Posted on 12/31/2009 3:54:02 PM PST by Sparky1776
Massachusetts, the first state to legalize gay marriage, yesterday became the first to challenge the constitutionality of a federal law that defines marriage as the union of a man and a woman, contending that Congress intruded into a matter that should be left to states.
The suit filed by state Attorney General Martha Coakley says the Defense of Marriage Act of 1996 violates the US Constitution by interfering with the state’s right to define the marital status of residents. The suit also says the law forces the state to discriminate against same-sex married couples - on certain health benefits and burial rights - or risk losing federal funding.
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
Oh I will vote for Scott. You betcha.
As a lifelong MA resident I loved your Homepage.Very clever.
I’m planning on ringing in the New Year by brushing my teeth.
Huck, where in the US Constitution does a pedophile have the right to violate a child’s being, and expect to flee to another state scot free?
We have a lot of crazy laws in the US, I’m sure a first year law student could find foundation in the Constitution to protect a child.
Child vs Perv = easy answer for me.
That’s the liberal way - let the voters decide, at least until they decide against the liberal way, then go the liberal way by fiat.
"While former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney claims he did everything possible to throttle homosexual marriage in his state – his campaign now saying he took "every conceivable step within the law to defend traditional marriage" – several constitutional experts say that just isn't so.
"What Romney did [was] he exercised illegal legislative authority," Herb Titus said of the governor's actions after the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court released its opinion in the Goodridge case in 2003. "He was bound by what? There was no order. There wasn't even any order to the Department of Public Health to do anything."
Titus, a Harvard law graduate, was founding dean of Pat Robertson's Regent University Law School. He also worked with former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore, ...
Romney's aides have told WND that after four of the seven court members reinterpreted the definition of marriage, he believed he had no choice but to direct clerks and others to change state marriage forms and begin registering same-sex couples.
Some opponents contend that with those actions, Romney did no more or less than create the first homosexual marriages recognized in the nation. And Titus agrees."
"....But the court's decision conflicts with the constitutional philosophy of three co-equal branches of government: executive, legislative and judicial, Titus said. It also violates with the Massachusetts Constitution, which states: "The power of suspending the laws, or (suspending) the execution of the laws, ought never to be exercised but by the legislature..."
And it cannot even be derived from the opinion itself, asserts the pro-family activist group Mass Resistance, which says the decision did four things:
* First, it acknowledged that the current law does not permit same-sex marriage.
"The only reasonable explanation is that the Legislature did not intend that same-sex couples be licensed to marry. We conclude, as did the judge, that G.L. c. 207 may not be construed to permit same-sex couples to marry."
* Second, it said it is NOT striking down the marriage laws (among other things, the Massachusetts Constitution forbids a court to change laws)
"Here, no one argues that striking down the marriage laws is an appropriate form of relief."
* Third, it declared that not allowing same-sex marriages is a violation of the Massachusetts Constitution.
"We declare that barring an individual from the protections, benefits, and obligations of civil marriage solely because that person would marry a person of the same sex violates the Massachusetts Constitution."
* And fourth, given that the court is not changing any laws, the SJC gave the Legislature 180 days to "take such action as it may deem appropriate."
"We vacate the summary judgment for the department. We remand this case to the Superior Court for entry of judgment consistent with this opinion. Entry of judgment shall be stayed for 180 days to permit the Legislature to take such action as it may deem appropriate in light of this opinion."
After the Legislature did nothing during the 180 days, Romney then took action "on his own," the group said.
"Gov. Romney's legal counsel issued a directive to the Justices of the Peace that they must perform same-sex marriages when requested or 'face personal liability' or be fired," the group said."
As I read it, that is covered by Art IV, Sect 2. Unfortunately, it doesn't say WHO is supposed to deliver the perp back to the original state. I would think that unless a federal police force is authorized elsewhere it's implied that it would be the state that is fled to which is responsible.
Darth - we have Federal Marshalls, I’m 100% in favor of using their authority to arrest pedophiles.
There are a million in one areas where the Federal Government should get its nose out of, but I’m not sure shielding pervs is the place I would start.
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Diogenesis - only an IDIOT would deny the SJC imposed gay marriage upon Massachusetts with a willing Legislature.
All one has to do is go to my homepage and look at the number of Dems in the Legislature vs the number of Republicans.
SJC ruling + super majority = doesn’t matter what Romney thinks.
Again, I invite you to go look at my page and look at the numbers - I’ve added color to make it easy for you.
I get what you’re saying. It’s of no concern to you whether or not the national government is violating the Constitution, as long as they do it in pursuit of a goal you agree with. Thanks for clearing that up.
“Where does the Constitution delegate to the national government the authority to have a police force and/or to pursue sex criminals? I can’t seem to find it. In fact, I can’t find any delegated police power in the Constitution, but I must be looking in the wrong place.”
Let’s be clear, I posted a link about Coakley sueing the US Government to force the Federal Government (and therefore the other 49 states) to recognize Massachusetts’ Same Sex Marriage Law.
I personally object to the fact that in a 4-3 decision that a panel of thugs in black robes ruling on a state law can then force the Federal Government & 49 other states to follow their edict.
Again the citizens of Massachusetts were not allowed to vote on it.
The Legislature refused to vote on it.
The Governor received no bill to sign nor veto.
Did you know in Massachusetts with a judge’s permission a child as young as 12 can get married.
So in your world a 50 year old named Barney can marry a 12 year old boy named Buck and everyone in the nation should except it as they travel around the country, hmm I understand where you are coming from methinks.
Personally I’m going to side with the kid’s right to Life, Freedom, & the Pursuit of Happiness free of Molestation.
I’m silly like that.
The California of the East Coast.
A black hole would do wonders right in the center of the state.
Are these gay marriage advocates going to challenge Roe vs. Wade for usurping state laws?
I’m just trying to make clear that the Constitution’s “limited powers” is irrelevant and easily ignored by conservatives and leftists alike.
If we do have Federal cops, I'm okay with them using their authority to arrest... well, anything they have authority to.
But, if the Constitution doesn't authorize a Federal police force (we may have one, but I'm not yet convinced that it is legally justified), then it doesn't matter I may want them to do.
There's a lot of stuff I think the Constitution gets wrong, or isn't clear about, etc. But it still needs to be treated as if it were the law of the land.
The Judges in the SJC made a ruling about 'gay marriage'.
The Massachusetts Constitution did not allow a change ...
except carpetbagger, backstabber Romney (your Master)
does not really care about Constitutions (certainly not
on from a state which Romney was merely using between
Michigan, Utah and California).
Romney imposed gay marriage by his fiat along.
Romney (unnatural citizen,himself, in that sense) imposed it against the Mass. Constitution by using improper executive authority.
Fascism is OK when your side does it, right?
It was landmark U.S. Supreme Court precedent Reynolds v. United States in 1878 that made “separation of church and state” a dubiously legitimate point of case law, but more importantly; it confirmed the Constitutionality in statutory regulation of marriage practices.
"Laws are made for the government of actions, and while they cannot interfere with mere religious belief and opinions, they may with practices… So here, as a law of the organization of society under the exclusive dominion of the United States, it is provided that plural marriages shall not be allowed. Can a man excuse his practices to the contrary because of his religious belief? [98 U.S. 145, 167] To permit this would be to make the professed doctrines of religious belief superior to the law of the land, and in effect to permit every citizen to become a law unto himself..."(see also: United States v. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.)
It did argue that federal law trumps religion, despite the 1st amendment, which, when you think about it, tends to weaken the traditional marriage argument. The fed court may indeed use Reynolds to solidify gay marriage, if the only argument against it is based on religion.
Marriage is one of the "basic civil rights of man," fundamental to our very existence and survival.... To deny this fundamental freedom on so unsupportable a basis as the racial classifications embodied in these statutes, classifications so directly subversive of the principle of equality at the heart of the Fourteenth Amendment, is surely to deprive all the State's citizens of liberty without due process of law. The Fourteenth Amendment requires that the freedom of choice to marry not be restricted by invidious racial discrimination. Under our Constitution, the freedom to marry, or not marry, a person of another race resides with the individual and cannot be infringed by the State.
Notice it says the freedom to marry or not marry another "person." Ruh-roh. I sure hope the libs on the SCOTUS haven't read that one!
Here in NJ, I vote against gay marriage whenever it comes up. They did pass civil unions here. As far as I can tell, it's a state matter. I don't see the delegated power in the Constitution. And while those of us in NJ or MA may not like the outcome, leaving it to the states is superior to consolidating the whole matter under federal authority. The outcome there will be imposed on everyone from Maine to Mississippi, from Washington to Florida, and if the final decision comes from the SCOTUS, it will be without appeal. Be careful what you wish for.
Therefore the challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act (signed by Slick Willie) is null and void...
Religion is the only argument FOR faggot marriages...
Evolution is only possible with HETEROSEXUAL relationships.
The facts of biology trump religion.
Yikes. You have Maggie Marshall’s picture on your home page!
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