Daily Kos: Rep. PA Senator: We're "allowing" gay people to exist

[whiteroses]

Republican PA Senator: We're "allowing" gay people to exist
by Michael Morrill
Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 12:57:11 PM PDT

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/6/19/744586/-Republican-PA-Senator:-Were-allowing-gay-people-to-exist-

[donco6]

1. Ugh. Here's a transcript:

21:15
Leach: How would he want to encourage stability in gay couples?
Eichelberger: I wouldn’t. I mean they can practice whatever sexual activity they like to practice, but there’s no reason to give them special consideration. We don’t give them special consideration in Pennsylvania for any reason. Why in the world would we allow them to marry?
22:05
Leach: How would he want to encourage stability in gay couples?
Eichelberger: There is no reason to encourage that type of behavior in Pennsylvania.
24:20
Eichelberger: That comes back to the definition of family and that’s where we differ. We can call all kinds of things families. I mean, we can say a 3 party marriage is a family, or 7 or 8 people or marrying younger and younger children these days .
25:00
Host: Are you saying that by their very nature homosexual relationships are dysfunctional?
Eichelberger: Ummmm. I guess I would say that. I would say that.
38:50
Eichelberger: This changes the definition of marriage, allowing same-sex, and then like I said, 5-10 years from now it’ll be polygamy, marrying younger people, it’ll be whatever…It won’t be a 6 year old, it’ll be a 15 year old, then it’ll be a 14 year old, then it’ll be a 13 year old.
49:40
Leach: Should our only policy towards couples be one of punishment, to somehow prove that they’ve done something wrong?
Eichelberger: They’re not being punished. We’re allowing them to exist, and do what every American can do. We’re just not rewarding them with any special designation.

[tavalon]

18. We can call a 3 party marriage a family!

Whoo hoo!!!! We have arrived.

Doesn't he know Man on Dog Santorum owns these talking points? I mean, I think they're fucking trademarked by him!

I hate that, for the most part, these yahoos do not have any grasp on the slippery slope argument they are trying to make, and yet, they accidentally get the poly(amory) part. We are actually waiting in the wings, we 3 or more party folks. Gays will get their marriage rights and then we will step up. We don't want to fuck up gay folks opportunity by muddying the discussion

[donco6]

24. And right behind them is the man wanting to marry his horse, dontcha know?

:eyes:

[tavalon]

26. They are so stupid that way

I just find it interesting that they hit upon one thing that really is in the wings while all the rest are fantastical (and any of them are smart enough, they think all are fantastical but then, that begs the question of whether any of them are very smart at all).

[Th1onein]

21. What an arrogant asshole!

The voters should not allow him to exist as a legislator anymore.

[av8rdave]

2. Wow....

All of you who happen to be gay. Aren't you thankful you are being allowed to exist?

:sarcasm:

The sheer stupidity and bigotry of some people defies all understanding. This Senator is obviously a waste of gravity. A shame his position gives him a mouthpiece.

[donco6]

10. Your little poster gave me a good laugh!

I need some new bumper stickers.

[av8rdave]

16. That's actually a fridge magnet I scanned in...

It's proudly displayed in my kitchen :)

[Sebastian Doyle]

3. I'll bet Eichelberger spends a lot of time at Prick Santorum's house

attending all of his man-on-dog orgies.

[WillParkinson]

4. I feel honored....

I'm "allowed" to exist.

So, what will it be? My comments were taken out of context? Some of my best friends are gay? Or...?

[tavalon]

20. Don't feel that bad

At least they are having to notice you. I'm in a 3 person marriage, to quote moron-boy, and he only references us as an example of absurdity.

Seriously, don't let the turkeys get you down.

[HeresyLives]

5. They never have problems 'allowing'

gays to pay taxes I notice. It just doesn't get them the same services or benefits hets get.

[NMMNG]

6. How generous of them.

I'm sure they wouldn't even be doing that if they could get away with less. :eyes:

[northofdenali]

7. Bigoted bastard.

No doubt has had several mistresses, and in typical repuke fashion, goes to church on Sunday.

[Mnemosyne]

9. And a wide stance or kiddy porn, I'd bet. Those that howl the loudest... n/t

[Duncan Grant]

8. This is the kind of guy who stuffs a cold-pack into his tighty-whities to keep the devil at bay.

We know you masturbate Senator John Eichelberger! You big pervert!

[donco6]

11. What are you saying?

He hasn't touched that devil stick in 45 years!

[bluedawg12]

14. It's a Vitter pill to swallow - the Ensign of mistresses should wiegh in.

They talk out of three sides of their ugly mouths.

[Bunny]

12. Our Republican legislators come with their own special brand of crazy here.

Seems to be almost mandatory. Eichelberger - what an incredible bigot.

[bluedawg12]

13. He doesn't even see the obvious lie in his statements. Is his marriage a "special" privilege?

Why, yes it is. Reserved only for the dominant majority.

This is a perfect example of **The Truth** and why they don't even want CU's, hate crime legislation, or fair employment practices for gays. It's something denied a minority, enjoyed by the majority, but in the case of gays it's a "special right" that reinforces our lives, relationships and ability to earn a living - and they want us gone. They don't want to in anyway support anything that makes our lives on par with theirs - ours is about "sex" theirs is about "sanctity." Right Ensign liar?


"Prior to his career in government, Eichelberger was the President of an insurance brokerage in Altoona, Pennsylvania. In 1995, he was elected to the Blair County Commission.

His Senate campaign was sparked by the 2005 Pennsylvania pay raise. Senate President Pro Tem Robert Jubelirer was a rival in Blair County politics who had supported the pay increase.

Eichelberger attacked Jubelirer for his support of the raise as well as his stance on abortion. During the campaign, Eichelberger received support from conservatives such as former congressman Pat Toomey and former Lieutenant Governor Bill Scranton. <3> Jubelirer counter-attacked, noting that Eichelberger had benefited from pay raises as a commissioner. In addition, Jubelirer alleged that Eichelberger had a poor voting record on the commission.

On primary election day, Eichelberger took 44% to Jubelirer's 36% and C. Arnold McClure's 20%. Jubelirer and David Brightbill were the first top-ranked General Assembly leaders to be defeated in a primary since 1964. <4> Eichelberger went on to defeat businessman and Democratic candidate Greg Morris in the general election with 62.7% of the vote.

He faces re-election in 2010."
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Eichelberger

[Libertas1776]

15. Gay marriage?

huh, they should be grateful we don't burn them at the stake :sarcasm:

Fuck You you piece of shit! But he is a Repub so I am not surprised in the least.

[MadMaddie]

17. I think it is time to start having more civilian reporter investigators

and start digging through these politicians background. The MSM isn't going to do anything.

There are skeletons in the closet waiting to get out!!

If this man could get away with saying this about minorities he would, trust me he would!

[glitch]

19. Holey moley, what a N-word.

Would say exactly what that N-word is but don't want to invoke Godwin's Awesome Law.

[enigmatic]

22. What an asshole

Seriously.

[unblock]

23. except of course that there are those who DON'T allow gays to exist

there's still plenty of hate violence direct at gays, and torment about homosexuality is probably the leading cause of suicide in teens.

and intolerance from people like this contributes to it all.

[bluedawg12]

25. just reading the replies there - they seem to think this is a unique view

and no one mentioned that there are other States and other political "figures" who say the same - or worse.

[whiteroses]

27. change.org: "One of the Best Marriage Equality Debates You'll Ever Listen To"

http://gayrights.change.org/blog/view/one_of_the_best_marriage_equality_debates_youll_ever_listen_to
Remember that scene in "Milk" where Harvey debates California State Senator John Briggs over the merits of Proposition Six, the California ballot measure that would have allowed public schools to fire gay and lesbian teachers? The part I remember most about that storyline is how vital those debates were between Milk and Briggs, and how Harvey was able to use those debates to point out the ridiculousness and the bigotry that lurked behind Briggs's concerns over gay people in the public school system.

It's rare that a debate matches those Milk vs. Briggs affairs, but we now have one coming out of Pennsylvania on the issue of marriage equality. Pennsylvania State Senator Daylin Leach has introduced a bill in the Keystone State to legalize same-sex marriage. Meanwhile, another State Senator, John Eichelberger, has introduced a bill that would put a constitutional amendment on the ballot to ban same-sex marriage. Opposing bills coming from two state senators.

And this week, they debated each other on WHYY in Philadelphia. And the result? Well, State Senator Daylin Leach, a marriage equality advocate, was able to school State Sen. Eichelberger and in the process, pull the rug out from the myriad of bogus arguments used by anti-same-sex marriage folks to continually discriminate against LGBT people. The two senators tackle nearly every issue surrounding same-sex marriage. You can listen to the debate here, but below we'll summarize a few brief points from State Senator Daylin Leach hitting on a number of crap arguments that anti-LGBT forces make. This debate is worth listening to no matter where you live, as the issues certainly transcend Pennsylvania. Because this just may be one of the best marriage equality debates you'll ever listen to. Hit it.... MORE ...

[whiteroses]

28. post from 'I Should Be Laughing'

from http://ishouldbelaughing.blogspot.com/

Quotes Of The Day


Pennsylvania State Senator Daylin Leach is trying to get marriage equality passed in his state. And if you listen to his words, what he says, how he says it, how he shoots down every 'No' argument, you begin to wonder....is he the new Harvey? I think he might be. This is what Daylin Leach has to say about marriage equality and the fight for it:


Concerns Over "Activist" Courts:"
A court that enacts equality doesn't have to be an activist court. It could just be following the law, which is what Massachusetts did when it legalized same-sex marriage."

Constitutional Amendments and Courts:
"If there's a court that was bent on declaring same-sex marriage legal, they could just ignore a constitutional amendment and rule under the federal constitution, and its equal protection clause, which overrules any state constitution.

The Illegitimacy of Ballot Measures:
"If you put slavery on the ballot, Jim Crow, even interracial marriage on the ballot in many parts of the country, it would have lost....We revere the legislators that voted for civil rights even though it was unpopular in some of their states, even Al Gore's father who lost his seat over . Our job as legislators is to do what's right, not to give voice to every whim of a majority to oppress a minority."

The Influence of the Civil Rights Movement on LGBT Rights:
"This is in line with the racial civil rights movement and the struggle for equality that women went through, and the struggle for equality that immigrants fought. is the last sort of acceptable discrimination in society. It's getting less and less, but it's our job to put the nail in the coffin and grant full equality for everyone."

On Trying to Push Through an Amendment Banning Gay Marriage Multiple Times in Pennsylvania:
" attempted to get a ban passed three years ago when there were many more legislators sympathetic than now. And they failed then."

The Future of Marriage Equality:
"In 20 years, all 50 states, it's inevitable, will have same-sex marriage. And we'll wonder, like interracial marriage, why this was ever controversial."

The Fallacy that Gay Marriage will Harm Society:
"The idea that there are tens of thousands of studies is wrong....every study on the issue says that children of gay marriage and gay marriage itself does nothing adverse to society. You would think that if it did, we would notice it."

Dismantling the Slippery Slope Argument that Gay Marriage Could Lead to Bestiality or Polygamy:
"This is an argument not against gay marriage, but against all marriage - if you allow anyone to marry, you have to allow everyone to marry. The idea that if you allow two men to get married, you'd have to allow a man to marry an aardvark or his lawn mower is just not accurate. We draw reasonable lines all the time in society. You can drive 65mph, but not 95mph; you can keep a gun but not a truck bomb. To me the line should be drawn where it allows everyone to marry the one person that they most love in the world."
Posted by Bob at 7:30 AM 3 comments
Labels: daylin leach, marriage equality, pennsylvania, quotes