Tuesday, June 03, 2008
Throwing out the Baby with the Bathwater
Blogger Rick Sincere of Charlottesville is a pretty smart guy, and I usually agree with him. But I feel that something he said in his June 2 post is beyond the pale, and misleading.
Sincere writes:
Sincere cites a 2006 Washington Post article :
Marshall's commentary may sound funny, or antiquated, but he is capable of supporting his position(s) with evidence. Not everyone does that, and Marshall is to be commended for providing us the rationale behind his assertions.
Sincere would have us believe that Bob Marshall hates gay people, which is patent nonsense. Having respect for traditional values does not make you a homophobe. If Marshall really hated gay people, he would fight tax increases tooth and nail -- but only if you're heterosexual. Marshall made the U.S. Constitution an integral part of his campaign for U.S. Senate and the last time I checked, the Fourth Amendment protects all of us from unreasonable searches and seizures, affirming that we have the right to be "secure in [our] persons, houses, papers, and effects." The Bill of Rights applies to everyone -- whether you're gay, straight, or something in between.
I know Rick Sincere personally, and I respect him and I look up to him. But this is just a bunch of sour grapes on his end. Bob Marshall does not hate gay people, and to suggest otherwise does a great disservice to the Virginia blogosphere, and our fellow citizens.
UPDATE (12:55 PM) : Just for fun, I decided to google "Bob Marshall hates gay people". But nothing credible popped up, further corraborating my point.
Sincere writes:
Marshall [...] brazenly states he believes in "respect for the rights of all persons, old and young." Given his prominent sponsorship of the Marshall-Newman Amendment and his proud claim of being Virginia's "chief homophobe," we know he does not really believe in the rights of "all persons."
Sincere cites a 2006 Washington Post article :
The debate was over, and the stately atrium at the University of Virginia School of Law was nearly empty. But Del. Robert G. Marshall, a Prince William County Republican who wryly refers to himself as Virginia's "chief homophobe," was just warming up to his next showdown over same-sex marriage.
"There is a natural order of things, a natural order where gay marriage is an impossibility," he said, books tucked under his arm and waving a hand for emphasis, like the disheveled college professor he often resembles. "For example, a woman's arm is constructed at a certain angle so that she can adequately cradle a baby. This is the way we're created. There are just certain things that nature intended."
Marshall's commentary may sound funny, or antiquated, but he is capable of supporting his position(s) with evidence. Not everyone does that, and Marshall is to be commended for providing us the rationale behind his assertions.
Sincere would have us believe that Bob Marshall hates gay people, which is patent nonsense. Having respect for traditional values does not make you a homophobe. If Marshall really hated gay people, he would fight tax increases tooth and nail -- but only if you're heterosexual. Marshall made the U.S. Constitution an integral part of his campaign for U.S. Senate and the last time I checked, the Fourth Amendment protects all of us from unreasonable searches and seizures, affirming that we have the right to be "secure in [our] persons, houses, papers, and effects." The Bill of Rights applies to everyone -- whether you're gay, straight, or something in between.
I know Rick Sincere personally, and I respect him and I look up to him. But this is just a bunch of sour grapes on his end. Bob Marshall does not hate gay people, and to suggest otherwise does a great disservice to the Virginia blogosphere, and our fellow citizens.
UPDATE (12:55 PM) : Just for fun, I decided to google "Bob Marshall hates gay people". But nothing credible popped up, further corraborating my point.
# posted by Steven Latimer : 10:19 AM
Comments:
<< Home
To be fair, I never said "Bob Marshall hates gay people." If I had, it would have turned up in your Google search.
What I did say -- or, rather, imply -- is that Bob Marshall seeks to deny equal rights to gay people. That is incontrovertible, by his own sponsorship of the Marshall-Newman amendment. And, as I quoted, Marshall likes to call himself Virginia's "chief homophobe" -- essentially admitting that he hates homosexuals. ("Homophobia" is a bad coinage that implies fear, not hatred, but common usage connotes hatred.)
When a legislator uses his office and influence to deny equality before the law to some citizens but not to all, you can be pretty certain he dislikes those he wishes to disadvantage.
Post a Comment
What I did say -- or, rather, imply -- is that Bob Marshall seeks to deny equal rights to gay people. That is incontrovertible, by his own sponsorship of the Marshall-Newman amendment. And, as I quoted, Marshall likes to call himself Virginia's "chief homophobe" -- essentially admitting that he hates homosexuals. ("Homophobia" is a bad coinage that implies fear, not hatred, but common usage connotes hatred.)
When a legislator uses his office and influence to deny equality before the law to some citizens but not to all, you can be pretty certain he dislikes those he wishes to disadvantage.
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]
