Daily Archives: January 9, 2010
republican federalists
Social conservatives say they support local control — that is, until local municipalities enact laws that contradict their literal interpretation of the Bible. Witness the 38 GOP lawmakers, including Georgia’s Phil Gingrey, who’ve attached their names to an amicus brief filed in support of a lawsuit calling for a voter referendum on legalizing same-sex marriage in the District of Columbia.
There is a loophole, but don’t let that obscure their true motivation.
“Under the United States Constitution, they serve as members of the ultimate legislative authority for the District of Columbia and the very body which delegated to the District its limited legislative power under home rule,” the filing states. “As members of the District’s ultimate legislative body, amici are concerned about the extent of the District’s delegated legislative authority, the preservation of Congress’s constitutional authority, and the interpretation of home rule.
….Last month, the D.C. Council voted 11 to 2 to legalize same-sex marriage in the District. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D) signed the bill shortly before Christmas, but it is undergoing a 30-day legislative review. Under Home Rule, Congress can block any law passed by the council.”
Do you think Gingrey and his colleagues would’ve stepped in had the D.C. Council voted to ban same-sex marriage? Of course not. These so-called conservatives are more concerned with appeasing James Dobson than maintaining ideological consistency.
And don’t tell me they are fighting for the people’s right to be heard. We are not a nation ruled by referendums. If the voters of D.C. don’t like what their council member are doing, they can vote them out. They don’t need Phil Gingrey or John Boehner to intercede on their behalf.
