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Rev. Keith A. Ratliff, Sr., pastor of the Maple Street Missionary Baptist Church in Des Moines, Iowa has another duty – head of the local NAACP chapter. The registered Democrat has announced that he supports Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Vander Plaats. Why? Because Vander Plaats says it’s his goal to pass an executive order to halt marriage equality in Iowa. That’s a reach beyond his powers as Governor, but there you have it. Via On Top:
“I know that Bob Vander Plaats is not afraid to stand up for what is right,” Ratliff said. “That takes courage.”
“He’s talked about the importance of defending the institution of marriage. … That takes backbone and determination. That’s what I want in my governor – and that’s why I’m standing here today to show my support for him,” he added.
Ratliff, a board member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the nation’s oldest civil rights organization, also said he will actively campaign for Vander Plaats.
As we ponder extreme anti-gay views endorsed by yet another black pastor (who says this endorsement is not in his capacity as NAACP director), who not only cannot separate church and state, look at the contrast with the leadership in the NAACP national, Chairman Julian Bond.
NAACP board chair Julian Bond spoke at the National Equality March in Washington, D.C. saying he was proud to stand with gay and lesbian citizens in their quest for equal rights:
“Rights for gays and lesbians aren’t special rights in any way. It isn’t special to be free from discrimination, that is a universal entitlement of citizenship,” Bond said. “That many had to struggle to gain these rights makes them precious. It does not make them special. … When others gain their rights, my rights are not diminished in any way. My rights are not diluted when my neighbor enjoys protection from discrimination. He or she becomes my ally in defending the rights we all share.”
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NAWS, PamNAWS.
I’m sensing… a slight conflict of interests. I wonder what his fellow board members think about this.
Hopes based on fantasiesI don’t know, but I seriously doubt the governor of Iowa can selectively halt marriages. He would have to stop all of them, as I do not think the law in states where same sex marriage is legal distinguishes them. Surely there is not a box on the marriage certificate where couples check off if they-re same-sex or not. Vander Plops is making a promise he cannot keep. As for the good reverend, sad that he’s so fixated. By the time the next governor is installed (hopefully not Vander Poops), same-sex couples will have been marrying in Iowa for a couple years. He’s going to divorce them all? Talk about tearing families apart. I remain fascinated at the unintelligible level of hatred from people. Even the bible’s not that nasty (other than to use the misinterpreted word ‘abomination’, which the haters have such a strange fondness for – it must be like saying a really big word and makes them feel like mighty streams of righteousness).
Julian BondWhat a contrast! Julian Bond, articulate, eloquent, and beautifully understanding of the human condition.
Ratliff: Head of the Iowa NAACP, and a Baptist minister.
Baptist trumps NAACP in this instance, what an interesting ability to deny that civil rights are shared by all, not owned by only certain groups.
I have never heard Julian open his mouth and say anything that wasn’t exceptional, intelligent, and kind. Agreat mind and a great heart.
What will be interesting to watchwill be the reaction of the local NAACP members. On the one hand, I’m sure many of them agree with his stance on SSM. On the other hand, he’s endorsing a Republican (which most black Americans will never do).
This will prove an interesting test case for the long term viability of the GOP among black Americans. Will they stick with the Democrats who they agree with on economic issues or join the Republicans on social issues? This is exactly the sort of situation that the GOP has been looking for to break the Democrat’s grip on the black community.
How does he get away with making statements like this in his role as a pastor? Isn’t that supposed to result in the revocation of his church’s tax-exempt status?
So this calls for a visit from Julian doesn’t it….He should make an 'official' visit and endorse the DEMOCRATIC candidate!!
Friend from Iowa contacted measking for strategies used in other states to defend their current marriage law. I sent her what I knew (emailing, phonebanking, airtime, print ads, mobilizing volunteers, canvassing…) and pointed her to ERW (I know there are more orgs fighting for this. ERW is in my front yard).
She said that these people are going to the less, uh, progressive counties and whipping everyone up into a lather over teh gheys.
Oh and I really like the idea of Julian Bond going out there. And yes, I think someone should file a complaint about the church endorsing a candidate.
FEH!
Vander Plaats’ dream is impossibleEveryone knows the governor can’t issue an executive order halting same-sex marriages here.
in my opinionHe’s gone far beyond endorsing a Republican who opposes same-sex marriage rights. All of the Republican candidates for governor of Iowa oppose same-sex marriage rights, but only Vander Plaats wants to bypass the normal constitutional amendment process.
Ratliff has endorsed the only candidate who wants the governor to defy a court ruling. How anyone affiliated with the NAACP could support that is completely beyond me. What Vander Plaats is proposing is comparable to the governor of Arkansas defying a Supreme Court ruling on desegregation.
No, the actual question is how does he get away withmaking statements like this in his role as head of an NAACP branch! The NAACP has a national policy that chapters and their leaders DON’T take positions on things like this without clearing them with the national office!
The head of the California branch did in fact GET CALLED on the carpet over this for his public opposition (in the name of the branch) to prop.8 !!
I don’t think the governor can strike down the state’s constitutionThe Iowa State Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the state’s constitution provides for same-sex marriage. So the governor of Iowa cannot just sign an executive order striking down same-sex marriage any more than the president of the United States could strike down freedom of speech.
The only thing that could revoke same-sex in Iowa, the state I was born, would be a state constitutional amendment. That would require passage by two consecutive sessions in the legislature followed by a vote by the people. The legislature of Iowa is currently controlled by the Democrats who will not let an anti-gay-marriage amendment come up for a vote.
Once again….Here’s a conservative black minister spitting in the face of the memory of Bayard Rustin, a black GAY man, who was responsible for making sure the 1962 March on Washington ran without a hitch!
I guess Rev. Ratfink thought the march happened spontaneously and all those box lunches appeared magically by Dr. King’s supplications to his lord. Nothing ould be further from the truth!