Alabama Gov. Won't Defy Gay Marriage: 'I'm Trying To Move This State Forward'

[DonViejo]

Source: ASSOCIATED PRESS

-snip-

Gov. Robert Bentley, a Republican and a Southern Baptist, said he believes strongly that marriage is between one man and one woman, but that the issue should be "worked out through the proper legal channels" and not through defiance of the law.

The governor noted that Alabama is about to be in the spotlight again with the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which was passed after civil rights marchers were attacked and beaten in Selma, Alabama — events chronicled in the Oscar-nominated movie "Selma."

"I don't want Alabama to be seen as it was 50 years ago when a federal law was defied. I'm not going to do that," Bentley said in an exclusive interview with The Associated Press.

"I'm trying to move this state forward."

Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/alabama-gay-marriage-governor-robert-bentley

[Botany]

1. this is good news!

http://www.freedomtomarry.org/states/

[FLPanhandle]

2. Seems like uncharacteristic rational response from a republican.

Especially a republican from Alabama.

[yellowcanine]

3. No but he is not doing anything to stop Moore - he could challenge him in Federal Court.

His pretty words are useless unless he actually tries to do something about the situation.

[Botany]

4. he just did something in saying what he did

Judge Moore will get slapped down in court and he knows that.

[hack89]

5. He just told every probate judge in Alabama that the state will not punish them

if they choose to issue marriage licenses to gay couples. Remember, Moore told the judges that the state would come after them.

[yallerdawg]

6. Voting matters!

Alabama could have had a right-wing religious nutcase for governor, standing on courthouse steps yelling "Homophobia yesterday, homophobia today, homophobia forever!" but Alabama picked the lesser of multiple evils in the Republican open primary 5 years ago (Bentley ran unopposed in primary last year).

In the primary 5 years ago, Democrats crossed over and voted for the "genial old country doctor Bentley" and the relatively more "left, progressive" candidate.

Today, that little bit, that little nudge to the left paid off. Bentley didn't embarrass us.

I know, but this is as good as it gets in Alabama for a while!

Next, Bentley just might expand Medicaid and legalize gambling! Thank God for term-limits!

[longship]

7. Governor, than do something about your state's Supreme Court justice, you freak!

Either put up, or shut the fuck up. LGBT rights are not special, like folks like Justice Moore might claim. Remember? Your state has been at such a crossroad before.

Need I remind you?

Many of us still remember.




As it was then, it is what it ends up being now. You fucking idiots will lose this one, just as before.

Love will win.

[Botany]

9. The governor just did that

"I don't want Alabama to be seen as it was 50 years ago when a federal law was defied. I'm not going to do that," Bentley said in an exclusive interview with The Associated Press.

"I'm trying to move this state forward."

His move cuts off Judge Moore @ the knees and makes gay marrriage the
law of the land in Alabama. Please take the time to read it.

BTW the lower picture is not from Alabama but Little Rock, Arkansas.

[Yo_Mama]

10. Governors do not have the right to remove state justices

any more than the president has the right to remove a federal justice.

He has said what he has said, and state justices have no right to enforce anything, so this should take care of it. If the state government won't back Moore on this, it's over.

I don't think he could do anything more without causing a constitutional crisis in his state.

[longship]

11. Well, that sounds about right.

But he could use the bully pulpit that Alabama is going to follow the federal court finding.

And I agree that this is a big conflict.

It should be resolved soon.

[Telcontar]

12. Did we forget basic civics?

The executive is co-equal to the judiciary, not superior. And Alabama elects judges, so Moore's an elected official. The governor can only do what he is doing.

[William769]

8. Well there's one sane person.

We don't see eye to eye but at least he's not going to fight it.