Local stuff that matters to you.

Did you know about The Artistic Furniture of Charles ... at Dallas Museum of Art tomorrow?

News & events for

Monday, November

46° F
Fog in DFW

Marketplace:

Content from our friends over at TheRockwallNews.com

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Texas Attorney General tells Rockwall audience he has appealed Dallas judge’s gay divorce ruling

by J.J. Smith of TheRockwallNews.com

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott had already planned to visit Rockwall this past Saturday to speak to a conservative group organized by Rockwall City Council member Mark Russo and Rockwall resident John White at the Rockwall County Library.

But neither Abbott nor the meeting’s organizers imagined when they arranged the visit that Dallas District Judge Tena Callahan would rule last Thursday that two gay men married in Massachusetts could divorce in Texas, forcing the attorney general to immediately challenge her decision.

Among the questions he answered in Rockwall was that since 76% of the state’s voters approved a constitutional amendment in 2005 – recognizing only marriage between a man and woman -- he had no choice but to file a notice of appeal Friday, halting the Dallas court from enforcing its day-old ruling that the state’s ban on gay marriage violated the U.S. Constitution.

“The laws and constitution of the State of Texas define marriage as an institution involving one man and one woman,” said Abbott, contending that the men are not eligible for divorce in Texas because they were not a party to marriage under state law.

Abbott also shared his optimistic views that conservative Republican candidates will have a very good chance to be elected beginning in 2010 because he said research shows that after Democrats Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton were elected, Republicans overwhelmingly swept into office nationwide because of the backlash from voters who realized that Democrat policies were not working. He suggested the same thing will happen once voters realize that Obama’s policies area also ineffective in solving the nation’s economic and military woes.

He added that, on the other hand, if conservatives want to be elected then they must be true to real conservative principles, including lower taxes, less government, and encouraging free enterprise.

Abbott also predicted that Texas would again elect a Republican governor. He said Pres. Obama was as good a campaigner as we’ll probably ever see and if he still only managed to convince 44% of Texas voters to vote for him, no Democrat candidate will come close to generating as many votes.

“I can assure you that (former Houston mayor) Bill White, for example, can’t get 44%. No one likes to hear Bill White speak."

He also predicted that if a Republican is to be elected as governor, it will take the highest possible Republican voter turnout in Rockwall County and across the state.

“You will need to get every eligible Republican and Independent voter to the polls to vote for the GOP candidate,” he said.

Pegasus News content partner - TheRockwallNews.com

Staff
Verified User
Anonymous

Another spineless politician sucking up to the Texas Conservative Taliban.

So 76% of the state’s voters approved an amendment denying rights of others. Guess what, equal rights has never been decided by popular vote.

In the late 60's, 73% of he population were against interracial marriage. What would a vote then do? How many men in the 50's would allow a woman to vote?

We need to get rid of these spineless douche bags only looking out for their next election.

snowboard9 Anonymous

1 month, 2 weeks ago
Link to this comment | Suggest removal

I wouldn't say sucking up to the conservatives..I would say politicians like the AG ARE at the core of all that is wrong with Texas.

Travis Bush Verified

1 month, 2 weeks ago
Link to this comment | Suggest removal

I hope this case makes it to Washington. Plenty of Backwoods-Texas laws have become awesome Supreme Court rulings.

Colleen Walsh Verified

1 month, 2 weeks ago
Link to this comment | Suggest removal

Why does Abbott feel it necessary? Ah yes, an upcoming election.

If he doesn't want to uphold a contract from another state, he is going to repeatedly be challenged by the US Constitution's Full Faith & Credit Clause. Schulte is probably the first to get a judge to agree with it, but aren't judges supposed to uphold the constitution? Shouldn't the US version override the state version? Not to mention the fact I have argued that the marriage amendment in TX is entirely contradictory to the TX bill of rights.

John McClelland Verified

1 month, 2 weeks ago
Link to this comment | Suggest removal

Rockwall, it is sad what this town has turned into.

tetsujin28 Anonymous

1 month, 2 weeks ago
Link to this comment | Suggest removal

Note to self:
"spineless", "backwoods" and "sad" are good synonyms for "disagree with me."

Jason Rice Verified

1 month, 2 weeks ago
Link to this comment | Suggest removal

If Texas doesn't like same sex marriage, it looks like they would be only tooo happy to grant a divorce to same??

bbryan44 Anonymous

1 month, 2 weeks ago
Link to this comment | Suggest removal

Nope..that would involve recognition of a legal marriage to begin with. Not gonna happen in the Bible Belt Buckle any time soon.

Travis Bush Verified

1 month, 2 weeks ago
Link to this comment | Suggest removal

"spineless", "backwoods", "sad" and anything else one could say...hmmm, how is that any better than what you're degrading? Without choosing a side, per se, I wonder how many of these open-minded indivuals have ever: donned their country's uniform (someone made comment about the US overiding the State), been outside of this state or outside of this country. Almost like what we have is, yet again, people speaking on what they have very little knowledge (more importantly, experience) with.

Reminds me of when I was in college having to listen to kids complain about the military killing muslims not comprehending that its the people they voted for (more likely didn't vote, but still want to complain!) who are calling the shots and our people in uniform are just following orders!

Anthony Browning Verified

1 month, 2 weeks ago
Link to this comment | Suggest removal

I heard Greg Abbott likes to talk like Mae West and smoke Virginia slims while he washes his hose out in the sink.

tetsujin28 Anonymous

1 month, 1 week ago
Link to this comment | Suggest removal

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

tetsujin28 Anonymous

1 month, 1 week ago

Maybe, but I would bet he has an attorney on retainer...Careful there tet!

jtmbls Anonymous

1 month, 1 week ago
Link to this comment | Suggest removal

::"spineless", "backwoods", "sad" and anything else one could say...hmmm, how is that any better than what you're degrading?

Scathing Anthony. Wrap yourself in comfort Here's your wrap.
Now if you can nail me on topic, that's a full parry. And to wit, you've no idea my stance on the underlying issue either.

The problem is exactly as Travis pointed out. On paper, a marijuana deal gone bad, either misrepresentation of quality, quantity or origin is basically outside the jurisdiction of a court that doesn't recognize the transaction as legitimate.

If ya can't marry 'em, ya can't unmarry 'em.

On the other hand, if you guys really see those as unimportant prereqs, I'll sell Travis's car to the highest bidder. The fact that I don't own it in the eyes of the state shouldn't bother you.