Kentucky Governor: Clerk's arguments 'absurd' and 'obtuse'

[niyad]

Kentucky Governor: Clerk's arguments 'absurd' and 'obtuse'

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear's lawyers are using the words "absurd," ''forlorn" and "obtuse" to describe the legal arguments a county clerk has used to avoid issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.


Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis makes a statement to the media at the front door of the Rowan County Judicial Center in Morehead, Ky. Davis, who refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, says she met briefly with the pope during his historic visit to the United States. Vatican officials did not respond to an email asking for comment early Wednesday, Sept. 30.


Rowan County clerk Kim Davis, who spent five days in jail for defying a series of federal court orders, filed a lawsuit against the governor, alleging he violated her religious freedom by asking clerks to comply with the U.S. Supreme Court's decision, which effectively legalized gay marriage across the nation. Beshear reiterated a request Tuesday that a judge toss the suit.

"Simply stated, Davis' role is a legal one — not a moral or religious one," Beshear's attorneys wrote in the court document. The day the Supreme Court handed down its ruling, Beshear sent a letter to the state's 120 county clerks explaining how the state intended to comply.

"Neither your oath nor the Supreme Court dictates what you must believe. But as elected officials, they do prescribe how we must act," he wrote, and advised the clerks that the state's marriage license template would be updated to remove "bride" and "groom."

. . . . .


"At issue here are marriage licenses issued by the Office of Rowan County Clerk and not Kim Davis individually, as Kim Davis individually has no authority to issue such licenses," he wrote. "The Office of Rowan County Clerk does not have a right to free exercise of religion."
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http://www.mail.com/news/politics/3858456-kentucky-governor-clerks-arguments-absurd-obtuse.html#.7518-stage-hero1-2

[Takket]

1. Talk is cheap. start the impeachment process

and while you are at it, demand restitution for the paychecks she drew for services she refused to perform

[Eleanors38]

2. Davis may open old wounds: Anti-Papism.

My Mom and her family watched a hooded KKK rant in the 1920s in which blacks, Jews, and Catholics were condemned and threatened. This was pumped up by Florida governor (at the time) Sidney Katz. Reaching for some kind of messianic higher authority is outside the traditions of this country's founding principles, but some have nevertheless appealed to some fanciful religio-legal higher authority, with damaging consequences in our history. She seems willing to go there.

[Fred Sanders]

3. The Office issues the marriage licenses, not any clerk. It is the Office folks hold and it is the

Office that is owned by the People and by the Rule of Law....elected clerks are sworn to the Office and abide by the rules of the Office.

In summary: rule of law over rule of God.

Duh.

[TreasonousBastard]

4. It's very simple-- if your principles don't allow you to do your job...

don't take the job.

I know-- it's not easy to walk away from a good-paying job, and you get a lot more press out of a fight, but if you actually have principles, you will do the right thing no matter how much it hurts.

[niyad]

5. are you actually expecting rational thought from anyone in the reichwing?

[TreasonousBastard]

9. Actually, she is being quite rational-- just morally and ethically repugnant...

She wants to keep the job and to make it fit her needs rather than fitting into the job. If she plays this right, she could do fairly well, one way or another, when it's over.

[Beartracks]

12. Aaand, queuw the resignation followed by....

.... the lucrative speaking circuit, where loads of self-righteous promoters and sheeple are just waiting to pay you to stroke their egos and stoke their fears!

=============

[3catwoman3]

6. Throw her butt back...

...in the hoosegow.

[Reter]

7. DU seems to love the word "obtuse"

Besides here, in 40 years I've only heard it in The Shawshank Redemption.

[CatWoman]

11. now you're just being obtuse

[niyad]

14. I use it frequently--it is so suitable to so many circumstances.

[pinboy3niner]

15. I don't understand. What's your angle?

Are you just being acute?

[COLGATE4]

8. I hope Federal Judge Bunning drops the ax on her.

You don't f--- with a Federal Judge. They are the original 800lb gorilla.

[smirkymonkey]

10. +1000

[Gothmog]

13. Davis' attorney is an idiot and is committing malpractice