PORTLAND, Maine — Two longtime opponents of gay rights and same-sex marriage initiatives are forming a political action committee to oppose Maine’s same-sex marriage referendum.
Michael Heath and Paul Madore said Tuesday they’ve formed the No Special Rights PAC to oppose November’s ballot measure asking voters if same-sex marriage should be legalized.
Heath and Madore have held leadership roles going back to the early 1990s opposing gay rights and gay marriage initiatives in Maine. Heath was executive director of the Christian Civic League for 15 years until his resignation in 2009, and Madore once headed a group called Maine Grassroots Coalition that opposed sexual orientation laws.
Madore said he’s ready to “take off the gloves” in the campaign leading up to November’s election.
“It’s going to be a fight,” he said.
Heath and Madore’s entry into the campaign isn’t surprising given their active roles opposing past gay rights initiatives, said David Farmer, spokesman for the Dirigo Family PAC in support of the referendum.
Although Heath and Madore have been known to use sharp rhetoric in the past, Farmer said gay marriage supporters want to keep the debate “reasonable” this time around.
“Our goal throughout the campaign is to be respectful of people with differing views and to make our argument that same-sex couples should be able to enter into the same type of committed and responsible relationship as other couples.”
The Legislature three years ago approved a law legalizing same-sex marriage in Maine, but opponents forced the question to voters, who then overturned the law 53 to 47 percent.
Gay marriage supporters this year turned in enough signatures from registered voters to again force the matter to a vote. If Mainers approve gay marriage this time around, the state would be the first to do so by a popular vote.
As the name implies, the goal of the No Special Rights PAC is to convince voters that allowing members of the same sex to get married amounts to “special rights,” Heath said.
“There’s no basis in nature for a right to sodomy or a right to call two men or two women who are choosing to relate to one another sexually as a marriage,” he said. “There’s no intrinsic or natural right to that. So we believe that these are special rights.”
Heath and Madore’s PAC has yet to raise any money, and the amount of funds raised will determine what it does during the campaign, Heath said.
But it’s too early to speculate what kind of impact the PAC might have, Farmer said.
“At this point, we’re not aware of their strategy or the tactics they’ll use, or whether Mr. Heath will be a successful fundraiser or a spokesman,” Farmer said. “We just don’t know how he’ll fit in with the opposition.”
“No Special Rights PAC”…it was my understanding that passing the referendum would give same sex couples the SAME rights others already enjoy, not special rights.
Yea, it is kind of a misnomer isn’t it.
What else can be expected from the CCL? Disinformation is their modus operandi.
Is the irony of their PAC being called “No Special Rights” lost on the right wing ?
Michael Heath, the guy run out of the Christian Civic League for his endless stream of embarrassing comments and positions in 2009 makes a return in 2012 to spread his own special brand of hate. This of course following the election of Paul LePage. These two shallow thinkers go together like pidgeons and droppings. If it all weren’t so sad, it would be funny. How many more of these creeps can the GOP/Tea Party dig up and how far backwards do we stand to go?
I would think we’ll at least go back to the Stone age, when it was fashionable for one’s knuckles to drag on the floor.
You have hit the nail on the head. I have pondered the uptick of the attitudes we are seeing of late. Is this a direct result of the economy? Why has the pendulum swung to hatred and distrust? Is it just frustration and the frustrated are looking for a whipping boy? Have these people always been hidden in the woodwork and now have a microphone called the internet? In other words, where did these people come from???
We are not talking about a minor plus-or-minus 5 degrees off-center range of views. The comments expressed by the Right approach the absurd. This is right up there with people believing man and dinosaurs coexisted. What part of carbon-dating do these people not believe? There is no sense of history. Somehow, after the 1980’s apparently schools stopped teaching government, history, civics, and logic. We swung from the science of the Space Race to beating our clothes on a rock by the river. Science and the Space Race was something every family in America embraced. Now, it’s just a segment of society. Science went down and a fallback to the “magical thinking” of religion and the supernatural took over. It is beyond bizarre.
You want to grab them by the shoulders, shake them, and say, “Wake the &*!$ up!!!”
At least I do.
Personally I am bothered by people from out of state attempting to influence the decision of an in-state statute. That said, to me the issue of marriage is a civil rights issue and should be decided on a national level. Unfortunately our U.S. Congress hasn’t the intestinal fortitude to confront this egregious violation of American civil rights. Cowards! They are more concerned with being re-elected than they are worried about doing what is right.
And don’t forget the biggest advocate of gay marriage of all — Bruce LaVallee-Davidson!
Three men + four drugs + a shotgun = gay marriage.
Nothing to do with anything, brah.
Except that those who claim to be “married in the eyes of God” like Bruce LaVallee-Davidson are actually engaged in practices which are harmful to society, up to including depraved goings-on and manslaughter.
Still has nothing to do with it. Married straight people do awful things as well.
Not the issue.
If it’s not the issue, then find me one advocate of traditional marriage who spoke out publicly in favor of traditional marriage who did something similar. It doesn’t even have to be four days before. It could be years after. The idea of same sex “marriage” is so demented, perhaps we should call them “Wineville Chicken Coop Marriages.”
Are you really serious that you don’t know of any people who support only man/woman marriage of being, what you call, deviants?
George Alan Rekers, Ted Haggard, and Larry Craig, to name just three in the past few years.
On average, more than three women and one man are murdered by their intimate partners in this country every day. That is one every 6 HOURS!
In 2000, 1,247 women were killed by an intimate partner. The same year, 440 men were killed by an intimate partner. Intimate partner homicides accounted for 30% of the murders of women and 5% percent of
the murders of men.
http://www.dvrc-or.org/domestic/violence/resources/C61/
None of you has answered my question. I asked for one single example of an advocate of traditional marriage who spoke at a public meeting in favor of traditional marriage having killed a person under the circumstances described. Bizarre behavior is clearly more frequent among homosexuals and lesbians. Your own parades proclaim it loudly. Therefore, you do not have a right to the insanity of Unidentified Flying Marriages. I rest my case.
Two can play your game Son…name one legally married (i.e. in a state that allows same sex couples to marry) same sex couple where one murdered their spouse.
I can name multiple examples of opposite sex couples abusing and murdering their spouses. You can name one example of a NON-MARRIED homosexual murdering another.
“Bizarre behavior” is not the exclusive domain of the homosexual community.
I recall a club in Sanford Maine that was in the news recently. Seems that heterosexual couples (married and “exclusive” relationships) were engaging in intercourse with multiple couples. It was witnessed by local police officers. I don’t seem to recall the police report mentioning that they witnessed any homosexual behavior.
I recall a Dover-Foxcroft man that wanted to marry his dog. I don’t seem to recall any mention that he was a homosexual.
I also recall a dominatrix that disposed of the body of one of her clients. It seems that he died during the act. She panicked and disposed of his body in Maine. Again, no mention of one being a homosexual.
Would you like me to continue with examples of the “Bizarre behavior” that is clearly part of the heterosexual lifestyle?
Wrong.
I asked for an example of someone who publicly advocated for traditional marriage after killing a person four days earlier.
There is no such example.
Bruce LaVallee-Davidson is proof of the moral insanity behind the call for Unidentified Flying Marriages.
Why do you think he is the example of all gays everywhere? Why do you choose him to judge me?
Son if you want to pin all your hopes on one single example of someone murdering someone of the same sex during a “sex game” fine. If it makes you feel whole and complete fine.
If you want to ignore the epidemic of domestic violence in “traditional” marriage that is your right. 4 PEOPLE A DAY ARE MURDERED BY THE OPPOSITE SEX PARTNER EACH AND EVERY DAY IN THE UNITED STATES!
You can site one and only one example of a murder that occurred during a homosexual encounter in the past 4 years.
5, 840 domestic violence murders have occurred since LaVallee-Davidson murdered another man and you feel that is the problem to end all problems and an argument against SSM.
And with this view of domestic violence you dare to call homosexuals “deviant”? Man, you sure live is some sort of alternative universe.
I wish those numbers weren’t as horrific as they are.but thanks for bringing them up.Knowledge is the only thing that will help.
None of that matters, JD. The fact that that incident of sex games and a gun was with gay men is all that’s needed. (At least he didn’t mention the poppers!)
Of course, they weren’t legally married, so again, I don’t know what his point is.
Your question was about deviants.
And, really, why is that one instance the arbitrary barometer that you set? I must say, you’re being rather ridiculous.
Seems to me that a man murdered his whole family last year in Maine and they were more than “married in the eyes of God”.
Actually, I think it was a .44, just to nitpick. But, again, not relevant to the issue at hand.
How many people were murdered in Maine last year by their spouses?
Homosexuals already have the right to marry, but they do not have the right to marry someone of the same sex or a chinchilla.
From the Prop 8 Trial Tracker, 12/2/11:
This is the sound of a thousand heads hitting a thousand desks.
I’m glad Bachmann wasn’t there for history. “Why can’t Rosa Parks sit at the front of the bus?” “She can sit,” Bachmann would say. “She can sit at the back of the bus.” I’m glad she isn’t my waiter. “Is there a vegetarian option?”
“The vegetarian option is steak,” Bachmann would say, not blinking an eye. “Is there a way for people in wheel chairs to access the sixth floor?” “There’s a way. They can take the stairs,” Bachmann would say, still not blinking. “There doesn’t seem to be an option for Republicans to vote.” “Republicans can vote. They can vote Democrat like everyone else,” Bachmann would say, blinking a little in confusion. “I’d like to find a synagogue.”
“There’s a synagogue right here,” Bachmann would say. “It’s a church.” “Do you have apples?”
“Yes, I have oranges.”
________________________________
From: Disqus
To: davidcox207@yahoo.com
Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2012 5:08 PM
Subject: [bdn] Re: Longtime gay marriage opponents Michael Heath, Paul Madore form PAC in Maine
Disqus generic email template SonofBangor wrote, in response to jd2008jd: Homosexuals already have the right to marry, but they do not have the right to marry someone of the same sex or a chinchilla. Link to comment
I thought you stayed up on current events. Same Sex Marriage is already legal in 6-7 states (with 2-3 more pending) and the District of Columbia.
And (again) no one has the right to marry a “chinchilla”. You must be feeling that you are losing your argument as opponents to SSM always resort to animals as a last resort.
What’s next “Wineville Chicken Coop Marriages?”
“Wineville Chicken Coop Marriages?”
I think the Rooster might get just a little peeved. He seems to have a pretty good thing going for himself and here you are looking to “rock the chicken coop”. What did the Rooster do to you?
When I read the headline, I expected it to say that Heath had come out of the closet. That seems to be how many of these Angry-white-Christian-men-who-hate-homosexuality stories turn out.
http://www.ranker.com/list/top-10-anti-gay-activists-caught-being-gay/joanne
He is not old enough to have his mid life rumspringa like crisis.
He is in the prime of needing to shout “Lord, Lord, Lord look at my miracles”.
But you tell them by the fruits that their works bare in this, the secular, world.
I read that somewhere.
It sure makes sense here.
So, so many have done that! First time I saw him, my gaydar pinged. Perhaps, he was raised in the Catholic church and was “close” with a priest.
Wrong. We need to fight to keep this type of lifestyle out of the limelight. There is no way gay marriage should be made legal and recognized. All it does is tear down the traditional families and our values.
The slippery slope is not something we want to jump on here in Maine. The good people of Maine recognized this last time, and we will again. Why on earth these homosexuals keep bringing this up for vote is beyond me.
No means NO!!!!!
If you don’t like gay marriage, blame straight people. They’re the ones who keep having gay babies.
Are you scared you are going to catch the gay or something?
I don’t want my kids to have it forced down their throats. Just because a certain group is immoral doesn’t mean the rest of us have to acknowledge it as being acceptable.
It’s not something that should be celebrated or glorified. On the contrary, we should be trying to point our kids in the right direction. Not the morally reprehensible one.
No means NO!!!!!!
How is it being forced down their throats? Do any of your children like dolphins? Because some dolphins do engage in homosexual activities as do some other 1500 different species of animals.
Should we go out and slaughter all those animals that engage in what you consider immoral?
My 13 year old daughter has a gay Aunt and she has been with her partner for more years than I can count. My daughter has grown up around her gay Aunt and spends a lot of time with her and guess what, my daughter likes boys. She has zero sexual interest in women.
A child that has been exposed to a lesbian couple all her life has no interest in women. Amazing how that happened. My daughter should have caught the gay by now, don’t you think?
Animals have no sense of morality, right or wrong. Your argument is worthless.
Your daughter will suffer in the long run in other parts of her life for not having been taught that homosexuality is morally wrong.
If she thinks that’s fine, she’ll probably think a lot of other things are fine too, I won’t mention what those may be.
There are plenty of animals that have a sense of morality so your argument is worthless.
Please tell me how my daughter will suffer in the long run? I would love to read your non-sense. I truly would.
My daughter wants to become a Pediatric Oncologist and she has a love for science which you most likely think is horrible as well and the best part. She is agnostic which is even more awesome but you most likely think she will burn in hell.
I assumed you’ve talked to such a animal?
I’ve seen plenty of videos that have show animals having a sense of morality.
schools out …… you lose !
Bigotry and discrimination are morally wrong.
Thank you, TrueNative, now, I need not ask The Guvnah if he has any sense of morality, right or wrong. nor that his argument is worthless.
Please explain to me what part of homosexuality is “morally” wrong? How does it harm ANYONE? Because it in fact DOES NOT cause any harm, it was legalized through court in California. They asked that the opposition show proof that it would harm people if it were legalized, and they could not give anything but ignorant assumptions.
I wonder how he feels about people that are bi-sexual.
Or, of straight people who have sex and it’s NOT (gasp!) for procreation! (Sorry, I have to sit and fan myself, I am so stunned.)
Ever notice how these people are so wound around the axle about sex? Really, it borders on weird.
I know animals who act more human than some human beings.
My sense of right and wrong says that offering the protections of civil marriage to Maine families who need it is the right thing to do, and your irrational dislike for what might go on in other people’s bedrooms is wrong.
You are confusing morality with twisted Religious Cult activity, which i am sure you know a great deal about. Your views on morality are what is worthless…and you WILL see a different outcome this time around. I am sure of that.
That’s what they said last time.
Since we have voted only once (and that was to repeal an existing law) what is your point of comparison to state “That’s what they said last time”?
check ur records,
***IT’S*** been voted about 4/6 times!!!!!
QUIT WASTING **MY*** TAX DOLLARS ON YOUR MALE GENITALIA DESIRES !!!!!!
And what falsehoods did the opponents of the bill spout last time?
If we are so much “higher” and special than animals, why does the conservative attitude toward sex (only for reproduction!) drag sex down to the animal level?
Conituning on your alleged moral highhorse does not strengthen your arguements, it further establishes their lack of credibility.
Dolphins, bunnies, children,,,
man, you watch too much Sesame street,
Big Bro’ should be watchin’ ur Computer,,,
probly got some links to Thailand,,,
Maine already has the country’s second highest divorce rate. What do you think gay marriage would do to supposedly endanger traditional marriage any more than the straights already have?
Why do you anti equality types continuously fantasize about things being “forced down their throats” anyway?
No one would force you or your kids to do or not do anything.
Don’t like gay marriages?
Don’t get one.
… and you may want to talk to someone about your fantasies and repressed feelings. That can’t be healthy.
My kids will have to be exposed to behaviour that’s deemed acceptable by a group of minority immoralists. Soon it will creep into the schools and so on.
I beg to differ but it’s not healthy to live a homosexual lifestyle. I think I’m pretty much on track.
Back to the real issue, why do the gays think they have to ask the question again? We already answered it two years ago?
It’s like a dog that continuosly is nipping at your heels. Pretty soon someones going to give it a good kick, that won’t be soon enough for me.
Man, go read some history. Equality is a long process. The only dogs in this debate are people who write such ignorant things and who promote hatred and discrimination.
Using the phrase “the gays” shows your bigotry and ignorance.
I know some VERY sick heterosexuals in VERY sick relationships so then heterosexual relationships are not a healthy as well.
Notice how that group can NEVER show where those states that have already allowed equality haven’t disappeared into the lake of fire?
I absolutely support ALL of my sisters and brothers in ME and elsewhere.This is our year!
A pro choice congresswoman office was firebombed in TX with staff inside.Same in FL and CA.Where is the media on this?
Nice to see too that he likes to kick dogs.Just about what I’d expect.
Do you? Do you know someone who stood up in a public meeting in support of traditional marriage who had shot and killed someone four days before?
Or maybe it’s not about rights at all. Maybe it’s about normalizing the Purple Plague of Perversion.
Huh.
How many people in Maine last year were murdered by their spouses?
I don’t want any child to have to be exposed to the emotional, physical and sexual abuse forced upon them by fanatical religious zealot groups. These people are dangerous to society and have destroyed the lives of so many innocent children. Religion just needs to be outlawed.
And if we can’t outlaw it,it at least needs to be taxed to the hilt.Go to ffrf.org.(Freedom From Religion Foundation)1,000 likes to you!
Anyone in the security field will tell you there are few things more scary than a person willing to die for their god. There is no reasoning with them. No logic. No negotiation.
Many years ago the military had the mistaken idea that they would build a security perimeter with the mindset that no one could get in here, bomb the place, and get out in one piece. That would be a deterrent. Then, they came to realize the bombers didn’t want to get out. They wanted to die a martyr. It’s difficult to defend against anyone willing to die for their cause.
As far as religion goes, it created some great music, art, and architecture. The problem was, and still is, the hocus-pocus part and the large religious organizations who have become corrupt and focused on self-preservation, power, and control. Absolute power corrupts absolutely, and all that.
Strike the last sentence and I’ll agree with you. A probable majority of religious people are in favor of allowing gau marriage and a number of other measures that the (ultra) conservatives want to ban. Don’t tar all people of faith with the same brush.
I find it very intersting back when this was put to a vote and those that supported ending the legislation would not give their names because they were afraid of retaliation, that it is YOU, sir, that brings up violence, such as kicking. You disgust me sir, your pathetic use of morality. Who made you GOD? You have a right to your opinion, nothing more, but you do not have a right to tell others how to live THEIR lives…as for it being somehow, brought onto your children, i can only hope that once your children are out from under your moronic control, that they will recognize that all people are created EQUAL, and yes, sir, that means gay people as well.
The fact of the matter is that this country was built on equality. Everybody has rights and you have to deal with it. Your rights do not allow you to be shielded from the rights of others, especially when you clearly think your rights are more important than somebody else’s. Get off your high horse and leave your arrogance at the door. You spout off about immorality yet you are trying to tell your children what they can and cannot do with their lives, that they cannot be themselves. Let people live their own lives. Gay people exist whether you want them to or not. They will continue to fight for the equality that they deserve until they achieve it, whether you want them to or not, because quite frankly if you are going to be so ignorant then your opinion just doesn’t matter.
It’s not equality for a woman to marry and a woman, and then call the woman “my wife.” It’s insanity, not equality.
The first homosexual “marriage” was when the Emperor Nero married his eunuch.
And just what is your point?
Boy, you are really, really afraid of “something”, aren’t you? Hiding back under your rock might help …
So yesterday my husband and I did some spring cleaning by taking a bunch of old stuff to the dump, I gardened while he looked for a summer job. Tell me, what in our behavior yesterday would you object your kids being exposed to?
We will still be here, in our house, doing our work, whether or not this ballot measure passes, so tell me, what would be so different between now and after the November vote?
I am a taxpaying American citizen. 67% of my taxes go to funding the public school system in this state. In reading over the school curriculum, I see no classes marked “marriage 101,” or even “gays throughout history.” So tell me, where are your children learning about all of this??
You want to take on a group of minority immoralists? Speak up against the sanctimonious right wing religious extremists who force feed their distorted version of faith-based social order down the throats of Americans. They are the American Taliban.
Read the book of that name.Absolutely terrifying.
Allowing people who now merely cohabitate to marry will not change the reality that the behavior that scares you so much already exists and is discussed by normal people as part of normal day to day life.
The right to petition to have the voters decide an issue is part of the Maine constitution. The TABOR/tax restriction groups have gone to the polls with the same or similar questions year after year. It is their right. It is also the right of supporters of marriage equality (the majority of whom are not gay) to do the same.
If the Maine constitution bothers you in this regard you may also go to the voters to try to change it through the amendment process. You also have all of the rights in this just as the anti tax and marriage equality folks do. Isn’t Democracy great?
Read and learn.
In Maine what is taught in the schools is left up to local school boards. If you are concerned about what is taught to your children, participate in the system, go to a school board meeting, run for office and understand that after the last “People’s Veto” the Yes side admitted that homosexuality would not be taught in Maine schools and they knew it (they lied in other words).
And the only person(s) responsible for pointing your children in the “right direction” is you and your spouse. The schools responsibility is to educate.
First I am glad I am not your child and second I feel sorry for your children. Parents need to be careful with what they say as their child might be Gay.
Hear Hear!Their friends(straight or gay)have a better chance in like than being brought up by Archie Bunker.Thankfully these old buzzards will soon fade away.
Get over yourself. Look around you, homosexuality is and always has been a part of our society. Allowing someone to marry their same-sex partner in no way forces anything down your children’s throats. You can teach them your beliefs.
YOU are the one forcing your beliefs down other’s throats, including the children of same-sex couples. YOU are the one trying to force others to live by your code. Same-sex couples aren’t telling you who you can and cannot marry, so why do you think you have a right to tell them?
No in the past means we must work even harder for equality in the present! Yes is just beyond the horizon so you better brace yourself.
“Children of same sex couples” HMMM!!!
There are hundreds of thousands of children whose parents are in a same-sex relationship.
Regardless how one adds children to their family, the key word is FAMILY. Children of parents in same-sex relationships deserve the same rights and privileges for their family as children whose parents are heterosexual.
wht a lemming,,,,,,
There have been several studies published in peer reviewed medical journals that show children in same sex households are subject to less abuse, do better in school, and a better adjusted then their counterparts in opposite sex households.
Same sex couples also enjoy a higher standard of living, are better educated and have higher income than their opposite sex household counterparts in most cases.
Thanks, but I don’t think we are ready to be elevated to sainthood just yet. While I agree with you that my family and those of my fellow gay friends who have children are all doing just fine, I think the numbers may be somewhat skewed in our favor. For us, it is a conscious effort to have children (adoption, surrogates, etc.) whereas some straight couples, married or not, after a half-bottle of cheap Tequila will be humping like bunnies, resulting in a baby, whether or not the baby was planned or is welcome. I know I have seen a whole bunch of that going on. We tend to see the unfortunate cases more than the well-adjusted ones, although I am sure the well-adjusted cases far exceed the former.
sic,,
“I know I have seen a whole bunch of that going on.”
What are you,,?
a PERV & a PEEPING TOM ??
“” ” And do not forget that the Government Scientists also said once that it was acceptable to do a **Study** and inject some southern black people with syphilis because *They* wanted to do a Sientific Study on the black community and how venereal diseases would spread to other black americans. ” “”
OH YEAH…… ALWAYS ***TRUST*** BIG GOVERNMENT STUDIES SO YOU CAN PROVE YOUR POINT BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT !!!!!!
Man,,,,,, wake up and get a real life,,,,,
HOMOSEXUAL…”gay”….is NOT OK !! Comprende” dude !!!
poormainah2012 the studies referenced in my post are not “government studies”.
the end is near
I feel sorry for your children having such a loser for a father. Hopefully they will be smart enough to educate themselves and not allow you to drag them down to the same level of ignorance.
”
I don’t want my kids to have it forced down their throats.”
Exactly, WHAT does he think he is talking about, putting it that way ?
That is nasty and uncalled for.
Do you think they will not decide for themselves or that you can decide
who they will love and marry, Guvnah ?
Speaking of spouting propaganda and “forcing down throats” …
If you are, what is your point ?
How is two gay people being married forcing anything down anyone throats?
We should probably ban non-married couples from living with each other, and ban pre-marital sex, as those are considered immoral by many. Morality varies from person to person, since this is America, we are supposed to be able to do as we please so long as we are not infringing on the rights of others. Gay people being married is not infringing on the rights of others.
I don’t want my kids to have anti gay hate forced down their throats. Just because a certain group falsely believes they are more moral than others doesn’t mean the rest of us have to acknowledge it as being acceptable (or correct).
There is nothing morally reprehensible about the life I share with my partner. The love we have for each other has helped us get through good times and bad over the decades, just as any other married couple.
Many people would argue that view on morality.
But it’s all relative to you people. It’s like talking to a wall.
“Many people would argue that view on morality.”
Seems like you and one or two others have been arguing and that is far from “many people”
removed
There you go again with “you” people. Don’t you realize how that comes across?
Speaking of talking to a wall …
You are truly obtuse and completely oblivious to irony.
It’s already perfectly legal and recognized, in other countries and states.
Until you can show that “Traditional Family values” in those countries and states have been somehow harmed, the “slippery slope” stuff makes no sense.
Slippery slope……….what will be next if we legalize same sex marriage, man and dog? man and his goat?
Those people have rights too if you talk to them!!
You’re way off in thinking that this won’t lead to more reprehensible legislation.
Besides, why don’t the gays take the answer we gave them two years ago?
What’s so hard to understand? No means NO!!!!!!!!!!!!
Are you trolling or do you truly lack an education?
You do know a dog or goat cannot consent to sex with an adult nor can they enter a legal contract.
Let me know when a dog or goat can sign their name and say “I do” in front of a Justice but that will never happen.
Don’t you just love it when they use this ignorant rant about people wanting to marry animals. Sometimes I think it’s like they have tourette’s and are blurting out their repressed thoughts and feelings.
Well when people do go off on those sorts of rants it just proves to me they have been spoon feed their entire life and never took a moment to question anything that was being taught to them.
I actually feel very sorry for them and their offspring. I don’t really love it. It makes me both angry and sad.
What is worse is how would a person such as The_Guvnah react if one of their own children ever stated they were gay. A lot of kids stay in the closet because they do not have any type of support system which is sad.
When I met my wife I was a bible thumping Christian and she was scared to tell me her sister was a lesbian. I remember when she asked me if I had a problem with it, which I never did, even though I considered myself a hardcore Christian.
Thankfully I started to read the bible and I started to question what I had been taught. I then slowly realized the bible was a joke and nothing more. It is amazing that when you open your mind how much one can truly learn.
Your story sounds similar to mine. I spent the first 40 years of my life going to every service at church and then spent my summers at church camp. When my husband was dying with cancer I looked deeply into myself, my beliefs, my church, Christianity. I began to see the world in a different way. It felt like I was given new life when I stepped away from organized religion and all of the mumbo jumbo that goes along with it.
I don’t know if you consider yourself an atheist such as I do but a lot of us that are atheist went down
the religious path before we opened our eyes.
I’m glad I opened my eyes and set myself free from the bondage that is called Christianity.
Okay Mr. Koresh, since the Bible is garbage, would you mind writing a new one for us. I bet you’ll leave out all the parts that have anything to do with morals!!!!
LOL!!!
To think anyone would take advice from someone like you is scary.
To think there are still people like you in this world so biggotted and full of hate is what is truly scary. I feel so sorry for your children, and wife, if you have one.
Your comments on this thread lead 99% of us to believe that you have twisted morals.
The question I have is if he really needs a new bible. A better choice might be to examine the many texts and teachings created throughout history. If you feel you need to write a new one, go ahead. Thomas Jefferson did just that.
I recommend “The Message”, translated by that superb classical schoalr, Eugene Peterson.
Why would you need a new bible? The story of Christ is inspiring and the other stories in the bible can give us all a sense of history and humanity. The book is not the problem. People that use the book to exert power and control over others are the problem. Read it and understand a part of humanity’s amazing history. Please just don’t insist that everyone else must have your same understanding of it.
Low blow, the ultimate in name calling. Demigogary has no place in faith. Questioning study of intelligent Biblical traslations can be very rewarding and nuturing, unlike the slavish literalism espoused by so many.
Joseph Smith already did. And you sound like someone who might fit in with his followers.
You and TN deserve much credit for being awakened.Santorum and all the nuts that follow him terrify me.They represent the worst of America in one little hate filled ball.
One can still find meaningful gatherings of fellow (but questioning and growing) believers without the downside of (too) many organized religions. We did.
I’ll agree with all but the last paragraph. Meaningful study of the Bible, especially in a group of “questioners” like I just did this morning, can nuture a living faith. As we concluded, the Bible is the Living Word of God, with the handprints of humans all over it, not literal, but a rendition of relationships with God, especially considering when it was written, for what audience, and in what context.
It helps me to know that they are just the sad authoritarians that I avoid in real life, and have generally eliminated from my life.
Do we really have to pretend to respect such ignorance, anymore ?
Kevin, you lost points by repeating his lies and allowing his worthless bestiality argument any merit at all.
It has less to do with the issue at hand than cannibalism has to do with the Catholic Church.
I had no clue there was a point system but thanks for letting me know.
What’s next “Wineville Chicken Coop Marriages?”
This is a civil rights issue. It really is not hard to understand at all.
Just keep your goat-marriage to yourself, I really don’t need to hear about it, it has nothing to do with this topic.
Gross.
The poster seems to be obsessed with animal sex. Ewww.
I suspect the underlying motive of The_Guvnah is an attempt to have the comment section shut down.
I wish I had put it that well, Sir.
remember the guy and his love of his german shepard and the father that beat him for his l0ve.
Your statement about goats and dogs is evidence of our failing educational system.
Saying “the gays” shows your ignorance and prejudice. I actually pity your children a trillion times more than children of same-sex couples.
All we can hope for as a society is that said children are exposed to sunlight and intelligence elsewhere in their lives and as soon as they are of age they can run away from his ignorance.
Well if you voted “No” that last time I would like to thank you for voting against the repeal of SSM.
If you’re interested in marrying a goat, The_Govnah, by all means start your own PAC and gun for the legislation. Good luck with proving it’s a human rights issue as gay marriage indubitably is.
NOW, I must ask directly.
Guvnah, have you no sense of morality, right or wrong.
Your argument is worthless.
Please point out where on Earth allowing gay marriage has led to any of these things.
If you cannot argue against gay marriage without bringing up bestiality, you have no argument against gay marriage.
Sure, try to discredit any argument.
That’s about all you can do. The sane arguments against gay marriage are so obvious they don’t even need to be stated.
“Sure, try to discredit any argument. ”
OK, I will and it is very simple to do. Massachusetts was the first state in the nation to allow homosexual couples to marry. Can you marry your dog or goat there now?
~~~~~
“That’s about all you can do. The sane arguments against gay marriage are so obvious they don’t even need to be stated. ”
First you have to have a sane argument against it and the “slippery slope” argument isn’t one of them. And this is why it isn’t a “sane argument”, animals do not posses conscious thought. Animals cannot grant informed consent or any type of consent for that matter. Animals cannot enter into a contract no matter how many times you ask them.
So what are your other “sane arguments” against SSM?
Your argument is a ridiculous straw man that has never come to pass, it discredits itself.
If these sane arguments are so obvious, why do we not see them?
Face it, same sex civil marriage rights are the right thing here, you are voicing the opinion of people who are uncomfortable with how others live their lives— but you have no rational, justifiable reason to oppose our equal treatment under the law.
I have yet to hear a sane argument against gay marriage. It all sounds pretty ignorant and hateful with no logic what-so-ever.
Discrediting invalid, nonintelligent is the duty of all thinking people.
You are in over your head. You might try and recruit someone with more skills to help you out?
Oh my, this argument is so irrelevant.
“Slippery slope……….what will be next if we legalize same sex marriage, man and dog? man and his goat?”
Massachusetts was the first state in the nation to allow homosexual couples to marry. Can you marry your dog or goat there now?
Let me explain why your argument is bogus. Animals do not posses conscious thought. Animals cannot grant informed consent or any type of consent for that matter. Animals cannot enter into a contract no matter how many times you ask them.
~~~~~
“Besides, why don’t the gays take the answer we gave them two years ago? What’s so hard to understand? No means NO!!!!!!!!!!!!”
The majority should never vote on the civil rights of the minority, ever. What is so hard to understand about that?
yes animals are legally property. Therefore consent is not needed.
Mueller…last time I checked the criminal code in the United States, bestiality was illegal in all 50 states including those that have legalized SSM. The “slippery slope” argument is a “red herring” argument.
Hyperbolic. Keeping up the same, tired, decrepit, false arguements (“slippery slope, etc.) further the lack of respect for these opinions (and establilsh their invalidity).
The goat and dog have rights too if you talk to them? Do you often talk to goats and dogs? If so, do they answer back? I think you might have bigger fish to fry than same sex marriage.
“We need to fight to keep this type of lifestyle out of the limelight….”
Their dishonest slippery slope really is not something we want to jump on
here in Maine …
Yes, lying professional conservatives are a waste of air and contribute to global warming.
Does he do any honest work ?
Ah I am not sure how to break the following news to you but Same Sex Marriage is already legal in several states and the District of Columbia.
And during the last go around “No meant Yes and Yes meant No”…Go figure.
It’s a waste of taxpayers money to go around with this again.
We already told them how we felt.
They just can’t take their medicine like big boys. Now we have to use up time and money that could be better spent on things that really matter.
Instead of pandering to a minority group of immoral backscratchers, we ought to be fixing the states economy.
This is nothing more than a joke to most of us. Like I said we already told ’em to stuff it once. Now we just have to do it again.
What a joke!!
It was a waste the first time. The majority should never vote on the rights of a minority.
”
It’s a waste of taxpayers money to go around with this again.”
Pardon me , sir, but can that really be settled without a vote ?
Already voted on it. Now stop wasting my time and money.
Actually we haven’t “voted on it”. What we voted on was a “People’s Veto” not a law to allow homosexual couples to wed.
Do you have even one argument against same sex marriage that doesn’t involve “slippery slope” (by the way in states where SSM has been allowed nothing has happened and no one has slipped on a slope) or “stop wasting my time and money”?
When ME sets the standard in Nov. then maybe all the conservatives will move away.ME wins again!
The Legislature had already voted then, too.
So your point is hypocritical if it were really about what you must imply it to be about, instead of just your fear and hatred.
You already told us how you felt.
But there are thousands of Mainers who have the right to vote in 2012 who could not vote in 2009, and they seek to add their voices to ours, who say we feel civil marriage for same sex couples is the right thing to do here in Maine.
The true waste of money was the hundreds of thousands of dollars the Maine Catholic Church spent in 2009 to delay the inevitable.
Don’t forget that was $$ that they squeezed from the sheep in the pews.Plus it refilled their coffers after paying out from the sex abuse scandals.If you really want to put your children in danger,let them near a priest unsupervised.
If you want to fix the economy market Maine as a place that welcomes all and can throw a destination wedding like nowhere else.I know a couple who spent 20K IN MASS to get married.They were from Maine.Who lost there?
And a waste of NOM money, Catholic money, etc. to try to defreat it.
I blame Big Brother for that.
Divorce is what is tearing down traditional families and values. Allowing couples to enter into a legal and loving commitment builds up a society. Forcing people to live without that legal contract is tearing families apart.
Homosexuals aren’t the only ones signing petitions and getting signatures. Many, like me, believe we all have the right to marry the adult that we love as long as it does not break any laws (just in case someone gives the idiotic incest or bestiality propaganda).
Why on earth people can’t live and let live is beyond me and why on earth someone can’t look back through history to realize that equality is often a long process is beyond me.
Count me in!I am a heterosexual who has worked alongside EQ for rights for all of my sisters and brothers!Fortunately there are many more of us than there are the other kind.
Our values? You mean your values? I didn’t know you’re values also happened to be everyone elses. Are gay people harming anyone by being married? Why do you believe you have the right to infringe on the personal liberties of others by telling two consenting homosexual adults that they cannot be married?
And exactly what slippery slope are you referring to?
I grow weary of seeing the incessant misuse of the term “slippery slope” on this site. A “slippery slope” is a fallacy…a faulty argument often used by the intellectually challenged to try to pass off nonsense as if it were truth. Giving same sex couples the same RESPONSIBILITIES as well as RIGHTS that the rest of us have when entering into a serious, committed relationship intended to last a lifetime is not going to lead to the sky falling and the world as we know it crumbling and disintegrating. I don’t care what form encouraging accountability and responsibility comes in…it is ALWAYS a positive thing. Sure, a lot of people just aren’t comfortable with the idea of a romantic relationship between two members of the same sex. Marriage isn’t, has never been and will never be about a romantic relationship or physical aspects of that relationship. It is and has always been about making a commitment to stand by the other person, sharing their lives, successes, failures, joys and pains together.
Why on earth is it always the vehemently anti-homosexual people who always have their minds in the gutter and insist on making every last little thing about sex, anyway? Same sex couples just want to be able to make responsible commitments to each other and the anti-same sex marriage people always have to try to make it into something dirty and perverse. It’s pretty clear to me who the real perverts are…
Just because you don’t want to call a spade a spade, doesn’t mean the rest of the world has to stop using the analogy.
If the shoe fits, wear it OldWench.
OK, we’ll use the slippery slope argument.
First the religious right wins their battle against same-sex marriages. Then they will want to legislate other parts of their moral code. No more divorce or adultery. No more shellfish. No more usury. No more cotton-poly blends. Religious tests to own property, run for office or vote. Then the religious denominations start to disagree. Catholics say no death penalty – the Southern Baptists get mad. The Missouri Lutherans refuse to pray with, and accept, the Mormons (and everyone else). The Catholic Church tries to bring in Papal oversight of U.S. laws. Christians demand others convert or leave the country. It creates a holy war, resulting in 30 years of civil unrest.
There is your slippery slope for you. And all of these things have happened more than once in History. Thank you for bringing up such a useful (and certainly not ridiculous) tool.
And if you want to see more conservative slippery slope policies, vote for Santorum.
No way… I don’t want see anything more of Santorum!
This is incorrect. I do not seek to tear down civil marriage, I seek to obtain civil marriage for myself and my partner so we can protect the life we have built together.
We are married in every sense of the word, we simply cannot get the civil license issued by the government.
The reason we keep bringing this up is that there are over 1,100 benefits and privileges contingent on marital status at the federal level alone. Nothing but civil marriage will grant the same protections as civil marriage.
It’s simply the right thing to do for Maine families who wish to protect themselves and their children.
Those need to listed and referred to, often.
People need to know how what they take for granted
is denied to their neighbors , and how it becomes an issue
at times where so such more stress is on a person.
Literally at the worse of times for everyone involved,
and the marriage laws are intended to ease the burden
during those hard transitional times in someone’s life.
Would you mind lists these?
Not at all, here is a link to the official GAO report from a few years ago.
http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d04353r.pdf
How does allowing a group of loving and committed people access to the institution of marriage tear it down? I thought the 50% divorce rate did that all on it’s own. I would think that having couples with 5, 10, or 20 years commitment together marry would prop up the dying institution.
Not to forget recent statistic showing a general decline in the number of marriages in the USA. People are marrying later or not at all. The social stigma of “shacking up” is long gone as is the idea of “having a child out of wedlock.” It even sounds ancient to listen to the phrase today. It kind of reminds me of the old “divorcee” word (implying a woman of loose morals). Apparently, a man could be divorced but if a woman was, she was the cause of the divorce. That is a time I am glad to see has passed.
A 12 gauge, a .22 and .44.. four days after the killing he says that he is “married in the eyes of God.” Is that depraved or not depraved? Is the behavior in gay shame parades depraved or not depraved?
What does that have to do with those gay couples that want to be married and who do not engage in such activities?
Really, what is your point?
You’re not REALLY saying that a group that includes depraved people shouldn’t be allowed these rights?
The right for homosexuals to marry already exist; the right to marry someone of the same sex doesn’t exist, and can never exist.
That doesn’t address my question. Again, are you saying that it’s okay for depraved straight people to sully the institution of marriage but depraved gay people cannot?
That also doesn’t address the fact that there are already many jurisdictions in this country and world where we ARE able to exercise that right.
Why do you keep making false statements, the right you claim does not exist clearly exists in other states and countries.
Simply repeating lies is not a coherent argument. It’s just lying.
Right. And marrying a man and calling him your “wife” is coherent and not lying. Good luck with your Unidentified Flying Marriages.
That in eyes of God point is depraved.
It is how some somethingpathes say your laws don’t apply to me.
It would be seen for what it really is, if only gay marriage were legal,
and he was not legally married , I must guess.
Conservatives have nothing if they don’t get have things two different
ways at once
How many spouses were murdered last year in Maine by their spouses? And not only were many of those murdered spouses “married in the eyes of God” but they were married in the eyes of the State too.
could someone please explain to me how it is possible that Gay marriage could have the effect of “tearing down marriages” I’ve asked this question before, but never get a sensible response. Somebody else’s marriage, be it straight, Gay or anything else doesn’t have anything to do with MY marriage – what is the connection?
Just how ironic is a PAC, called
“No Special Rights” ?
That’s and old one, in the past it was used to stop any kind of legislation making discriminating against gay people in housing and employment illegal.
This is what they are all about, despite their claim that they don’t wish harm to come to gay people.
They use the same precise language as they did when they were actively oppressing gay people and intentionally harming them.
And, that sanctimonious claptrap about, “hate the sin, but love the sinner.” Gag me with a spoon! So, apparently, I’m a “sinner?” You want to hit them with a banana cream pie, extra nuts.
Instead of expending all this professed “Christian” energy at the behest of the “Christian Civic League” campaign against what goes on in privacy between consenting adults I would much rather see these self professed “Christians” join hands with the Catholic bishops; and work their “holy” shorts into a knot about organized religions dumbfounding lack of support and resounding and informative silence for programs to help the burgeoning addiction and poverty stricken populations they profess to “love” so much. Minions of the lamb of god my foot.
To build on that argument, the could spend some of their energy, money and time fighting divorce and adultery. Jesus, according to the Bible, was pretty against divorce. Of course the religious right has no problem ignoring this Biblical rule do they?
So, now Heath can front his own hate group, how christian of him; tolerance and all that you know.
Christians do not claim tolerance to sin.
And Christians do not set civil law.
Conservative Christians seem to usurp the right to define sin for other Christians and all of us for that matter.
I hope the SPLC is taking notice of that.Not enough time and money is spent going after this gang of thugs.
How do these guys make a living? I mean, they’re not really working in the classic sense of the word. And they’re not working for the greater good either. Who’s paying them? Follow the money….
The greatest good we can have is the salvation of souls. Approval of gay marriage is something that leads people away from salvation. So these guys are definitely working for the greater good.
I wish God would hurry up with this Rapture business and free those of us who will be left behind from these angry “Christians”. Is there anything that I can do to move that rapture along? Aside from pray for your expedited salvation?
But the rapture is never going to happen so we are stuck with these so called “Christians”
…if it makes it easier to find parking, I’m all for it…
If you’re waiting for the Rapture, you’re going to be disappointed. The idea of the Rapture is an invention of a Protestant sect in the 19th century, and it is not authentic Christian teaching. Revelation 13:7 says that before the Second Coming, Christians are going to be martyred. That’s how you’ll get rid of us, but you won’t have much time after that before Christ comes to meet you.
So who is waiting for the Rapture ?
Just heretics, IYO, then Heistheone ?
Wow, you seem to know a lot about authentic Christian teaching. I take it anything that doesn’t match up with your personal interpretations in non-authentic? I would LOVE to see you give a speech in a room full of evangelicals – I’ll bring the popcorn!
Yes, I had my hopes up last year but it did not come to pass. I plan to open a used clothing store afterwards. Apparently, the devout will shed their clothes where they stand and their bodies will rocket into space! It must be true. I saw it on YouTube! (The parodies on this event on YouTube are hilarious – so dead serious.)
who are YOU to judge????????????
I’m not anyone to judge. But we will all be judged by Jesus Christ, according to our deeds. Homosexual acts contradict the teachings of Christ. And don’t say that Christ didn’t say anything about homosexuality. There may be none of his words about it in the Bible, but the Bible is not a catechism. It is a collection of writings put together by the Catholic Church about 1600 years ago, to be used as an adjunct to Christian teaching.
The apostles of Jesus Christ taught the early Christians exactly what Jesus taught them (St. Paul mentions in the Bible that Jesus appeared to even him, who was not one of the original 12 apostles who learned from Jesus before Jesus went to heaven). All the apostles taught that homosexual acts were seriously sinful. And Jesus said that serious sinners will be bound and cast into the darkness, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. Those are not my words as a judge. They come from the ultimate Judge himself, Jesus Christ.
Heistheone would you please quote chapter and verse where Jesus taught his disciples, Paul or anyone for that matter about homosexuality.
Again, you mistake the Bible for a catechism. The Bible contains only a portion of authentic Christian teaching. But if you want a little bone, the first chapter of Acts mentions how Jesus spent time giving commandments to his apostles before his Ascension. The Bible doesn’t say what those commandments were, but the apostles let us know what they were. That homosexual acts are serious sins were teachings given to us by the apostles, and they merely repeated what Jesus taught them.
Again? I don’t believe we have ever interacted before Heistheone.
So, what you are saying is this. Jesus believed that homosexuality was such a serious sin that he never, ever, not even once mentioned it where he was directly quoted. Is that what you are saying?
So your point must be to listen to Holy Spirit, and vote yes, because the US Constitution says it is the right thing to do, just as the courts keep ruling.
So why don’t you protect the sacred nature of marriage by having to marry your brother’s widow, too, Heistheone ?
Oh great, so now you are going to make up stuff that isn’t even in the book and call it God’s word. Enough already. Enjoy your religion and live your beliefs but stop cramming them down other people’s throats. We live in a multicultural country, respect and embrace diversity instead of labeling everyone that you don’t agree with as a sinner.
Baring false witness against your neighbor is a sin. Judging others is a sin. Fixating on how other people have sex is a sin. There is NO such thing as a “serious” sin. Your sin is not greater or lesser than another’s. Although I have to wonder if not loving your neighbor as yourself may be a “serious sin” because it was part of his greatest commandments.
So why did your so called god create 1500 different types of animals that engage in homosexual activities?
Then let them on the Ark, too ?
“All the apostles taught that homosexual acts were seriously sinful.”
Your version of the bible is corrupted, go back to the original texts. Repeating this kind of stuff over and over just makes it clear that you have done very little real bible-study.
You mistake the Bible for a catechism, which it is not. Complete Christian teaching is a combination of the Bible and the oral traditions of the apostles, and it can be found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The Church which was founded by Jesus and his apostles, by the way.
The fact that you condemn my knowledge of the Bible reveals that you have done very little study of authentic (Catholic) Christianity. The Bible is a product of the Catholic Church, and it contains only a portion of Christian teaching.
Jesus was not planning on founding any church. He wanted to reform and improve Judaism. He was born a Jew, raised a Jew, lived as a Jew and died as Jew. Stop making things up.
“Authentic” Christianity? Uh-oh, religious war on its way. Shouldn’t you be out “correcting” all of the other denominations instead of preaching to some close-eared heathens?
They were supportive of slavery, too.
“And don’t say that Christ didn’t say anything about homosexuality. There may be none of his words about it in the Bible, but … ”
So you’re the one, then ?
ROTFLOL.
God help us all.
You make the mistake of assuming bible stories are true simply because you believe them.
They’re stories. Very, very old stories with some pretty far-fetched happenings that would be better suited for a Star Trek episode than a history lesson.
I really don’t get why you people believe these things to be true. It’s most puzzling.
Prove it. Until then, keep your science fiction stories out of our government.
” who are YOU to judge????????????”
Those that are peddling lies and intolerance, in whose name ?
It is the earthly fruit that they bare, so if we do not judge them for that, here,
we’ll all be judged for not doing so, later.
I’ve read the game book.
And you should read the whole chapter, not the just first line.
I’m saying this outta concern for your soul, and with real respect for what your faith actually says.
If you are going to speak as you are playing “what would Jesus say”,
you best get what he did say right, or he’ll just say he does not know you, Kid.
BTW are you really only 14 or 15 years old ?
It would kinda make it easier to understand and forgive ya.
I struggle with that, sometimes.
So enjoy your salvation according to your religion and allow others the same right to live by their beliefs.
Bigotry, ignorance, discrimination and prejudice is NEVER for the greater good.
The only ones wanting “special rights” are Christians who want the special right of forcing everyone to live by their Christian creed. I’m tired of Christians demanding these special rights.
Condemning others, discrimination and an unwillingness to let God be the judge leads people away from salvation.
These guys are looking for “special rights.”
Approval of gay marriage is something that leads Maine families to be better able to protect their lives and their children.
I wish we COULD follow the money !
They STILL are defying the state disclosure laws, and haven’t even properly disclosed their donors from THE LAST time !
The No Special Rights PAC, right ?
That’s b/c they are scared to death of an economic boycott.Ask Rush how that worked out.
Yes, I’m convinced that once the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) realizes they have lost their battle and SSM has become the law of the land, they will morph into the “National Organization to Restore Marriage” (NORM). Brian & Maggie can continue to earn a healthy salary and stock their 401k’s until retirement. There is always money in controversy.
Thought Mike Heath was a campaign chair for Ron Paul now? Did he come back to Maine or is he doing this from the road?
Unfortunately he is back in Maine. I heard him on the radio this morning.
I thought he went to Africa.
Why would it be a “special right” to allow one person to marry another person of their same sexual orientation? Isn’t that exactly what heterosexuals do? Let me state it again. When heterosexuals marry each other, each of them is marrying a person of their same sexual orientation. That same thing is true of gay couples marrying. How is it a “special right” for a gay person to marry somebody of their same sexual orientation?
It just tips their hand and game plan, Scott Rose.
It, that everything is just fine as it is now, why change it, is going to be their keystone lie.
I saw it when the issue was civil rights for blacks.
Think about it terms of “but they already have separate, but equal… whatever”.
See ?
It is last refuse for reactionaries.
I’ve been thinking about this and remembering the scared old woman, in the civil rights days.
They could not accept the changes until their grandchildren said to them;
“We understand you are afraid but how can they prove to you they are good people if YOU are afraid to let them just be , Me’me’ ? ”
The difference at the polls might come down to standing up to the shrill shills when they spread
their lies, while at same time dealing with how the common misconception is that God does not really love gays, too, by pointing out that Jesus did not say anything about gays, but read Matt. 5 thur 7 to see what HE did say.
The rationale might be if you eat pork and shellfish, wear blended fabrics, don’t keep marriage sacred by having to marrying your dead husband’s brother, or stone adulterers, then you can’t really use the old Jewish law as your excuse to not be a good, tolerant, forgiving Christian.
Think about this, they compliant that liberals do not respect their religion.
But then they would use THEIR right wing “conservative political christianity” to undermine
the US Constitution … “and no compromises with you secular heathens” …
So it is just logical that the liberal Christians* ( who are more like Christ really was, anyway )
need to get that high regilous ground before it’s politicalized and polarized by same the hypocritical right wing “conservative politic christian machine” that fought integration and also supports every dang war.
*Oh, and how come the Episcopal Bishop of Maine doesn’t get as much press in the BDN
as Bishop Malone ?
I’m just asking.
Good point.Same thing with the UU and the churches that actually help ALL people.
I think you meant “complain” for “compliant”?
Classical spell check error… and thank you.
No problem.I look forward to your posts- and love your nick!
Hey Heath! If you’re opposed to same sex marriage, don’t marry a guy.
The motive behind the movement to pass a law making same-sex marriage legal has nothing to do with equality or rights. We passed the Equal Rights Amendment years ago. The sole purpose of this law is to justify and legitimize homosexuality. If the law says two members of the same sex can marry then it must be ok, right? The naturally purpose of a male and a female species in every human race is for reproduction so that the race will survive and everyone knows that the survival instinct is the strongest instinct that humans have. I have no problem with what two consenting adults choose to do in the privacy of their own home. It’s their business. I do however have a problem when people try to pass a law just to justify their lifestyle so they’ll feel better.
Do homosexual animals bother you as well?
You and I see alike , great post ! By the way I know Mike and he’s only guilty of hating the sin not the sinner .
“Hate the sin not the sinner” is what you all say because you can’t attack the sinner as a pervert anymore. Why? Because too many average Americans have family/friends who are gay. So now you go PC. But the intent hasn’t changed.
In a very similar way, the religious right try and excuse themselves from any blame in enacting rules that hurt gay people. “It isn’t me!”, they say. “It’s GODS rules. I can’t do anything about it”.
Spineless, I say.
Oh, don’t lie– Michael Heath wants to reinstate sodomy laws, and lock gays up in prison for being homosexual.
But more importantly, there is nothing sinful about wanting to protect a life you have built with someone in trust and honesty.
Well put. You did a great job explaining the motives behind this push. Once again we have to defend our families and children from something that should never have to be accepted as normal behaviour.
My marriage is not a threat to your family or your kids.
Stop lying.
But it is normal behavior according to nature, the APA, the AMA, the Board of pediatrics….more? And the 26 countries and states who have had no issues since it has been legal. None of the things they try to scare you with have happened.
“legitimize homosexuality” ?
How do you figure ?
There’s no restriction on who can marry whom, YOU could marry a man if you’re not already married to someone. So how is this about “legitimizing homosexuality” ?
It isn’t. This is about the things you imagine that gay people do in private, and being simply OBSESSED with it. Seriously, get a life.
What is this “lifestyle” you’re imagining, exactly ?
What you really mean is just living their lives like everybody else, without people like you sticking their nose in their private lives, while pretending not to care about it.
I’m sorry, but I think THAT’S really sick and dishonest.
“This is about the things you imagine that gay people do in private, and being simply OBSESSED with it.”
I actually try to never imagine what other people, gay or otherwise do in private.
“What is this “lifestyle” you’re imagining, exactly ?”. The lifestyle would be two men or two women living together as husband and wife, but then if it is imaginary then I guess that in November and can just imagine that I’m going to the poles and voting against it.
Thank you…
I don’t like it when people fart near me, we should make that illegal to.
In America you do not have the right to not be offended. It does not matter what you consider acceptable behavior between two consenting adults, so long as they are not infringing on anyones rights (which they are not) then they have every right to do as they please.
So then your sole purpose of voting against it is to affirm that gays as people aren’t as good as the rest of us. Do you really think that that is a legitimate purpose?
”
We passed the Equal Rights Amendment years ago. ” ?????
What Country do you live in ?
In the US Constitution what number is it, then ?
Should we listen to anything he has to say if he is so very wrong about the basics ?
What percentage of the anti equal rights sorts are also this ignorant ?
I’m sorry, MM, but what else can an honest person say to that kind of misinformation ?
Um, actually the Equal Rights Amendment was never passed.
And civil marriage is denied to same sex couples, denying them over 1,100 benefits and privileges contingent on marital status at the federal level alone.
So this is very much about equal treatment under the law, as mandated by our 14th Amendment to the Constitution.
But more importantly, it is the right thing to do, so more Maine families can protect the lives they have built together, and protect their children.
The sole purpose of opposition to a law making same-sex marriage legal is to legitimize bigotry, ignorance, discrimination and prejudice.
The why are 1500 species bi or homosexual? They do have sex for procreation but prefer homosexual relationships for co habitation.
Madore said he’s ready to “take off the gloves” in the campaign leading up to November’s election. “It’s going to be a fight,” he said.
No gloves?
Oooo, so the repressed/ive Mr. Madore is going to do it bareback !
Let’s wind them up.
I see no point in waiting for them to get organized and their lies to take hold,
before taking the fight to those fighting to deny some Americans their rights, with lies.
These guys will drive voters to approving marriage equality with their extremist rhetoric and hate speech.
moral certainty is always a sign of cultural inferiority.
h.l. mencken
Gag. Why not live and let live? Seems to me the only ones getting special rights now is heterosexual couples. Christians of course want special rights to cram their beliefs down other people’s throats and force them to live by Christian beliefs. Disgusting!
Tell me one religion or religous group that is a proponent of homosexuality
There are many Christian denominations who support and uphold homosexuals and who are fighting for equality even from the pulpit.
I don’t believe Buddhists have any doctrine about homosexuals. In Native American spirituality, we are taught to value all people, to want the best for all people, to recognize that we are all connected to The Creator and that we all have a place in society.
Do native Americans recognize or provide for the union of gay couples? Somehow the roles played in marriage between a man and woman would not be clearly defined.
gambler16 I cannot answer your question directly but the Sioux male often took more than one wife and homosexuals were often believed to hold special powers (i.e. spiritual seers, healers, etc…) and were held in reverence unlike how we as a society treat homosexuals today.
Each tribe has their own beliefs and teachings. Each person finds what is right for them. Homosexuals are a welcomed part of the community and are not discriminated against but are embraced and valued. There are traditional marriage ceremonies but very few tribal members do a traditional ceremony. Instead they have a church wedding because of the Catholic influence.
Natives in same-sex relationships in Maine have not been provided with the means to legally unify because the laws to allow that have not been placed. Until then, most uphold the laws of the state and federal government which does not yet allow same-sex legal unions.
The Dahli Llama has said that gay s should marry. He changed his views.
The Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches,
Ecumenical Catholic Church,
Church of God Anonymous,
ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal,
Reconstructionist Judaism,
Reform Judaism,
Unitarian Universalist Association
The United Church of Christ,
various Quaker groups leave the decision to clergy, congregations or local governing bodies.
The Presbyterian Church (USA) allows the blessings of same-gender unions with terminology restrictions.
The United Methodist Church forbids blessing same-sex unions, which has
inspired ecclesiastical disobedience, church trials and much debate.
I am *sick and tired* of trotting out the sane ‘librul’ Maine clergy, when marriage between two hets in Maine is 100% *secular* and civil.
One more time: marriage in Maine has *nothing* to do with organized religion & clergy (thankfully).
This is solely a civil rights issue.
My post was in response to a question asked by MountainMan_73 mainefem.
I can understand that. However, it’s a 100% civil rights issue. Period.
Any het couple in Maine can marry (100% civil procedure)–no need whatsoever for clergy at all.
ME has over 20,000 commissioned Notaries Public who can take care of it.I’ve fought for (and still vehemently disagree with) this trotting out lefty vs. right-wing crackpot clergy (e.g., LD#1020).It’s a major reason why we lost (I was a staunch member of the Maine Freedom to Marry Coalition; and have been in the activist “ring” since the beginning here in Maine).If this people’s veto is touted again via a “religious” framework, I’m blipping out. Enough, already.I am het. GLBTQ folks marrying NEVER negatively impacts *any* het relationships.
It is a civil rights issue. But you cannot ignore that for many it is a religious issue too.
When people bring up “my religion” doesn’t allow this or believe that the response should be “marriage in Maine is a civil institution, not a religious one.”
This issue has nothing to do with “civil rights” and never has. It has to do with a group of individuals who want to define the definition of marriage that dates back to Adam and Eve in order to validate their lifestyle.
These are churchs not religions. Try again!
Ah MountainMan…
Judaism IS a religion.
Quakerism IS a religion.
Unitarian Universalist Association, The United Church of Christ, The Presbyterian Church (USA) and The United Methodist Church are ALL denominations within what IS called Christianity.
Any other questions?
Yes. Exactly which ones bless and sanction same-sex marriage?
Bless same-gender relationships as a
matter of policy.
The Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches,
Ecumenical Catholic Church,
Church of God Anonymous,
ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal,
Reconstructionist Judaism,
Reform Judaism,
Unitarian Universalist Association
Leave
the decision to clergy, congregations or
local governing bodies.
The United Church of Christ,
various Quaker groups
Allows the blessings of
same-gender unions with terminology restrictions.
The Presbyterian Church (USA)
Forbids blessing same-sex unions, which has inspired ecclesiastical disobedience, church trials and much debate.
The United Methodist Church
Please tell me one reason why your question relevant to the discussion of civil law.
The Episcopal Church.
So do I win something, MM ?
Ugly,ugly,ugly.
One of the nicest couples I know…
Marriage is the union of a man and woman. The laws were passed to protect women as the child bearers who gave up their job to raise children. Why is there a need to have marriage include men to men and women to women? They are protected by domestic partnership.
I don’t believe Maine has a domestic partnership law for same-sex couples do we?
Maine has a domestic partnership law.
According to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, “It is
important to remember that a registered domestic partnership is NOT the
same as a marriage and does not entitle partners to rights other than
those for which the registry was intended. This registry is intended to
allow individuals to have rights of inheritance as well as the rights to
make decisions regarding disposal of their deceased partners remains.”
For same-sex couples?
P.L. 2003, c. 672, enacted by the Legislature and signed into law on
April 28, 2004, establishes the concept of domestic partners in Maine
law. Under the law, registered domestic partners are accorded a legal
status similar to that of a married person with respect to matters of
probate, guardianships, conservatorships, inheritance, protection from
abuse, and related matters. The legislation establishes a Domestic
Partner Registry housed within the Office of Health Data and Program
Management, Bureau of Health of the Department of Health and Human
Services.
Yes–for het couples, too. It’s very weak, IMMHO (vs. marriage); but is relatively straightforward (pardon the pun) to terminate.
The homophobes and Maine media outlets fail to mention this.http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/public-health-systems/data-research/vital-records/order/domstcprtnrspge.html
Domestic partnership laws fall short in many areas. Civil marriage is the right thing to offer for equal treatment of all Maine couples.
Dear Gambler: My husband and I are registered domestic partners in Maine. The license cost us $10 more than a marriage license and do you know what it protects? Not too much. If I died without a will, my partner would be entitled to only half of my estate, but he would get to keep our house. Otherwise, all assets would revert to my closest living relative, which should be him, but not according to the domestic partnerships laws. In marriage, a spouse is immediately given next of kin status. In a domestic partnership, that status is not conveyed.
Before you tell me to go out and get a wlll…I already have that plus medical advocacy papers.
Thank you. Your response is exactly the reason why we do not need to pass the same-sex marriage law. Every protection you claim you need, you already have available to you under the law by other means. If you have a problem with the current domestic partner laws in Maine, then work to change them.
Not everywhere…
Domestic partnerships give us basically nothing in Maine. They let us visit our sick or dying partner, helps with some inheritance, and a few other things. That is not what marriage is about.
Not to mention that there are many marriages that never result in children.
i understand your thoughts but DP does not give any rights. These lies were told in the last vote. Please research the info in Maine.
Live and let live, and mind to your own business.
“take the gloves off” but then their goal “is to be respectful”? Please, what a bunch of liars. You already know they’re liars by the name of the PAC. It isn’t special to be treated equally. Allowing others the same freedoms you enjoy doesn’t make you less free.
No special rights? As in, rights enjoyed by some while others are excluded? Like what straight couples currently have in Maine when it comes to marriage?
I guess I’m not too surprised that Heath is pandering that lie again. Let’s hope Maine voters see through his deception.
By Michael Heath’s logic, this “No special rights PAC” should be opposing civil marriage altogether, because those are special rights for heterosexual couples, outside the laws of nature.
The truth of the matter is we are talking about civil marriage benefits, which are extended to us by our government— the government that is supposed to serve us all. We are not asking for anything above and beyond what civil marriage grants to heterosexual couples.
I hope that Mainers can lead our nation once again on an issue of equal treatment under our laws, as this state has done in women’s voting rights and interracial marriage rights in the past.
What do you call a man who thinks about nothing but gay sex, 24 hours a day? “Michael Heath.”
If these two close boobs don’t like Gay marriage, then they should not marry a Gay. Other than that they should mind their own business.
So, Mr. Heath is out of a job and needs to start making money…start a PAC and start drawing a salary.
I must say, I am impressed and thankful for all the positive comments in support of marriage equality on these boards. In 2009 the response on these comment sections was much more divided. Thank you to everyone who supports expanding marriage rights to be more inclusive. It warms my heart.
So the name of their PAC is their first lie.
History is never kind to people who hold such views. I cannot think of an instance in our history where people opposing human rights were ever lauded by the next generation.
John Birch, Sen. Joe McCarthy, George Wallace, Jerry Falwell, Anita Bryant, Samuel Bowers (KKK), and even Henry Ford who was an anti-Semite, just to name a few. We can add Madore and Heath to the list. Quite a legacy.
Mike Heath and Paul Madore – please just go away. You are just sad, little men. You might find a sympathetic ear somewhere else – maybe at the Westboro Baptist Church?
It should be called the “We live in the 15th century and hate those who don’t bother us”PAC
And don’t forget the biggest advocate of gay marriage of all — Bruce LaVallee-Davidson!
Three men + four drugs + a shotgun = gay marriage.
One Man + One Woman + physical abuse = “traditional marriage”
Yes, this is the type of pathetic, disgusting comparisons we can expect from a Michael Heath PAC.
Thankfully, no one takes such outrageous claims seriously.
I agree. No one has to take such claims seriously. All they need to do is look at the homosexual subculture and “gay pride” (gay shame) parades.
And looking at St. patricks Day parades leads us to outlaw marriage for the irish? what about riots after sporting events, should we outlaw professional sports?
The truth is there are millions of gays and lesbians who don’t fit neatly into your ignorant stereotype, and Mainers who want to protect their lives with civil marriage are of all walks of life.
Those are exceptions. Deviancy is the message of homosexual shame parades.
Um, no, the vast majority of gays live lives that are boringly normal, myself included.
Why are you so concerned about the deviancy of gays? I do hope that you are concerned about similar behavior amongst teh straights, otherwise you’re just singling us out.
And what will looking at such parades tell someone?
And the 26 countries that have SSM marriage and have more peace and propriety than ours. Please ignore this hateful man. Remember, we will win with justice and honesty. Hate cannot prevail. Even NOM is running scared and is now backing civil unions.
Please remember to be civil. Their disgusting remarks are not Christian. Keep repeating facts. Other countries have had SSM for years without a problem. We know they are wrong. Please keep it civil. God is watching them and knows their hate.
This is great news!
Gee, is Tarren Bragdon coming back too?
I hope so!
Are you kidding? Some of these comments make me cringe! Statistically, the vast majority of sex offenders are heterosexual. Talk about devient behavior! Marriage is a legal union and has nothing to do with religion UNLESS YOU WANT IT TO. I chose to be married in the Catholic church but now I cannot set foot in the church without becoming physically ill. Half of the priests molested kids and the other half ignored it. If women had more of a presence in the Catholic church this would not have happened! Mind your own business people. Instead of sticking your nose in other’s lives think about all the positive things you can do for your families or neighbors. Use your energy for good and not evil! Thank God you are not my neighbors.
HOMOSEXUALITY is nothing more than BIG $$$$$$ to Maine Vacationland Bidnez owners,,,,PERIOD !!!!!
Quit forcing your Male/Female genitalia desires on my Traditional Family Standards.
Move to Quebec,,,,, anything goes up there,,,,plus you can get $$$$$$ for the show.
freaks of nature & the same feather soon die off = dodo birds LOL !!!
We are your neighbors, your coworkers, your family members– we are Mainers too. And we are asking to be able to protect the lives we build with our loved ones with civil marriage.
If you could look past your assumptions and stereotyped attitude, perhaps you would realize we are not threatening or immoral at all; we are simply people, just like you.
I hope Mainers will come out this November and show that love and compassion can overcome fear and ignorance.
I am not responding out of fear & ignorance sir, the fact is that the homosexual movement undermines our Lord God Jesus Christs’ moral & natural law of our species.
God, Jesus & the Holy Spirit ARE One and the SAME !
Therefore, what is dealt with thru the Whole KJV Holy Bible, is for yesterday, today & Forever.
Respectfully , poormainah
There is no respect in your tone at all, sir. We cannot have a reasonable conversation regarding this important issue if you insist on saying my private monogamous relationship undermines our species.
Seriously, it is ridiculous to assert that a minority population of homosexuals could lead to the extinction of humanity when our world population is growing exponentially. This is about equal treatment by our shared government, and civil marriage for usis the right thing to do.
The Bible says far more in support of slavery than it says against homosexuality.