Kentucky clerk jailed over gay marriage to return to work

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

MOREHEAD, Ky. (AP) — Many were keeping their eye on a rural Kentucky county clerk's office Monday morning, Kim Davis' expected first day back at work after a judge jailed her for refusing to grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

The Rowan County clerk, who believes gay marriage is a sin, became a hero to many conservative Christians after she stopped issuing marriage licenses following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that effectively legalized gay marriage.

She was jailed for five days after U.S. District Court Judge David Bunning found her in contempt of court for refusing his order to issue marriage licenses.

In Davis' absence, her deputy clerks have issued marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

FULL story at link.


FILE - In this Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2015, file photo, Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis, with Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee at her side, greets the crowd after being released from the Carter County Detention Center, in Grayson, Ky. Having failed to ban same-sex marriage, many religious conservatives are now working to carve out protections for business owners and others who object to it on religious grounds. To some of them, Davis is a hero for her willingness to go to jail rather than issue marriage licenses. But others think Davis’ position as a government official makes her exactly the wrong figure to rally around. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley, File)

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/cf28301d7af44fa38bb29dddd4d5e1c2/kentucky-clerk-jailed-over-gay-marriage-return-work

[davidpdx]

1. Per CNN Kim Davis has said she will not allow same sex marriage licenses

Rowan County, Kentucky, Clerk Kim Davis returned to work Monday, saying she will not issue any marriage licenses that go against her religious beliefs, but she left the door open for her deputies to continue to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, as long as those documents do not have Davis' name or title on them. Davis acknowledged that she is not sure on the legality of licenses altered in such a way.

http://us.cnn.com/2015/09/14/politics/kim-davis-same-sex-marriage-kentucky/index.html

[csziggy]

13. Guaranteeing that the lack of her signature and authorization will lead to lawsuits

Challenging the validity of any marriage certificates issued under her requirements. That is probably what she and her attorneys want - a different approach to challenging same sex marriage - or any marriage that does not meet their narrow minded version of marriage.

What these religious fanatics are deliberating missing is that Kim Davis in her office as Rowan County Clerk IS the government. SHE is the one using the government to deny rights. SHE is trying to institute a government requirement for a specific religion - an extremist religion at that.

And THAT is exactly what the First Amendment and US law does not allow.

[RKP5637]

26. K&R!!! n/t

[davidpdx]

43. We knew that is where this was headed

I hope they throw her back in jail.

[csziggy]

44. She and the evangelical movement need to realize the separation of church and state

Is for their own good, not to oppress them. While they may want a theocracy, there is nothing that prevents that form of government to be in favor of a version of religion they would not approve or be willing to follow. Then they could be truly oppressed!

The original purpose of the First Amendment was to prevent the oppression of any one belief system by another - and Thomas Jefferson knew from his experience in Virginia that government should not have a preference for a particular sect. I just wish he had written it more clearly to ensure separation of church and state since this issue has come up repeatedly over the history of this country!

Kim Davis needs to go back to jail - and the judge should make it clear that it is NOT for her religious beliefs, it is for the misuse of her government office to deny the rights of other citizens.

[Chasstev365]

2. I was only a tot during the Civil Rights Movement.....

but I'm beginning to have a clearer picture of how ignorant, intolerant assholes thought they could do what THEY deemed was proper and not follow federal law. The High Schools in Kentucky are must be doing an excellent job of teaching US History and American Government. NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[RKP5637]

3. Yep, it's very reminiscent of the Civil Rights Movement. She and her lawyers are

trying to set a precedence that it's ok not to follow the law, and that it's ok to give the finger to SCOTUS, the courts and the Federal judge. This, has to be stopped now. This extends far beyond just gay rights.

[PJMcK]

4. Trust the judge

Judge David L. Bunning, a Republican appointed jurist, has handled this case by the book. Let's see what he does when Ms. Davis acts out again.

[RKP5637]

5. Yep! I think the judge has been very fair and tried to help her along. I trust this judge too to do

what is right and best for everyone.

[Different Drummer]

42. I have a feeling...

we're going to see her act out again fairly soon. It's what she does and who she is.

[underpants]

11. The Liberty Counsel is bilking her supporters

And using her to do it.

[RKP5637]

14. Yep! She's a useful stooge! n/t

[mahatmakanejeeves]

17. Sitnexto Kim Davis says it best.

From the incomparable Sitnexto Kim Davis:

[RKP5637]

27. Yep! It's what she wants! n/t

[underpants]

16. "massive resistance"

Whole school systems shut down for a year in the south. To this day in Farmville VA, as I understand it, the schools are still mostly segregated. They have "private schools" ranging from the typical tuition to matter-of-fact private schools at a nominal fee. There may be more integration than 20 years ago but for the most part black kids go to public school and the white kids don't.

[Geronimoe]

6. Kim and her son refuse to work but will continue to get paid.

What does the Bible say about theft and refusing to honor your oath? Getting paid while refusing to work.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

9. They cherry pick. nt

[underpants]

10. That apparently is the standard in Kentucky

I read last week that she gets paid regardless. I would guess that the check on this is if the work gets done.

She gets no vacation, sick, or comp time. That could explain some of the $80k salary, that and it being the pay scale for her years on the job.

[KansDem]

32. Ironic, huh?

Conservatives will bitch and moan about "entitlements" and "hand-outs" to the "undeserving," yet you can be paid for doing nothing if you can somehow justify it using your religion.

[underpants]

35. Yes this story is a steaming pile of irony.

[Sunlei]

36. Kentucky doesn't allow common law marriage or domestic partnerships. IMO,from their racist

history to 'control' their black populations lives as much as possible.

[Botany]

7. She left herself a big out .... "I will not issue the licenses but my deputy clerk still can."

Now if Judge Bunning says that the licenses are legal and Ms. Davis is not stopping
others from being married then no problem and she stays out of jail.

Although I do have a problem w/her taking her name off the licenses because she is
be paid to be the county clerk and giving out marriage licenses is part of her job.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

8. On TV this a.m.:

"However, any unauthorized license that they (the deputy clerks) issue will not have my name, my title, or my authority on it. Instead, the license will state that they are issued pursuant to a federal court order. ... I, too, have great doubt whether the license issued under these conditions are {sic} even valid."

And then she went on to complain about the intolerance of others.

But: if you want a license (and you meet the requirements), you'll get one. She can sit in a corner and do the sodoku. And collect her paycheck.

The risk she runs is that people will soon notice how smoothly and with greater efficiency the office runs when she is not involved. At that point, they will ask themselves just why it is that she is worth $80k/year. In the next election, they will reflect on that when they cast their ballots and toss her out of "work."

[RKP5637]

12. I'm wondering if the judge will again clarify the legality of the licenses. Maybe this is

a way to put this issue to rest until January. If so, it will take her off her grandstand to the corner of her office. Across the US licenses are being issued, I think she wearing thin on many people.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

15. "I think she wearing thin on many people. "

Of all political persuasions. A lot of RWers think the right thing for her to do is resign.

What kind of RW heroine is a government employee who announces she won't do her job, yet she will not resign or stop picking up her paycheck? A lot of people find that disgusting.

Also, when someone opens up a parody Twitter account about you, the clock is running on your fifteen minutes of fame.

Sitnexto Kim Davis

[RKP5637]

21. Yep! I've had a lot of jobs in my life I was sometimes not overly happy with, but

the door was left open. Do it or quit, move or quit, but it's up to you, and it was a very pleasant discussion. And I stayed. The pay was excellent and I accommodated myself to the the changing jobs/roles.

The requirements of her job have changed, and she should be mature enough to accommodate herself to the duties of her job. She is a clerk, not on the pulpit for her church, and, she holds a public office. She's not there to interpret to law to pick whom she serves and what. She's also a useful stooge for her attorneys for $$$$$'s, and also for Huckabee and his platform. She, on the other hand, doesn't get what's going on.

[Geronimoe]

18. What will be her next religious awakening

To sit in her office all day, reading the Bible?

[HappyinLA]

19. My wife's friends

are going in to get their license today from her office. They were told last night to expect her to attempt to deny it. They are super nervous to go in today. All the news agencies were also lining them up for interviews afterwords, they're even more nervous about that.

Hopefully it will all go smooth and easy for them.

[BlueJazz]

20. Wow! Keep us posted please!

[RKP5637]

22. We wish them the best of luck and much happiness. They are certainly very brave individuals to

do this! It is wonderful they have the fortitude to do this, it is helping many people. Please keep us posted, and thanks for having posted this! As someone on the news this morning said, all we hear is whining from Kim Davis about her rights, what about the rights of those legally seeking marriage licenses. What about their rights to not have this interference by Kim Davis thrown at them.

[csziggy]

24. Best wishes to them! I hope things go smoothly

Remind them that Kim Davis is misusing her government position and that SHE is the wrong doer in this case.

To your wife's friends:

[csziggy]

28. CNN just said a couple will be there in about 20 minutes

They're doing a count down until the show down!

They also had a former DA (I think from Washington DC) that said without Kim Davis's name and authorization the licenses are not legal and that puts her in violation of the court order. I hope the judge sends down some US Marshalls to pick Kim Davis up and return her to her cell!

[HappyinLA]

34. Just saw them on CNN

Carmen and Shannon Wampler-Collins, no word on how it went yet. I'm sure CNN will have it first. They did just fine with their interview, they were so nervous about it.

[csziggy]

38. I was upset that the clerk's office allowed that preacher to harangue everyone

While county business is being done. If I were a citizen trying to do business I would have complained about his yelling.

[Geronimoe]

23. Watch Kim's husband's straw hat explode

when a pacifist refuses to issue him a gun permit.

[RKP5637]

25. K&R!!! n/t

[Sunlei]

29. She looks happy to be out. I think next election this old school position should be eliminated.

We have computers now, there is no need for a local office to have so many people.

[catbyte]

30. Her son looks like a real ball of fire, too.

If he also refuses to do his job, at least fire his ass. She's really milking this for all it's worth. Disgusting.

[Geronimoe]

33. Nepotism

His boss is Kim. She is not going to fire her son no matter if he never does an honest day of work. Just as Kim's mother would not fire her daughter. And so we end up with a County Clerk who doesn't understand her job is to issue State secular marriage licenses to people of all faiths.

[Geronimoe]

31. The person denying feedom to practice one's faith

is Kim, by her forcing her beliefs on the public.

[RKP5637]

37. Exactly, but she can't comprehend that! She, is the one denying others to

practice their faith. Kim Davis IS the Sinner!

[mahatmakanejeeves]

39. Gay couple gets marriage license as Kentucky clerk Kim Davis stays out of sight

Update. The news at noon:

Gay couple gets marriage license as Kentucky clerk Kim Davis stays out of sight

[christx30]

40. I can't wait to see what the next election is like.

Can the local dems refuse to support her candidacy? Can they refuse to fund her, or can they run someone against her? I'd love to see her go into election season with like $45.

[tabasco]

41. She's not giving up her $80k per year gravy train as county clerk!

She's going to sit on her ass and not do her job and still get paid. Probably nobody will do anything about it unless the voters decide to elect somebody else next time.