Tweet
Equality supporters 98, NOM 42. That was the tally at the first stop for the NOM tour bus in Iowa.
NOM simply doesn’t give up, and sadly there has been a lot of money poured into Iowa to get rid of the judges responsible for marriage equality in that state. But the kickoff stop has proven that hate doesn’t draw crowds for Brian Brown or Maggie Gallagher. It’s embarrassing from a PR perspective. Prop 8 Trial Tracker has coverage:
This morning on the steps of the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines, 98 equality supporters and several media outlets assembled to kickoff the Homegrown Justice Tour, a counter-tour organizing events in cities across Iowa to greet the Judge Bus.…Here is Congressman Steve King speaking in front of the “podium”
P8TT’s Arisha Michelle Hatch:
We had the opportunity to talk to one of those supporters who repeatedly referred to same-sex marriage as “sodomy-marriage” and expressed concerns that legalization would lead to the “desecration” of the institution, as well as, the proliferation of AIDS.Next, the Judge Bus made a quick stop in Atlantic – so quick, in fact, that we arrived on the scene several minutes after the Judge Bus had already left (we left about 20 minutes after the bus because we stayed behind to interview Brian Brown, who has opted travel in a rental car behind the Judge Bus.)
16 Comments
AmazingPeople who if asked would say they are strict constructionists, ignore the fact that you cannot have an independent judiciary (as intended by founders) if judges can be booted for unpopular decision. I imagine they would be horrified if a judge that ruled in favor of 2nd amendment rights in a liberal district got booted. Very short sighted politics, an independent judiciary is not liberal or conservative, it is necessary for a functional democracy.
This may be the most important race this election.
NOM’s Iowa ‘toss the judges’ bus tour is another big FAILWow the article is so lovely and video is also too good, thanks pamshouseblend for sharing informative knowledge all time,
Knight Sticks E-Cig
“Homegrown Justice”?!That’s code for “vigilante” and, if memory serves, is one of the phrases used by radical anti-choicers to describe murdering abortion providers.
NOM isn’t even bothering to disguise its crazy anymore.
They are like Humpty Dumpty in “Alice Through the Looking Glass”“Strict constructionists” mean exactly what they want it to mean, nothing more and nothing less. And want it to mean a Talibangelical theocracy where they control every aspect of public and private life, including how judges rule. Independence of any kind — especially an independent judiciary — is quite literally anathema to them.
Ummm….While I absolutely agree that not re-electing these judges based on their vote to treat same-sex couples as citizens is wrong, this is the way the system works.
If you have a system that puts a check on judges by forcing periodic re-election rather than lifetime terms, then organizing a “don’t vote for them” campaign because of something you find reprehensible makes perfect sense.
This isn’t some impeachment or call for recall that was drummed up specifically because of their vote on equality. This is the way the Iowa system works.
In this case, strict construction of the Iowa constitution would be perfectly in line with voting to replace justices you disapprove of.
Wrong, bigoted, Neanderthal, and pig-headed but not out of line with strict construction.
republicans and teabaggers have only one problem: too much time on their handsi’ve said it before and i’ll say it again–democrats should be putting republicans on the defensive, every day, every week, all the time. if republicans had to spend as much time fighting for 2nd amendment gun-ownership rights as they spend trying to take away the 1st amendment rights of others, we would have an easier time of it. as it stands, democrats take “safe” positions and spend their time defending themselves against THE EXACT SAME CRITICISMS they would face if they had taken more aggressive stances and used more aggressive tactics. we need an aggressive, offensive-style movement that truly undermines republican extremism. without it, steve king and michele bachmann and all the other teabaggers have lots of time on their hands to rail about socialism and the destruction of society. we should give them something to really talk about.
Re:The point is that the system is broken. Period.
Elected judges are a blatantly idiotic idea. The middle ground between that and lifetime appointments are limited terms of maybe 10-15 years. Maybe allow them to be re-appointed if the next administration thinks they are doing a good job.
the 1962 Iowa lawwas intended to rid the court of corrupted judges. When all judges vote the same and there were no prior rulings from the judges to bring about these actions, I’d say it’s an abuse of the law.
thumbs upThanks for posting this though I believed that this tour wouldn’t be a fail :/
Acai Max Cleanse
Now, THAT, I agree with.
Monogomous marrige = poliferation of AIDS?What a joke. Married people typically remain with fewer partners than unmarried people, so wouldn’t that actually lower the spread of AIDS and other STD’s?
Love how he ties a football game to recognition of gay marriage. Maybe I’m dense, but it just didn’t make any sense what he said.
There’s a lot great planets out there, and the moon is made from cheese! That’s why we need to remove these judges!
Seriously, WTF?!
I’m confused. Please to explain.7 out of 7 judges voted for marriage equality. The bigots are trying to get rid of 3 of them. Whiiiiich leaves 4, still a majority, correct?
Even if the bigots elect 3 judges so conservative they make Roy Moore look like Liberace, how is that going to change anything?
steve kingWOW…are you SURE hes not RELATED to the McChance family, of Arkansas??? WHAT a FKN ignorant ashol…hes the one who was screaming (after marriage equality passed) I WARNED YOU!!! the GAYS are comming, the GAYS are comming!! Thats right ,Iowans, look to the sky, watch out for the RAINBOW colored seed pods!!! they’re comming ,lol,
This is a strategyThe idea is to punish judges who issue pro-LGBT rulings (regardless of their overall political bent, actually) in whatever jurisdictions allow such votes. The goal is to make on-the-fence judges who don’t have built in job security to think twice about ruling for LGBT rights. NOM readily admits this will have little to no effect in IA but hope to create fear of their mighty machine elsewhere and in the future.
Frankly it seems more like a fundraising ploy than a truly effective strategy but worth fighting back anyway.
Fear mongeringNOM knows they can’t change Iowa. And it isn’t about how many people show up at their rallies in Iowa. What really counts are the VOTES. Even if one judge isn’t retained it sends a very strong message to judges everywhere, “If you issue a pro-LGBT ruling your job could be in jeopardy.”
HIV“What a joke. Married people typically remain with fewer partners than unmarried people, so wouldn’t that actually lower the spread of AIDS and other STD’s? ”
This is absolutely correct and i can confirm it
Acai Berry Canada