UPDATED:Hulshof slams Nixon over gay marriage
U.S. Rep. Kenny Hulshof, a Republican running for governor, sought Monday to burnish his anti-gay-marriage credentials by attempting to tie the likely Democratic nominee, Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon, to the recent California court case legalizing such unions.
Hulshof echoed Saturday’s complaint by Gov. Matt Blunt, a fellow Republican, that Nixon ought to be fighting the California ruling.
Missouri’s state constitution bans gay marriage. Twenty-six other states have similar bans.
Like Blunt, Hulshof noted that 10 Republican attorneys general in other states that have such bans ”are asking the California Supreme Court to delay finalizing its ruling to legalize same-sex marriage, because of its national implications.”
“Missouri has a similar ban, but our attorney general has yet to join the list of those calling for a stay,” Hulshof said in a release.
“…Why wait? Failure to act could harm the efforts of those trying to delay the impact of this harmful decision.”
At the state GOP convention Saturday, state Treasurer Sarah Steelman pointed out that she had been the chief Senate sponsor of the anti-gay marriage measure that made it on the 2004 ballot.
UPDATE
Here’s Nixon’s reply, from spokesman Oren Shur. Because of technical problems, wasn’t able to add it overnight:
“Jay has always believed marriage is between a man and a woman, and as
Attorney General he’s fought to protect traditional marriage. He’ll take a
look at the letter and continue to do everything necessary to protect
marriage in Missouri.
“But Jay’s focus in this campaign is on finding real
solutions to the core challenges that Missouri families face during these
difficult economic times. Many Missouri families don’t know how they’re
going to pay next month’s bills, so let’s keep our eye on the ball.”
After being a loyal soldier in Bush’s failed agenda, I suppose this is the best Kenny can come up with. Why weren’t the curators interested in him?
With soaring energy prices, so many of our citizens without health care, our children being undereducated, our state losing $8B in federal monies due to the war in Iraq, an increase in ‘middle class’ citizens requesting help from food pantries and assistance in paying their energy bills and on and on…this is what Hulshof thinks is important to us?
Hard to believe Kenny Hulshof things the best way to win is to out-Blunt our miserable Governor OTB.
If the Post is doing a story, do a story. Call Nixon and get his position. If he won’t respond, tell us. Ask why he isn’t contesting the ruling. He has joined non-Missouri cases before, and claims to ;)support;) the Missouri law against same-sex marriage.
It’s silly to say you’ll print something if he calls in. He won’t call in because he wants to hide, as when he got caught raising money from Ameren while he was supposed to be prosecuting the Taum Sauk case.
If that’s all Hulshoff’s got then he’s much weaker than I thought. Given Sam Graves incredibly pathetic and desperate use of the same thing against Kay Barnes in the western part of the state, I’d say you can officially declare the race over. If they have to grasp at straws like this and it isn’t even the general election, you know they simply have nothing else.
And when Hulshoff loses and Steelman is on the sidelines having lost the primary the entire state can say: “Good riddance!!!!!!!!”
Like Blunt, Hulshof noted that 10 Republican attorneys general in other states that have such bans ”are asking the California Supreme Court to delay finalizing its ruling to legalize same-sex marriage, because of its national implications.”
National Implications? The Defense of Mariage Act (signed into law in 1996 by President Clinton) already addresses the “national implications”.
1. No state (or other political subdivision within the United States) need treat a relationship between persons of the same sex as a marriage, even if the relationship is considered a marriage in another state.
2. The Federal Government may not treat same-sex relationships as marriages for any purpose, even if concluded or recognized by one of the states.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defense_of_Marriage_Act
What a bloviating demagogue, idiot!
To amplify woodsba’s excellent points, perhaps the Republicans should see what is on the mind of the voters. According to the Pew Research Center Poll conducted 5/21—5/25/08 which asked: “In making your decision about who to vote for this fall, which decision below will be very important?” Among the results: Economy 88% Health Care 78% Iraq 72% Terrorism 68% Abortion 40% Gay Marriage 28%.
gaydem, I couldn’t care less what you do in the privacy of your own home, but when will you come to realize that an overwhelming majority of Missourians do NOT support gay marriage?
Should we have another election on the issue to settle that for you?
Anyone who thinks this is ALL that Hulshof (or Nixon, or Steelman) has on their mind is urinating in a fan.
Jim, sweetie…many Missourians like pork steaks, KC Masterpiece BBQ sauce, think a weekend in Branson is the cat’s meow, elected Matt Blunt Governor, think Jesse James was a hero, and that elected Republicans in Jeff City serve their best interests.
The above litany, however, hardly qualifies preserving that collective acumen in a time capsule.
There is NO issue with regards to gay marriage in Missouri. I didn’t raise gay marriage as an issue in my responses. I lived through the hate-fest of 2004 (that oh-so-proud Show Me moment), so thank you for your overview.
Hulshof and Steelman are simply playing the Rove hate and fear card with those whose lack of discernment and ability to think for themselves lead them to be convinced that gay marriage poses more of a risk to them and their way of life than do an endless war on credit, fiscal irresponsibility, energy dependence, and the lack of strategic forethought by the current administration. What an utterly cynical and bogus pair!
(I imagine that politicians who are such strong “states rights” advocates as the above two would think twice before encouraging what amounts to interference in another state’s affairs, wouldn’t you)?
Except for the most diehard right-wingers, Karl Rove is but an empty shell. Perchance this year his odious tactics will finally be repudiated. And perhaps more Republicans will find a drink of choice other than Kool-Aid.
Cheers!