NC – Cowardice: Wake County Commissioners vote for pro-bigot amendment resolution, no roll call

[xchrom]

http://pamshouseblend.firedoglake.com/2012/02/20/nc-cowardice-wake-county-commissioners-vote-for-pro-bigot-amendment-resolution-no-roll-call/



Take a good look at the man in the photo — that’s Paul Coble (@PaulCobleNC), Chairman of the Wake County Board of Commissioners. Today he and his colleagues voted on and passed a resolution (PDF) in support of Amendment One — the May 8 ballot initiative that would eliminate domestic partnerships already in place in some cities and counties, and preclude any consideration of civil unions for same-sex or opposite-sex couples.

Coble was clearly unprepared to deal with all of the opposition to the resolution, as over 100 people filled the chamber to give public remarks against it. In fact, a couple of Wake residents chided the chair for refusing to look them in the eye.

That was just the beginning of the cowardice. During debate, he attempted to say the resolution wasn’t even urging how residents in the county should vote on the amendment, which is hogwash. Why submit a resolution as public officials when you can always give your private opinion on the matter?

Debate from the meeting:

[HillWilliam]

1. They KNOW they're in the wrong

otherwise they wouldn't sneak around, deny public discourse, and skirt the law.

The bunch of pugs in office this past two years are the sorriest, sneakiest, lowest form of life yet discovered. If there was one tiny iota of decency about them, the wouldn't have to sneak.

Hoddam I despise them.

[CurtEastPoint]

2. To wit: Mr. Coble = GOP, nephew of Jesse Helms... what would you expect?

Ass.

[MarkCharles]

3. Time for a little social cyber media?

Perhaps publishing their names, addresses, and other personal details about their lives?

Maybe they should find out that their refusal to be accountable in office doesn't serve to hide them very well from public scrutiny.

Nothing illegal, is there, in putting up a Facebook page about these folks? See if they like their new found infamy.

[NRaleighLiberal]

4. Utterly disgusting. The news showed a filmclip of some woman concerned

"that "they" want to redefine marriage for the rest of us" - WTF? What the bloody hell are these people afraid of? Another day, another social and political embarrassment for this socially and politically schizoid state that I call my home....

[DURHAM D]

7. Saw that -

I just wanted to rip off her face mole with a pair of needle nose pliers.

[MNBrewer]

9. Don't "They" want to define if for the rest of US, too?

[HillWilliam]

5. Every clip I've seen on TV of people vehemently opposed to our equality

are old, white, repub, and heavily-jeezed. High hair and polyester is all I see.

Is this the kind of shit we have to put up with from greedy, bigoted hypocrites forever?

A pox on every one of their wrinkled asses.

[DURHAM D]

6. The thing about County Commissioners -

they are nothing but glorified purchasing agents. And the majority of them are on the take. That is why they serve.

Given that there is no real point (county government wise) to this display of homophobia the question has to be who paid them and what did they get?

Did they get a new roof on their house? A room addition? A new car? A week at the beach for free? An envelope filled with cash?

[dsc]

8. Coble is running for Congress

which is why his gop brethern went along.

[yardwork]

10. Bingo. This entire amendment stinks of political bribery and payoffs.

The language in this constitutional amendment is among the most restrictive in the nation. It would outlaw not only equal marriage (already illegal in North Carolina, way to beat a dead horse, GOP) but also all domestic and civil partnerships. It would make it difficult or impossible to enforce domestic violence protections, child protections, and other protections for people living in families of unmarried, but cohabiting, adults.

Nobody knows where this language came from - the NC State Legislature won't say - but identical language is appearing on the ballots in other states. This is not a homegrown North Carolina idea. This was handed to the Republicans running the state legislature now as a turnkey constitutional amendment package. The question is - who paid them to implement it?