are robbed of their self-esteems by their own leaders and communities.
And yes, winning marriage equality in New York was one of our greatest victories, and we must celebrate that victory and all of the men and women who have fought so hard to create that watershed moment, because it paves the way to our end goal, to our larger dream, a dream of full equality in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states across this great nation.
And yes, I prefer President Obama to the alternative. That is true. But I cannot and we should not hide our disappointment with his response to our historic victory in New York. In his response he wrongly claimed that marriage equality should be left up to individual states to decide.
President Obama, with all due respect, you know the proud history of civil rights in this nation and you understand that the ultimate responsibility of protecting our minorities falls on the federal government, on our courts and on your desk, Mr. President -- not on each individual state’s legislature or ballot box.
Mr. President, consider the LGBTQ children living in Mississippi, Arkansas and in my home state of Texas. Are their lives less worthy of protection than those in New York, Massachusetts and Iowa?
If the civil rights of this country’s minorities are left to the states, then this will become a checkerboard nation where some areas are free and some areas are not free. Where children in some states are told to lift their heads high and others are told they are second class citizens, less than, and that their love and their future families are not worthy of this nation’s protection and admiration.
A state-by-state solution sends a government sanctioned message to the bigots and bullies that in some states in this nation it is okay to treat LGBT people as unequal -- as less than human.
Mr. President. This is a civil rights issue, a minority rights issue, a federal issue. How many more lives must we see taken, how many more bullies must be emboldened before you complete what you’ve called your “evolution” toward equality, and protect all of your citizens, old and young, black and brown and white, gay and straight?
No more, Mr. President. You must speak up for all of us, and speak up now.
And right here in California. What can we do?
The truth is, we are mere breaths away from marriage equality right here in California. We won in Federal court. Federal judge Vaughn Walker declared unequivocally that proposition 8 is in fact unconstitutional. That the 14th amendment indeed applies to all people. Every single one of you here today. Gay or straight.
Yet we wait. Because the CA Supreme court has yet to answer the one technical question asked by the 9th circuit Federal Court of appeals, so that we may finally put an end to the prejudice and hate that has plagued this city and this state for generations.
So please, enjoy this day of Pride, but follow in the great tradition of San Francisco and demand our President take responsibility for all his citizens – nationwide -- and demand that the CA Supreme Court do their duty now. Not after more lives are lost, more bullies are emboldened and more self-esteems are robbed. So that we may join with NY State in this country’s greatest tradition -- the tradition of spreading freedom and equality to all… and that we may make those calls from Altoona, Pennsylvania a thing of the past.
I believe in you San Francisco. And I leave this vital work to your strong voices and in your mighty hands.
I cannot say, for certain whether Beebe is letting his sheets fly, or if he is just an ignorant boob. On some things I am inclined to believe that Beebe is on the ball. Calling him a bigot is strong, I think.
For the sound of bigotry, we have the chiming of panic fan.
Beebe may be one of those folks who think that gay is a choice. They do not know the biology, have not read the papers, have not looked outside their narrow purview to see what is outside. Others are just uncomfortable with accepting folks for who they are. Marriage is not just an article of religion, it is also an article of the secular, those that are not religious get married. Does panic fan also believe that those of us that are not religious cannot get married?
I am not gay, but I am angered about the wholesale stupidity of why there cannot be allowed the fact of people getting married to share their love, to share their life, to share their responsibilities and to share their properties. When you say there should be no such thing as gay marriage, your saying that because someone was born gay, as God intended through the miracle of science and biology, they have no right to share these things. You are saying that these people who are biologically wired to be gay the way biology wires blacks and Mexicans and such, do not have equal rights, that they are second class citizens, or that they are not citizens at all.
I have run into folks that deny their bigotry, but they wear it proudly. They say being gay is sinful, and that being gay can be cured. They wish to deny these folks their rights as human beings on religious grounds. Of all the stances to take, that is the most blatantly unconstitutional ground to take. But the Christian Taliban want to enforce their religious perversions on the rest of us. They fear that recognizing that even those without religion can love in such a committed fashion that they will eschew all others to cleave their fortunes together, it will diminish their notions of love.
Fear and ignorance give us our bigotry. Beebe illustrates ignorance, and panic fan illustrates fear.
Liberals are never happy
Watch them squeal when the silver spoon gets yanked out of their mouth and stuffed up their.......
"For the sound of bigotry, we have the chiming of panic fan"
You may need to recheck the definition of a bigot.
A bigot is a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices, especially one exhibiting intolerance, and animosity toward those of differing beliefs. The predominant usage in modern English refers to persons hostile to those of differing race, ethnicity, religion or spirituality, nationality, inter-regional prejudice, gender and sexual orientation, homelessness, various medical disorders particularly behavioral disorders and addictive disorders. Forms of bigotry may have a related ideology or world views.
Now based on my quotes, where do I say anything that represents bigotry? Typical response from leftwingers. "Bigot, hater, racist". Whatever. Is being indifferent or not caring a form of bigotry? Based on the definition, no.
After all this, I like Governor Beebe even more than i did before!
It is nice to see a man stand up for what he believes in instead of trying to please EVERYONE with words. Good job Governor-Keep up the good work!!!!
"Why do they want to call it marriage?"
Why do you care?
And they call it marriage because IT IS A MARRIAGE and unless the Federal Gov (and all states) recognizes civil unions as having the same legal weight as marriage then why would gay Americans want to settle for second best?
Personally I could care less if my union with my husband is called a marriage or a civil union, but to some folks it really seems to matter and as long as some Americans are allowed to get married to the another adult American while others are not then we really don't, as a country, accept that we are all created equal and should have the same rights.
It's a pity that a state with such a beautiful landscape has such ugly politicians. I moved here 13 years ago, and love every part of the state, except its politics. I earn a nice living, I live in a safe neighborhood, close to everything I need, my daughter attends a fantastic school, and we are just a short drive away from the most beautiful lakes and rivers this country has to offer. But sadly, I have to contemplate moving out of state because Arkansas just can't seem to get its legislature and its government on pace with the rest of the country. In another state, my wife and I could be legally married. My wife could be on my insurance policy. I wouldn't have to worry that my wife would be relegated to the waiting room if I were in an accident. If the federal government got on board too, I might be able to enjoy dependent benefits because my wife is also a veteran, a combat medic. And in another state, if I were to die, my wife would be listed in my obituary, in her rightful place as my surviving spouse. All these things are out of my reach but each of them affects us on a daily basis. This is all just principle for them but its life for us. I can understand and appreciate that some religions may not condone my relationship but the thing is, I don't pay my taxes to a church. I pay them to the United States Government and to the State of Arkansas. And my relationship deserves the same amount of recognition and acknowledgement as any other tax payer. Maybe Beebe would like to offer us a tax exemption since we don't count as real Arkansans anyway.
It also always amazes me that the conservative/tea party types who will yell about liberty and freedom and rights have a problem with all Americans having the same liberty and rights as they do.
I hardly think this is a liberal/conservative thing. Always seemed more American where civil rights are concerned.
I think the furor over the lamentable Mr. McCance indicates that not so many people are ignorant troglodytes.
"Marriage" is the problem word, the way I see it. And I'm not talking only about "gay marriage". "*Regular* marriage" is just as problematic. Here's how it should be for EVERY COUPLE (and I've said this before here). Go to the courthouse and file your papers. Done. Once the paperwork is processed, there would be a legal basis to support issues like income tax status, hospital visitations, estate settlements, etc.
THEN, if the couple wants to have a ceremony, they can hold it at their church, synagogue, temple, Elks' lodge, Klan hall, MacDonald's drive-thru, or what have you.
In other words, "marriage" in the legal sense would be replaced by Civil Unions for all. Keep f***ing religion out of it. Religion should be completely absent from this legal process, ESPECIALLY since the federal government gives churches a pass on taxes.
Oh, and don't blame me; I voted for Jim Lendall.
Hey billofrights-You better enjoy your time on earth because no matter who you pay "taxes" to, your not going to buy your way into heaven.
Just as you made a decision to take a spouse who is not your daughter's mother, I would suggest you make another choice of leaving Arkansas and find a state u might be more welcome in. Governor Beebe is an outstanding Governor of an outstanding state.
Why not try to take you dislike for him and our state and move and try to find happiness somewhere else. Maybe Frisco!?!?!? We won't miss you.
Well, panic fan, your minor bigotry is nothing compared to our guest from the local Christian Taliban, LLW.
Panic fan, your words, "Then why do all the gaylords want to get married? Why do they want to call it marriage?" First, the epithet you so casually use has the same edge of intolerance that the N word does for blacks. That you cannot see your bias is more a statement of a careless intellect. It is common enough. Kind of like the folks that curse constantly, yet say they don't curse much. They don't realize they are vulgar, but they are. Second, why not call it marriage? As I said, is it only a term that can be used by the rightiously self-rightous? I am not church affiliated, nor particularly dogmatic. Can I not get 'married'? If I can, then folks like STJ can get married, and enjoy a long life of love and compassion, which is our gift to God. We do not gift God with judgemental pronouncements, like LLW, who speaks to knowing God's mind. Perhaps LLW will be in for a surprise when faced with judgement.
Mom had a saying, LLW might take to heart, "make your words sweet, for one day you may have to eat them."
I hardly think gaylord is even close to being on the same level as the "N" word. Let's not get too sensitive here, we get enough of that with 90% of the AT posters and the media these days.
"As I said, is it only a term that can be used by the rightiously self-rightous? I am not church affiliated, nor particularly dogmatic. Can I not get 'married'? If I can, then folks like STJ can get married, and enjoy a long life of love and compassion, which is our gift to God."
Contradictory statement. The religions I suspect you are referring to condemn homosexuality. So I doubt that would be a gift to God.
In honor of Maher.. I propose a new rule:
f you have to argue about/ make excuses for the level of your bigotry... you lose.
In honor of the dictionary...
F you if you don't know what the term means...you are uneducated.
OK, look - what can you expect?
1. He's from Searcy, capital of Suthren bigotry.
2. Arkansas "education" is all about conformity.
3. The most popular person in AR is probably Jerry Cocks.
4. Intentional ignorance is the state's "badge of honor," and you can hear it any Sunday in 90% of the "Christian" churches in AR.
5. There's a black guy in the WHITE House.
Case closed, carry on!
Thanks government_cheese for the reference.
Maybe Gov. Beebe can watch this short video from REAL leadership:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GjS2XrD2wc…
@Spunkrat: "His coarse and grotesque statements are dangerous for Arkansas business."
That's my point above, about how the overt, unbridled bigotry drives educated, creative, productive people away from our state. Several convincing, highly regarded studies show that neither businesses nor creative and educated people want to relocate to an area where open, unbridled bigotry is on full display all around.
And as if to prove my point, Loveliberalwhiners, who hasn't chosen to educate himself enough to know the difference between "your" and "you're," logs in to try to taunt an educated and productive person to leave his state, for maintaining that she'd like the same rights other citizens enjoy to be applied to her.
Sad. Self-defeating. And not going to change anytime soon, until people 1) start valuing education, 2) stop letting ignorant and ill-considered religious ideas rule their thinking, 3) and insist that the old boys' networks that control everything in this state finally become inclusive and start thinking about Arkansas and its future.
Not themselves and their power and control.
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