That last question he flat out doesn't answer re: Prop 8.
Q Okay. And just a separate question. Today in California, Ted Olson, former Solicitor General for President Bush, and David Boies, are introducing a lawsuit against the state of California, saying that by denying same-sex couples the right to marry, the ability to marry they are violating the Equal Protection Rights under the U.S. Constitution for same-sex couples. Why are they wrong?
MR. GIBBS: I have not read the opinion or --
Q The President supports the idea that people should be able to -- same-sex couples should be able to enter in civil unions. Boies and Olson -- a very conservative lawyer -- are saying that is a violation --
MR. GIBBS: Olson. (Laughter.)
Q Not Boies, right -- Olson, a very conservative lawyer, saying that is a violation of the Constitution. It is also the position the President holds, that there should be civil unions, not same-sex marriage. Why is it not a violation of the Equal Protection clause?
MR. GIBBS: Jake, let me have somebody take a look at the pleading that they're going to make. I don't know what they're arguing --
Q Generally. Just forget the specific argument; I'm just talking about their general argument is that by having -- by not allowing same-sex couples to marry, it is a violation of equal protection.
MR. GIBBS: Right, well, again --
Q And that's the President's position, so --
MR. GIBBS: But let me -- well, the President's position, we're all aware of. I hesitate to be general about the legal underpinnings of an argument based on some portme portion of the Constitution. I think that they may be somewhat hard to generalize. So let me have somebody take a look at that and see if we have anything based on what Mr. Olson and Mr. Boies are doing.
Yes, sir....Q But today's context includes the financial crisis there and the controversy over Proposition 8. The President, as far as we know, is not going to speak out on any of these issues while he's in California. Do you think that's appropriate?
MR. GIBBS: Well, let's try not to mix up the questions here and let me see if I can keep them straight. I think the notion that the President isn't concerned about the economic conditions of this country I don't think holds a lot of validity, given the actions that he's taken to get our economy moving again; to get the resources that California needs to invest in their infrastructure and to take care of their citizens; to ensure that kids have health care. I think he's taken steps to do that and I think most people in California are confident in that, as well.
Found a few- both good sized "keepers"...
Here's the first one- The Peter has postponed the kickoff of his "Truth Tour 2009", according to the update at the top of Heath's post, bragging about the event. No reason listed- just a cryptic message of "THE TRUTH TOUR 2009 IS POSTPONED- STAY TUNED."
It was originally announced that The Peter would come here on May 2nd, then cancelled 4 days later. Hmm. Wonder why?
Here's the original announcement from Heath:
I'm going to bring my good friend Peter LaBarbera to Maine later this month, on May 28 and 29. He now heads up the most effective online advocacy website for common sense in the "gay" fight, www.americansfortruth.com. Make sure you check it out, and tell all your friends. I chair his board of directors.The title of Pete's talk is The Zero-Sum Game: How Gay Rights and 'Same-Sex Marriage' Undermine Religious Freedom. I'm hosting a working lunch in Portland, supper in Houlton on Thursday, May 27th and breakfast in Bangor on Friday, the 28th of May.
Throughout the summer we hope to be providing opportunities for people to hear the truth about the "freedom to marry" through our Truth Tour 2009. We aren't going to pull any punches. None of what we will be doing isabout political correctness. All I care about is getting the truth out there.. I'm talking with front line Christian pro family heroes who have been in this fight for years, some of them decades. One man who I WILL definitely bring to Maine this summ er is Bob Knight. He authored the Defense of Marriage Act that Senator Dennis Damon's bill just eliminated.
The people of Maine are going to do the right thing when they hear the facts. I know it. Thank God for the Peoples Veto.
These are invitation only events. You must either email or call me right away to secure your place at these VIP meetings. Everyone is invited to contact me and request an invitation. Email me and tell me why you want to come.
The press is NOT welcome.
Yet strangely enough, nothing from The Peter regarding his no-show to Vacationland on his own website.
Curiouser and curiouser!
More below...
The timing of the cancellation is especially interesting when one considers what was happening on May 6th- and that The Peter and his site were more than willing to weigh in with this:
Liberty Counsel: Maine Governor Signs Legislation to Legalize Same-Sex 'Marriage'May 6, 2009
Liberty Counsel News Release
Augusta, ME - Today, Democratic Governor John Baldacci (right) signed into law LD 1020, which legalizes same-sex "marriage" in Maine. His decision follows yesterday's vote of 89-57 in the House and a 21-14 vote in the Senate, both of which are controlled by Democrats. Now the people of Maine must act to amend the state constitution to affirm the definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman.
Gov. Baldacci had the opportunity to veto the bill, but instead signed it into law as quickly as possible, not giving the people of Maine any time to make their voice heard on the matter.
New Hampshire's Senate recently approved a similar bill to allow homosexuals to "marry." The House approved an earlier version of the bill and will make the final vote today. If it passes the House, Democratic Governor John Lynch will then have five days to decide whether to sign the bill or veto it. If passed and signed by the Governor, the people of New Hampshire will also have to amend their constitution to affirm traditional marriage.
Mathew D. Staver, Founder of Liberty Counsel and Dean of Liberty University School of Law, commented: "Is the dismantling of the family the kind of 'change' the Democratic Party stands for? It is insane to redefine the meaning of marriage. There are social, moral, political and spiritual consequences when you establish a policy that says children do not need moms and dads. Same-sex marriage creates a motherless and fatherless social policy. Maine is out of touch with mainstream America."
Apparently Heath failed to tell The Peter about the 3-4000 people who attended the public hearing at the Augusta Civic Center, not to mention all of the communications to legislators and non-stop letters to Maine's newspapers since January.
=========================================
Here's my other catch- and it's an entire FLOCK of turkeys!
PORTLAND - At least 5,000 Jehovah's Witnesses are expected to arrive in Portland this weekend, as the religious organization takes over the Cumberland County Civic Center for the second consecutive weekend.
Spokesman Chris Hanson said more than 5,700 people attended the annual district convention last weekend, and at least 5,000 are expected th is Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Hanson said Jehovah's Witnesses from Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont are planning to come to Portland. The public is also invited to attend. Admission is free and programs are set to begin at 9:20 a.m. and end at 5 p.m. each day.
On Sunday at 11:30 a.m. there will be a public discussion titled, "How Can You Survive the End of the World?"
Hanson said the convention is held on back-to-back weekends due to the large number of people who want to attend. He attributes the turnout to the current world situation.
"I think it is a result of the worsening world conditions," Hanson explained. "With the economy and stresses of life, more and more people are turning to the Bible for help," he said.
Ah, the fearmongering markets are still doing well... "end of the world", indeed.
The speakers were united in their message: before we take the next step in marriage equality in Washington State, we must first defeat the referendum before us which seeks to repeal our domestic partnership law. We do this by telling everyone we know the facts about Ref. 71, why DPs are important to us, and asking them to Decline 2 Sign Referendum 71.
The great news is that this also lays the groundwork for marriage equality; before a marriage bill is pursued in the legislature, we need to know two things:
1. That we have the votes in the legislature.
2. That we can weather the inevitable ensuing referendum.
Both of these things are accomplished by doing what we're doing already: talking to everyone we know. Plus being willing to take a drive to the other side of the county and knock on a few doors. Pack a lunch, because after this Ref 71 is dispensed with, we're going on a field trip!
Here are a few pictures from the rally. On a personal note, I was disappointed (to put it mildly) by the Prop 8 decision, and didn't really feel like getting on the bus to go downtown. But I sure am glad I did, because the love and dedication I saw in that crowd lifted my spirits tremendously.
Oh, one other thing, among these pictures are two heterosexual sisters who are not "sisters", a Seattle mayoral candidate and a gay Iraq War vet. I wonder who you think is who. ;)
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Cross-posted at Washblog.
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