Back in the wedding Dark Ages
Truly, the whole marriage issue, including questions the right kind of household for kids to grow up in, is something the nation can't seem to stop arguing about. But the latest uproar doesn't concern gay marriage. It's the case of a Louisiana justice of the peace who refused to officiate at the wedding of an interracial couple, an issue that was resolved by the U.S. Supreme Court decades ago.
Keith Bardwell, a white justice of the peace, refused to perform the ceremony for a white woman and black man this year. This month, in fact. He said their children would suffer because society would not accept them. Yeah, we've really noticed how that held back a kid once called Barry....
The ACLU is calling for Bardwell's resignation. Sounds silly to me. He should be fired immediately, and brought up on disciplinary charges and then sued. It is illegal to refuse to marry an otherwise eligible couple because of their race, or in this case, races.
Photo: A 1965 photo of Mildred Loving and her husband, Richard, whose lawsuit against Virginia led to a landmark Supreme Court decision in 1967 in favor of interracial couples' right to marry. Credit: AP file photo.
-- Karin Klein
Right-wing Supreme Court Judge Clarence Thomas is married to a Caucasian.
But, being a good Republcian tool, Thomas would probably side with Judge Bardwell.
Posted by: donsmith7777 | October 16, 2009 at 04:43 PM
Your hysterical reaction makes it sound like the actions of one nutty judge are an epidemic sweeping the nation.
Posted by: Tom Davis | October 16, 2009 at 04:53 PM
It's not an epidemic, it's systemic. It's ingrained and this is yet ANOTHER example. Keep your head in the sand and claim otherwise if it helps.
Posted by: TomM | October 16, 2009 at 10:31 PM
hmmmm most likely this guy is a republican.
Posted by: keith | October 17, 2009 at 05:40 AM
r.e.: Right-wing Supreme Court Judge Clarence Thomas is married to a Caucasian.
But, being a good Republcian tool, Thomas would probably side with Judge Bardwell.
Posted by: donsmith7777 | October 16, 2009 at 04:43 PM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I hate to burst your bubble, but this J.P. is a DEMOCRAT!
You won't find it in any of the online stories, but if you do a little research, you can find it.
But, being a lazy Democrat tool, I seriously doubt that you or any others like you will.
Posted by: NobCity | October 17, 2009 at 05:44 AM
Actually NobCity, Bardwell switched parties prior to his 2008 election. True, he was a Democrat at one time but he's definitely a card carrying Republican now.
And before you call a Democrat lazy, unjustifiably, make sure you do your homework instead of depending only on the cliff notes.
Posted by: MeiNKev | October 17, 2009 at 07:09 AM
Sorry NoobCity but this source clearly contradicts you, the guy is a republican:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jy_z-Zo4fvJEf2TK1LCiiPIe9NDwD9BCH82O0
Posted by: OSBoy | October 17, 2009 at 07:10 AM
it's a wonder the man has time to marry anybody at all, what with all that teapartyin', listenin' to rush and glenn, ferretin' out commie sympathizers, readin' sarah's new book, runnin' around with david duke and pals... it sure does keep a body busy.
Posted by: ohioboyd | October 17, 2009 at 09:37 AM
Please be aware that this type attitude exist in major cities like Los Angeles
even now. My bi-racial grandchild was taken from their parents by Department
of Children and Family services, DCFS. However, my White son-in-law soon
complained to me that a White social worker tried to make a deal with him
suggesting that if he divorced his Black wife, she'd return the child to 'him'. It
certainly caused me to question truth of why my grandchild wasn't placed with
me though family is preferable per Ca law. Yet, I discovered at court and from
grandchild that current foster parents are a gay couple. Appears only racial!
Posted by: KL | October 17, 2009 at 10:33 AM
I think the guy is an idiot, but please note there is a difference between having a law statewide that says this bride and groom can't get legally married and ONE IDIOT refusing to marry them. They had little trouble finding someone else to marry them.
Posted by: Ken | October 17, 2009 at 10:48 AM
Religious zealots must pay for their disgusting violations, now!
Posted by: FlexSF | October 17, 2009 at 11:06 AM
It is equally sad to see simple black and white knee jerk reactions to the reason behind someone's behavior in this age... "must be a republican".
There are many people who go through their days being ignorant or just stupid that never vote or even think about any political party one way or another. But you go right ahead and make everything and everyone easy to categorize and feel smart: Legalize weed? Oh, you're a democrat. What? You don't want national health care? You're just being a republican.
Posted by: Dan | October 17, 2009 at 12:05 PM
Tangipahoa Parish has another claim to fame: It was the filming location for In the Heat of the Night, the TV show about race and the law.
See:
http://notionscapital.wordpress.com/2009/10/17/not-in-tangipahoa-parish/
Posted by: Mike Licht | October 17, 2009 at 03:22 PM
Maybe we should let the people decide, just like prop8!?
Posted by: George | October 17, 2009 at 06:14 PM
Biochemistry is not a 'wierd science'. A union between two adults is not a flaw. Discrimination against children is. This buddy(Mr.Justice) has a distorted legal opinion.
Posted by: Ida Dalser | October 18, 2009 at 12:15 AM
Repugnican Senator David Vitter refuses to comment. Perhaps he does not know support the 14th Amendment either.
Posted by: Larry Linn | October 18, 2009 at 12:16 PM
Instead of a black robe, this justice of the peace opted for the white sheets and the pointy mask. Republican or Democrat, the idiot is a dinosaur and a fool.
Posted by: Roberta | October 19, 2009 at 06:33 AM
The j.p. claims he feels sorry for the children. Just who is he talking about? Our intelligent, cosmopolitan president? It's the j.p. we should feel sorry for. He was born in the wrong century and can't adjust to modern life.
Posted by: sandra m | October 19, 2009 at 10:40 AM