Family Council dismisses anti-amendment Republicans as ‘social liberals’
Tuesday, October 11, 2011 at 8:23 am
- 7 Comments
The Minnesota Family Council, the main voice behind a ballot initiative that if approved by the voters in 2012 would add a ban on same-sex marriage to the state constitution, said Friday that Republicans who oppose the amendment are liberals.
On Thursday, a slate of Republican lawmakers and activists came out against the amendment at a press conference. Reps. John Kriesel (R-Cottage Grove) and Rep. Tim Kelly (R-Red Wing), former gubernatorial candidate Wheelock Whitney, members of Log Cabin Republicans and former deputy mayor under Norm Coleman, Susan Kimberly, took a stance against the amendment.
The Minnesota Family Council dismissed the event as not newsworthy.
“The press conference by some socially liberal Republicans who came out against the marriage amendment is really no news. Representatives’ Kriesel and Kelly have made known their opposition this past session. And Wheelock Whitney is know for his pro-gay positions. And Susan Kimberly had a sex change so Susan’s opposition comes as no surprise as well,” wrote Tom Prichard, president of the Family Council.
Prichard took issue with a quote in the Star Tribune from Kelly, who called opposition to the amendment a conservative value.
“From my standpoint, as Republicans we espouse a lot of less government, less government, less government,” said Kelly.
“Nothing could be further from the truth,” wrote Prichard. “Redefining marriage will only usher in a greater expansion of government to address the needs of greater family and marriage dissolution resulting from the devaluing and watering down of marriage. And government will grow as it seeks to impose upon society, an unnatural understanding of marriage on the rest of an unwilling society. This isn’t about allowing a miniscule number of gay couples to get married but the rather redefinition of marriage for all society.”
Prichard added, “Representative Kelly is certainly free to hold whatever position he wants on the marriage protection amendment. But he needs to know that redefining marriage is anything but conservative.”
Same-sex marriage is currently illegal under Minnesota’s Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). If the amendment fails, same-sex marriage would still remain illegal unless legislators move to repeal DOMA and pass a bill legalizing marriage rights for same-sex couples as has been done in four states and the District of Columbia.
Follow Andy Birkey on Twitter7 Comments
Comment posted October 11, 2011 @ 9:49 am
Prichard: “And government will grow as it seeks to impose upon society, an unnatural understanding of marriage on the rest of an unwilling society.”
Roe v. Wade, anyone?
Comment posted October 11, 2011 @ 10:47 am
Prichard: “Redefining marriage will only usher in a greater expansion of government to address the needs of greater family and marriage dissolution resulting from the devaluing and watering down of marriage.”
Prichard is not one known for his commitment to evidence or reason, and this is a showcase example.
Presumably he can cite evidence backing up his claim that same sex marriage will lead to greater heterosexual divorce. Where is it, Prichard?
He makes the bizarre claim that more people getting married (same sex couples) will somehow devalue the institution of marriage. Let’s get this straight: we’re to believe that people who VALUE marriage, people who WANT to get married, but who happen to be gay or lesbian, will somehow devalue marriage? How does that work exactly?
Comment posted October 11, 2011 @ 5:26 pm
Eric: He has none. Since marriage equality was legalized in Iowa, divorce levels fell to the lowest rate since 1973. In Massachusetts, they fell to the lowest rate since WWII!
Comment posted October 11, 2011 @ 5:29 pm
“And to anyone who has reservations, I say: Yes, it’s about equality, but it’s also about something else: commitment. Conservatives believe in the ties that bind us; that society is stronger when we make vows to each other and support each other. So I don’t support gay marriage despite being a Conservative. I support gay marriage because I’m a Conservative.” – Conservative and British Prime Minister David Cameron
Comment posted October 11, 2011 @ 8:48 pm
Tom Prichard is a Republican hack. Getting the marriage discrimination act on the ballot in 2012 is all about getting voters to the polls to vote for republicans. That’s all there is to it. Prichard doesn’t give two hoots about marriage or marriage disintegration or about families. All he cares about is advancing and maintaining republican political power – and skimming enough off the top of the money he raises to pay himself a fat salary. He’s a parasite on GLBT people and has been for decades.
Comment posted October 12, 2011 @ 7:36 am
Hmmm..u mean, “Social Liberals…now means, anyone who beleives that when the Constitution says, ALL men are created equal”?? Then I guess Im a Social Liberal…….
well I never heard it, nor actually saw it til yesterday..but gay/lesbian americans ONLY have 12% of the RIGHTS heteros HAVE and TAKE for GRANTED…while paying 100% SAME TAXES…...this country sickens me…with its blatant LIE of Liberty & Justice for All……yea, right…..….pretty EMPTY words is more like it. …pathetic really!
Comment posted October 12, 2011 @ 9:48 am
The word “liberal”, is a buzzword, it sounds smart, but is an empty word.
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