Chaffetz: Gay Marriage Rights In DC Are ‘Not Something I Can Let Go Softly Into The Night’
Chaffetz: Gay Marriage Rights In DC Are ‘Not Something I Can Let Go Softly Into The Night’
Yesterday, the DC Council overwhelmingly approved a bill recognizing same-sex marriages performed in other states, by a vote of 12 to 1. It is the latest victory for LGBT rights, coming just days after the state legislatures in New Hampshire and Maine approved gay marriage, after Vermont became the fourth state to make gay marriage legal last month.
Marriage equality in the nation’s capitol, however, is too much for freshman Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT), who is refusing to let the issue “go softly into the night“:
“Some things are worth fighting for, and this is one of them,” said Rep. Jason Chaffetz (Utah), the ranking Republican on a House Oversight and Government Reform subcommittee that oversees the District. “It’s not something I can let go softly into the night. … I recognize the Democrats are in the majority, but I represent the majority of Americans on this issue.”
The City Desk noted Chaffetz’s Twitter explanation for why he would use Congress to intervene: “Why am I involved? Congress is set up to oversee the affairs of D.C. I am one of the Members of the relevant committee.”
Chaffetz’s disrespect for the District’s citizens by no means a new development. Opposing a bill to give DC residents a voting member in the House, Chaffetz insisted “the best” proposal was simply to give the city to Maryland:
The best alternative is retrocession of residential areas of D.C. back to Maryland, as was done with Arlington, Va. Under this option, D.C. residents would receive not only a vote in the House and two in the Senate, but a state legislature, a governor and many other benefits.
In March, Chaffetz railed, “Keep government limited, keep it out of our way, and empower the American people.” Apparently, he meant to add, “so long as they’re not gay.”
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Chaffetz: Gay Marriage Rights In DC Are ‘Not Something I Can Let Go Softly Into The Night’
– - Pffft, Colbert kicked your butt in leg wrestling, you doughy wimp.
May 6th, 2009 at 7:04 pmRep. John Chaffetz (R-UT), who is refusing to let the issue “go softly into the night”
hey johnny, would gay marriage be more palatible to you if they wanted to include polygamy amongst gays as part of the package?
just curious
May 6th, 2009 at 7:06 pmChaffetz: Gay Marriage Rights In DC Are ‘Not Something I Can Let Go Softly Into The Night’
– - I’d bet Chaffetz has no clue who Dylan Thomas is, mangled quote and all.
May 6th, 2009 at 7:15 pmThe man is a complete idiot — why stand in the path of a freight train?
May 6th, 2009 at 7:17 pm*
Bozo, Mormons don’t practice polygamy…so your comment was a bit nonsensical.
May 6th, 2009 at 7:18 pmFunny thing is that with more and more States now recognizing gay marriages, with more that will come into the fold very soon, I can’t help but believe Chaffetz is just another rightwinger who will lose his seat in the near future. His as all rightwingers time is becoming EXTINCT.
May 6th, 2009 at 7:19 pmChaffetz says …”but I represent the majority of Americans on this issue.”
May 6th, 2009 at 7:20 pm========
Chaffetz, you don’t represent the majority of people on this issue you moron. Another out-of-date racist GOP.
Chaffetz is in the one state where rightwingers are the most safe…doubt he’ll lose it any time soon…well, he may lose it to another Republican, but you get the point.
May 6th, 2009 at 7:21 pmclowns like Chaffetz (R-UT) scream and cry over the right of states to decide such matters and the role of the federal government should be minimal…until states decide upon something they don’t agree with then they want the fed to step in.
mormons don’t practice polygamy? apparently, no one clued in this sect:
May 6th, 2009 at 7:24 pmhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7331909.stm
Funny how those Utah people think about marriage after their history.
Let it go and stay out of our bedrooms, jerk.
May 6th, 2009 at 7:28 pmSo this clown wants to fall on his sword over gay marriage in D.C.
I say, be my guest.
May 6th, 2009 at 7:28 pmBozo- If you’re talking about actual, mainstream ‘Mormons’, then NO, they do not practice polygamy…haven’t for more than 100 years. And since Chaffetz identifies with that group, your comment was, as stated, nonsensical. The link you provided is to an article discussing a fringe sect that claim to follow Mormom teachings. They do not, and are not in any way affiliated with the actual Mormon Church (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, based in Utah)
May 6th, 2009 at 7:29 pmOh, and ALL you Mormons, too.
May 6th, 2009 at 7:30 pmTigger- way to generalise. Not all Mormons oppose gay marriage…
May 6th, 2009 at 7:31 pmThere is a very large (one or two such) sect that DOES practice polygamy. Good book – “Under the Banner of Heaven”
May 6th, 2009 at 7:35 pm*
Trittydi- Yes, there are groups that practice polygamy. Again, they are not affiliated with the ACTUAL Mormon church. Is it really that hard to understand?
May 6th, 2009 at 7:37 pmMormonism is hard to understand… Why would someone select this faith?
May 6th, 2009 at 7:38 pmHey Proud
Your words would carry some legitimacy if you were as quick to stick up for the right of gays to NOT subsidize the lifestyle choices of those tax-exempt churches which keep those gay citizens at second class levels.
Why should gays pay first-class taxes but get treated as second-class citizens?
So let’s put the tax exemptions of those same religions supporting prop 8 up to a popular vote as well, can’t think you’d agree with nonbelievers taxes funding the tax exemptions of churches they don’t belong to.
Better yet, let’s see you lead the charge to exempt gays from paying their full share of taxes, seeing as how they’re not getting their full share of rights.
Of course, that won’t happen, as you have an obvious aversion to consistency, both ethical and logical.
May 6th, 2009 at 7:55 pmClipped, scrubbed, and perfumed, but scum nevertheless.
May 6th, 2009 at 8:02 pmThe Mormons will change their beliefs when it becomes politically expedient or they think it will make money. Their “ancient’ religion dropped polygamy only because Utah wanted to become a state. They changed their doctrine in the 70s when they decided that non-whites had finally become human. They will change on gay marriage too.
May 6th, 2009 at 8:09 pmHAHAHAHA
I think TP means JASON Chaffetz, the freshman rep from Utah. John Chaffetz is the author of “Gay Reality,” a book focused on the fight for gay rights and acceptance, making the error very funny in its super-sweet irony. I hope someone links Jason to this post.
May 6th, 2009 at 8:11 pmI’ve always maintained that people who focus so intently against homosexuality, gay marriage and such sexual themes are pretty much repressing their own desires and wants. Essentially they are self-loathing because they’ve grown up in a culture meant to despise such things. In other words, they’re gay themselves but won’t fess up.
May 6th, 2009 at 8:16 pmAs someone whose family barely escaped from Nazi Germany in 1939 (3 days before World War II broke out), and who also happens to be a gay man, I’m starting to research my emigration options. This country is targeting gays the same way Jews were targeted in 1930s Germany, and I have better things to do than sit around and let it happen to me.
May 6th, 2009 at 8:18 pmI read somewhere and I’m trying to find the article that Utah has the highest percentage of people who view and purchase internet porn out of all the conservative states.
Talk about a closeted repressed state.
May 6th, 2009 at 8:26 pmI recognize the Democrats are in the majority, but I represent the majority of Americans on this issue.
Actually Chaffetz, you don’t represent the majority of Americans. Most recent polls are showing that a majority of Americans support same sex marriage and an even larger majority support civil unions.
May 6th, 2009 at 8:29 pmIsn’t it interesting that the pious Mr Chaffetz is so deeply offended by gay marriage, but so supportive of the torture and murders advocated, planned and ordered by his fellow Mormons Rumsfeld, Mitchell, Jessen, Bybee and Flanigan?
May 6th, 2009 at 8:29 pmgrick Says:
Bozo, Mormons don’t practice polygamy…so your comment was a bit nonsensical.
Actually, you are the bozo. Many Mormons still practice polygamy. The church simply turns a blind eye to it.
http://www.absalom.com/mormon/polygamy/faq.htm
May 6th, 2009 at 8:32 pmgrick Says:
Bozo- If you’re talking about actual, mainstream ‘Mormons’, then NO, they do not practice polygamy…haven’t for more than 100 years.
http://www.absalom.com/mormon/apostasy/polygamy.html
May 6th, 2009 at 8:35 pmdbadass Says:
Mormonism is hard to understand… Why would someone select this faith?
I’m thinking that not many actually choose it as their faith these days. They are simply raised Mormon and don’t know anything different.
May 6th, 2009 at 8:37 pmLike most Mormons and Repubs when night falls the y may start the night hardly but I have heard in a couple of minutes they go very softly.
May 6th, 2009 at 8:45 pmAt least the queers can’t reproduce to create more queers. America seems to become more gay by the day. Pretty soon we will start to look a lot like France.
May 6th, 2009 at 8:46 pmBilbo—
My guess is that grick is a mormon. They tend to bristle when confronted with the shame of their past (and present).
May 6th, 2009 at 8:46 pmBilbo- Nope, sorry, you are wrong. If an ACTUAL Mormon is found to be engaging in polygamy, they are excommunicated (removed) from the Church. Polygamy is not tolerated. As mentioned, there are groups that still practice polygamy…these groups are in no way affiliated with the actual, mainstream LDS church, of which Chaffetz is a part. So, as I stated earlier, making a comment about Chaffetz being more willing to support something if it included polygamy was nonsensical. I’m sorry some people have such a hard time accepting facts. And really, I’m a ‘bozo’? Real mature.
May 6th, 2009 at 8:48 pmBob- You guessed correctly. I am a Mormon. I didn’t think I was ‘bristling’, just trying to set the facts straight. I haven’t meant to sound like I was defending Chaffetz or his position (which I disagree with, I might add). Just trying to dispel misconceptions.
May 6th, 2009 at 8:49 pmDon’t Be A Jackass Says:
At least the queers can’t reproduce to create more queers. America seems to become more gay by the day. Pretty soon we will start to look a lot like France.
Methinks the lady etc., etc. A little light in the loafers yourself?
May 6th, 2009 at 8:49 pmMy gaydar goes off loudly when I see this guy.
May 6th, 2009 at 8:49 pmI’ll meet you at the Canadian border. I hear Toronto is lovely this time of year.
May 6th, 2009 at 8:50 pmFrance????
May 6th, 2009 at 8:51 pmI thought France was once of the more heterosexual places, myself…
Grick: Those who practice polygamy claim to be following the true original faith of Mormonism. To them, mainstream Mormons have lost their way by abandoning polygamy. Like it or not, it’s a Mormon practice and will always be associated with the church.
Plus, you provided no evidence to refute Bilbo’s link. Got any?
May 6th, 2009 at 8:53 pmSersi says:
Believe it or not, I’m actually thinking of moving to Germany. We have family property in Berlin — it was “given” back to us in 1945 (some Nazi bigwig had installed his family there in September 1939) — and one of the apartments will become available either late this year or early in 2010. Ich spreche Deutsch, and I already know people there, so life in Berlin could be very good. The mayor of Berlin is gay and both the city and the country are much more enlightened and progressive than the U.S. which, sadly, has become a less desirable place to live.
May 6th, 2009 at 9:03 pmBob- I know it will always be associated with the church, as it is part of its past. But that’s just it, as far as the mainstream church is concerned, it is the PAST. So, as I said earlier, the comment about Chaffetz and polygamy was nonsensical, since he doesn’t belong to a fringe ‘mormon’ group but rather the actual, mainstream church. I see nothing to refute. The link merely takes you to a site that tries to claim that most Mormons are still polygamous, which is blatantly false. Well, I’ll give you this, there are more Mormon splinter groups that practice polygamy than there are groups that don’t. But you have to look at numbers. The polygamous groups are a tiny minority compared to the ACTUAL Mormon church (the one that does NOT practice polygamy. Some of what the site says is true, polygamy was practised in the 19th century, the LDS church did do away with it so as to abide by the law (we also believe in obeying, honouring and sustaining the laws of the land in which we live) and yes, the LDS Church does now discourage the use of the term ‘Mormon’ (although not for the reasons the link claims, rather as an attempt to focus on the fact that we are Christian).
May 6th, 2009 at 9:05 pmUPDATE: ALL GAYS ARE BORN TO HETEROSEXUALS!
May 6th, 2009 at 9:08 pmAnyway, I don’t care if you agree with my religion, or think I’m crazy for my beliefs…they are, after all, my private beliefs. What is unfortunate is that many (well, lets be honest..almost all)on the religious right (including Mormons) try to force their belief systems onto others. This is inappropriate.
May 6th, 2009 at 9:12 pmI really don’t care what faith or religion you practice/believe in, it is a personal decision. Just keep it out of the government and my face. I don’t care who or how many you have sex with, as long as it’s consentual and no kids or lifestock are involved. I say full steam ahead for gay folks to have the same rights as everyone else.. especially marriage.. they have the same right to be as miserable as the rest of the married folk, (between 50-60% of marriages end in divorce) ;)
May 6th, 2009 at 9:14 pmLunaluz, I agree completely.
May 6th, 2009 at 9:16 pmI strongly believe that ANYONE who has been divorced — even one time — automatically forfeits any credibility on the issue of marriage, whether heterosexual or same-sex. When Marion Barry, former Mayor of Washington DC and a THREE-TIME DIVORCEE claims that gay marriage could lead to a “civil war” in the District of Columbia, you know that this country is seriously f***ed.
May 6th, 2009 at 9:19 pmJ.Fred
May 6th, 2009 at 9:32 pmMarriage isn’t for everyone but I tried. I also have nothing but respect for those folks who marry and stay married, it is a tough gig,lots of work needed.
said Rep. Jason Chaffetz (Utah), the ranking Republican on a House Oversight and Government Reform subcommittee that oversees the District. “It’s not something I can let go softly into the night.
Fine, let him rage, rage against thedying of the light,
May 6th, 2009 at 9:33 pmthen die.
This really deserves repeating…
coment #37
“SKdeAnt Says:
My gaydar goes off loudly when I see this guy.”
Doesn’t it though? Is he a Mormon from utah? Isn’t that also where they have that prescription drug problem, Happy Valley they call it.
May 6th, 2009 at 9:35 pmLunaluz Says:
J.Fred
Marriage isn’t for everyone but I tried. I also have nothing but respect for those folks who marry and stay married, it is a tough gig,lots of work needed.
Actually, marriage to the right person isn’t that tough. I’m married to a wonderful woman, have been for 13 years (with 4 years of mortal sin before that). It’s not that hard. We listen to each other, we apologize when we’re asses, and we try to make each other happy because making each other happy makes us happy. Chaffetz doesn’t want other people to be happy because he’s not happy.
May 6th, 2009 at 9:37 pmChaffetz’s disrespect for the District’s citizens by no means a new development. Opposing a bill to give DC residents a voting member in the House, Chaffetz insisted “the best” proposal was simply to give the city to Maryland:
The best alternative is retrocession of residential areas of D.C. back to Maryland, as was done with Arlington, Va. Under this option, D.C. residents would receive not only a vote in the House and two in the Senate, but a state legislature, a governor and many other benefits.
A little puzzled, here. Why is retrocession “disrespectful” to the citizens of Washington? It seems pretty sensible. The district hasn’t got a viable tax base and being part of Maryland would oblige the DC suburbs to contribute to the city where a lot of them work.
Give the city to the state of Maryland along with an additional congressional district and electoral vote. The residents get a congressman and a couple of senators to vote for and a gang of white congressmen no longer get to play plantation master to a lot of black citizens. Win-win-win all around.
May 6th, 2009 at 9:39 pmThis is just another steamy pant load with (R)associated with his name. Gay marriage is no comparison to the crimes of the GOP with their torture and destruction of the world economy with their deregulation.
May 6th, 2009 at 10:47 pm______
KayInMaine Says:
UPDATE: ALL GAYS ARE BORN TO HETEROSEXUALS!
May 6th, 2009 at 9:08 pm
______
Yeah, because gay people never have gay children. ;)
May 6th, 2009 at 11:18 pmBobwurst..
May 6th, 2009 at 11:48 pmGood for you! All I’m saying is Marriage was not for me, in spite of all those cultural pressures.. When I was growing up, the 60’s and 70’s the pressure to marry was always there even if it was unsaid. Staying single was not an option told to girls and ladies. If getting married was not in your plans then there was something kind of, off, about you. So I married, had kids and found the marriage thing didn’t work for me. I raised my kids and was the wife and mother. When my kids got a little older, we divorced. I started educating my kids at an early age that marriage is not something they have to do, they have a choice. That was more than I was ever given. Am I anti-marriage? NO. It just wasn’t right for me.I believe when you decide to have children you should have a committed partner for the children. My ex is a great dad and when it comes to our kids we work together.I wish him the best. It makes me glad to see people are happily married. :)
Hey Grick,
May 6th, 2009 at 11:54 pmI respect your beliefs. How do you reconcile your tolerance for gays with your religious beliefs? Aren’t gays condemned to hell under Mormonism?
Just curious—-
BHL
“I represent the majority of Americans on this issue.”
No, sir, you represent your district in Utah. And that’s it.
May 6th, 2009 at 11:55 pmDoes it occur to the distinguished gentleman from Utah that one can only “go soft” after one has first been fully hard?
May 7th, 2009 at 1:01 amPeople this obsessed with gays must be kept out of government.
May 7th, 2009 at 5:23 amThese idiots, my partner and I had our 9yr anniversary on Apr 30th. How would making it legally recognized by the government, (that we pay taxes to by the way) have any affect on anyone else?
May 7th, 2009 at 6:15 amJust another result of being afflicted with the mental disorder that is religion.
May 7th, 2009 at 7:42 amRantingTommy Says:
Just another result of being afflicted with the mental disorder that is religion.
Just another rant from someone afflicted with the mental disorder that is bigotry.
May 7th, 2009 at 8:20 am“In March, Chaffetz railed, “Keep government limited, keep it out of our way, and empower the American people.” Apparently, he meant to add, “so long as they’re not gay”.
May 7th, 2009 at 8:58 amJUst another day at the office for your average every day HYPOCRITE from the REICH.
It’s so nice to see bigots stand up for hatred and inequality. Go fight the good fight Chaffetz. But please, wear your cloak and hood in Congress so we’re sure where you stand.
May 7th, 2009 at 9:37 am“…I recognize the Democrats are in the majority, but I represent the majority of Americans on this issue.”
I find it interesting that this is coming from the same group of people who accused Obama of being “presumptuous” (sp?)…
I agree with Fletc3her, if they would just dress up in fancy outfits or even Klan robes, it would save the American people alot of confusion on where one stands on a particular issue.
They want us to stay out of their wallets, but they wont stay out of our bedrooms…hypocrisy…
May 7th, 2009 at 9:43 amPLCMR
When you show us a reason to ban homosexuals from getting married that isn’t religiously-based, then you have a point. Until then, you are denying reality – that bigotry and hatred comes from religion. It’s not supposed to, but it does.
May 7th, 2009 at 9:47 amProud
Wrong. Civil rights should NEVER be decided by the people. EVER. In this country, the minority has legal protection from the persecution of the majority. Black civil rights, women’s suffrage, the end of slavery – none of these acts were done with a vote, they were “forced” on the people, because the people have NO RIGHT to grant or deny rights to others. PERIOD.
If you don’t like it, move to a country that doesn’t protect the basic human rights of everyone. Most of those countries are Islamic, so be prepared to convert or die. Oh yeah, and if you go, you can’t come back.
May 7th, 2009 at 9:49 amsmidget, I am an extremely strong advocate for gay rights and I am a Christian. I am offended that many of my fellow Christians oppress gay people. I am also offended when my fellow progressives label faith itself as “mental illness” or otherwise unacceptable. It is bigotry in both cases. That’s the reality.
May 7th, 2009 at 10:54 amThere are still people who think Hitler was right, too.
May 7th, 2009 at 12:11 pmPLC – Here here! We need tolerance all around. Judge people INDIVIDUALLY.
May 7th, 2009 at 12:16 pmseslichat
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