Newt Gingrich is outraged at the Iowa Supreme Court's decision that legalized gay marriage. Announcing that he was starting a "major movement" to curb the judicial branch of government, Newt declared that the Iowa decision was "outrageously wrong."
"It's the height of judicial arrogance," he said. "You have seven lawyers who have decided, on their own, to fundamentally change Iowa." He neglected to mention that it was a unanimous decision, 7-0, presumably all Iowans themselves, given that it's the Iowa Supreme Court.
So what business is Iowa's marriage law to Newt -- a displaced Yankee who taught history at a second rate Georgia college and then took over Congress until he flamed out over his own moral failings?
Excuse me, Newt, but where was this outrage 8 years ago? It took only five U.S. Supreme Court justices to change the course of national and world history when they stopped the recount of votes in Florida and anointed george w. bush as president on a 5-4 vote.
Yes, one vote can make that much difference. And I vehemently disagreed with that decision -- which would have gone the other way with one justice voting differently. But we didn't storm the halls of justice and throw the bums out.
As a former history professor and congressman, Newt should have a better grasp of government than this. Seven lawyers didn't just "decide on their own;" they interpreted the constitution, which is their job. If you disagree with their decision, that's ok. But it's typical of Newt's immaturity to want to tear down the house when he doesn't get his way.
Or is he just trying to gin up some furor to propel himself into a presidential race? He's tried several other tactics, including getting religion and being blessed by James Dobson, or was it Pat Robertson? Nothing has worked for Newt so far; maybe he thinks the gay marriage card will be the ticket.
Sorry, Newt. That's just so . . . 2004!
Ralph
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Newt should listen to his lesbian half-sister who wrote him an open letter telling him to back off his criticism of her gay friend, who has been appointed to Obama's Advisory Council on Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.
ReplyDeleteNewt had called Harry Knox an anti-religious, left-wing zealot. Candace Gingrich wrote:
"It's fitting that Newt, whose name is synonymous with divisiveness, would assail someone who unites people as adeptly as Harry Knox. [and she tells of Knox's work with Human Rights Council, providing information and resources for churches and pastors who want to follow more moderate views on homosexuality.]
"That is incredibly scary for those who rely on distorted messages of faith to incite fear and justify discrimination. Right-wing voices like my brother's use faith to manipulate people into voting against their interests by scapegoating the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community."