Political Insider

By merely a taxpayer

November 17, 2008 5:26 PM | Link to this

O.K. We are closing probation diversion and detention centers and furloughing state employees because the state doesn’t have enough money to operate. On the heels of this, our Governor and Chief Justice find the money to co-host a national summit on relationships? What is wrong with this picture? This is what they are spending furloughed state employees’ salaries on?

By Still Opressed

November 17, 2008 7:38 PM | Link to this

It wasn’t long ago that the Georgia State Constitution was amendeded to not allow my partner and I the ablitity to get married in this state to gain all of the legal rights that go along with marriage. People argued somehow the amendment was needed to preserve the sanctity of marriage. Now, my partner and I still do not have the same rights that are granted to heterosexual couples that choose to wed and apply for a marriage license. Why not have an amendement on once you get married, it is for life and there is no divorce allowed in this state. It seems to me this is truly the best way to preserved the sanctity of marriage.

By fed up in gwinnett

November 17, 2008 8:36 PM | Link to this

I understand what you’re saying merely a tax payer but I say why would our tax money be spent on this BS. I think there are counselors, etc for these issues. This is not the forum for this.

By Tina Harris

November 17, 2008 10:08 PM | Link to this

This just reiterates my “oprah theory”. People don’t fully understand the full inpact Oprah had in getting Barack elected. She went to Iowa and campaigned there with him….and he won Iowa. That was a shock to everyone…including Barack. Ya’ll had better recognize the power of “Oprah said”.

By Alan

November 17, 2008 11:07 PM | Link to this

As a lawyer and a judge for over 20 years I received a notice of this BS meeting several weeks ago. After reading about the topics and the speakers, the notice quickly found its way to my trash can. Leah Sears knows frightening little about Domestic Relations, and is wholly inexperienced to host or conduct a “seminar” or discussion about it. She was politically inserted into the Supreme Court after only a very short while as a city court judge, and is only the “chief justice” because its her turn. Her lack of reasoning in important cases such as the Genarlow Wilson case shows that she is infected with a racist/ethnocentric attitude, and this “summit” is merely a media-seeking diversion from the total lack of ability of most of the members of the court.

By Fed Up

November 17, 2008 11:21 PM | Link to this

God created Adam & Eve, not Adam & Steve, for a reason. It was procreation. Marriage is meant to be between a MAN and a WOMAN. Any same-sex relationship is unnatural, and an abomination in the eyes of God. This country was founded on Christian beliefs, and being a Christian means not doing anything to insult God.

By mike anthony

November 17, 2008 11:28 PM | Link to this

Georgia’s schools near the bottom of the list and folks are concentrating on this nonsense.

By john Q. Pupil

November 17, 2008 11:35 PM | Link to this

let us get rid of the teachers union and make ga a right to learn state. please help us our teachers are stoopid. The insane are running the asylum.

By Truth Only Please

November 18, 2008 12:38 AM | Link to this

Dear Fed Up - no way no how would Jesus condone or believe the words you wrote.

Let’s do this - I challenge any Christian out there to do what Jesus said - “Love thy neighbor as thyself.” Show me one word attributed to Jesus that actually says that homosexuality is wrong. I also challenge any Christian to explain why you quote rules from the Old Testament, when Jesus said “I am the new covenant.” Jesus taught love and I believe he would not be too pleased with the hate you write here Fed Up.

In addition - why do you want to keep people who love each other from simply gaining the same legal rights I enjoy as a heterosexual. It makes no logical sense. “All men are created equal” - not all heterosexual men are created equal.

Finally - if heterosexuals are the Chosen ones - we better start doing a far better job of living up to the “sanctity of marriage” if we are going to deny that right to others.

This country was not founded on Christian beliefs - it was founded on freedom. Read Jefferson and Adams if you think they liked organized religion - they feared it and the ignorance that can follow what man does to God.

Shame on you Fed Up.

By Hugh Wood

November 18, 2008 1:05 AM | Link to this

This is a good idea not a bad idea. The Georgia Supreme Court has exclusive jurisdiction of all appeals involving “divorce and alimony cases.” Art 4, Sec. 6, Para III (6), Ga. Const. 1983. For many years, direct domestic appeals became almost impossible until the Georgia Supreme Court adopted its pilot project on the acceptance of domestic appeals. This conference seems like an amazing opportunity to engage the Court directly without the constraints of written briefs or oral argument.

By William

November 18, 2008 1:53 AM | Link to this

Dear (Un)Truth Only Please, It is quite apparent that you know very, very little about scripture. I am a Christian and an African American. First of all, we African Americans are highly insulted that gays try to equate their issues to Civil Rights issues of Blacks. Secondly, there shouldn’t be any gay rights or straight rights, but human rights. I believe gays have rights to do whatever they want as long as it doesn’t violate the rights of others. Recognizing gay marriages violates my right as a Christian by saying I have to accept something that is against the law of God. I suggest you read Gen 19:1-10, then Rom 1:21-32 and 1 Cor 6-9-12. God was against homosexuality in both the Old and New Testaments. Of course Jesus was about love. But his first priority was love of God. Homosexuality is a sin and an abomination to God. Marriage will always be between a man and a woman regardless of what perverted ideas you or gays can manufacture. Isn’t it strange that the only species confused about this is (some) human beings?

By Truth Only Please

November 18, 2008 2:27 AM | Link to this

William - you failed to answer the question. Point to a line of scripture directl attributed to Jesus that says anything negative about homosexuals.

The Old Testament is the only place with references about homosexuals … of course it equally puts down a man or woman who cheats and gives wonderful instruction on “stoning” unruly children - as well as stoning someone who touches the skin of a dead pig - I wonder if our football teams know that.

By the way - there are many animals who exhibit homosexual behavior.

Read what Jesus says - not what supports the abomination that man has made of God and religion.

By Amen

November 18, 2008 2:34 AM | Link to this

AMEN, WILLIAM!!! Thank you for posting that! I’m sure it will be ignored, however. These days, they even try to join the ‘church.’ I’m so tired of people saying “God loves everybody!” God does not love those who prefer to be ungodly! And, yes… I can list scripture that states Christians should stay away from evil doers… that we MUST judge them!

By Truth Only Please

November 18, 2008 2:39 AM | Link to this

I guess Jesus’ followers are all about hating and not love and separating yourself from others because they don’t believe your narrow focus of religion - sounds like what some extreme Muslim religions preach as well.

By rid0617

November 18, 2008 2:41 AM | Link to this

Yes God does love these sickening people but he will also judge the hell out of them if they don’t quit sinning. Hmmm, pounding that rear and going to hell. That’s a tough one.

By Amen

November 18, 2008 2:56 AM | Link to this

No, God does not love everyone. Many people are not “of” God. In other words, God does not love those who aren’t His children. For example, read what Jesus said to the Pharisees and Scribes in John 8, vs’s 12 through the end of the chapter. The Jews can’t understand how Jesus can be the Savior. Jesus tells them that they will seek Him forever and die in their sins trying to understand. He tells them they are of their father - the devil. Jews do not believe in Christ even today. Jews, however, aren’t the only ones in this same “boat!” Elder J. Harper Primitive Baptist

By William

November 18, 2008 3:17 AM | Link to this

Truth Only, These will be my last scripture that I will give you because it appears you didn’t read all of the previous 3 I gave you earlier. First, 2 John 6 states, ” This is love, that we walk according to His (Jesus) commandments. 2 John 9 states, “Whoever trangresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. Of course you know that John was an apostle. The apostles were guided by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit was sent by Jesus (read John 16:12-15). Conclusion: Jesus spoke it to the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit spoke it to the Apostle John. The Apostle John spoke it to us in the Word of God. Therefore, Jesus spoke it and he certainly condoned what John said. Now, if you can’t see this, than you need a seeing-eye dog. Please understand that Christians love gays, but we hate their sin. In Love, William

By Amen

November 18, 2008 3:39 AM | Link to this

Love them if you want to, William. God destroyed them in Sodom and Gomorroh. That means he KILLED them. God did not love them! Old Testament: In Leviticus 18:22 we read that we are commanded “not to lie with mankind, as with womankind; it is an abomination.” Scripture says such homosexual relationships are an abomination that is punishable by death. “If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them” (Lev. 20:13). New Testament: To the church at Corinth, Paul wrote, “9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Cor. 6: 9-10). In this passage Paul uses the word “effeminate” (Greek; malakos) to define the actions of someone that is totally enamored with their sexuality or someone that is a male prostitute. The word translated “Sodomites” is the Greek word arsenokoitai and is translated “homosexual.” That means they WON’T EVER see Heaven! No, TRUE Christians do NOT love homosexuals! A Christian cannot love satan’s children!

By Unaffiliated Voter

November 18, 2008 5:49 AM | Link to this

What utter nonsense and BS that Gov. Goober would team up with the shallow Leah Ward Sears for a ‘marriage summit’. Is THIS a function of government? I think NOT! Thanks to Alan above whose comments were right on! ‘judge’ Sears is WAY overrated around here.

By Truth Only Please

November 18, 2008 7:36 AM | Link to this

William - you have failed again to understand the point - and so does Amen -

New Testament - Jesus is the NEW covenant - old laws are no more.

Old Testament - old rules.

If you genuinely believe in Jesus - you can not keep quoting Old Testament to make your point.

No one can show me words that Jesus spoke that condemns homosexuals - they doesn’t exist.

What does exist is the hate and bile that you spew over marriage (not Jesus’s making either) - our lives are too short to hate and we are too simple to judge each other this way.

There may be some judging come judgement day - but I would be searching your hearts very carefully about who will be judged. “Judge not lest ye be judged.”

By Copyleft

November 18, 2008 7:37 AM | Link to this

Wow, quite a few raving loons here, spewing hatred in the name of Jesus. He’d be so proud.

A quick recap on the facts:

*Recognizing equal rights for gays doesn’t violate anyone’s freedom of religion. No one’s “forcing you to accept” anything.

*Marriage is not “all about procreation.” If it were, childless marriages would be broken up and no one past menopause would be allowed to get married.

*The country could not be “founded upon Christian beliefs” when the Founding Fathers were deists who made a special effort to create a SECULAR government.

*Homosexuality is observed in multiple species, not just humans.

*This IS a civil rights issue, just as racial equality was a civil rights issue.

*If your God DOES hate homosexuals, then you should ask yourself why you worship such a horrible being.

*More importantly, what does God’s attitude toward something have to do with how we create our laws? Separation of church and state, people; God also condmened coveting and greed, but they’re the cornerstone of our economy.

By HHHmmmmmm

November 18, 2008 7:58 AM | Link to this

Wow - there is some hate here.

Very odd how people fail to see the connection between hate and intolerance and what we call terrorism.

This is a free country right? So you worship the God you make up and i will allow others that I disagree with to enjoy all the benefits I enjoy by being married.

Good post Copyleft

By Brenda

November 18, 2008 8:05 AM | Link to this

By Truth Only Please

What bible are you reading and what church are you attending where you have not heard that homosexuality is an abomination. It is a sin against the word of God. Read Romans, chapter 1. You know that it is wrong to sleep with the same sex and produce nothing.

By Ellen

November 18, 2008 8:23 AM | Link to this

Fed Up How does a gay marriage affect your straight divorce?

Don’t you think these people have rights to love just like you do. Their love is the same as your love.

Discriminating against someone because of their sexual preference is not good in God’s eyes. Didn’t he teach you to love everyone? Or just those like you?

You christians scare me. That’s why I chose not to believe in a fictious idol.

By Truth Only Please

November 18, 2008 8:37 AM | Link to this

Brenda - again - the new Testament is very specific when the Apostles quote Jesus. There is no quote that says anything regarding homosexuality. If you wish to judge and hate people you feel are “an abomination” I find it hard to reconcile Christian values with that stance. In the Old Testamnet there are all sorts of rules and regulation written by men who were no doubt the spiritual leaders. Jesus is the new covenant - so I fidn it hard to to bring the Old Testament together with what Jesus very clearly and repeatedly says about his purpose for being here actually was …. Romans is written by Paul. Why should we take Paul’s word on this when there is no direct evidence of what Jesus says on the subject? I find it hard to believe that jesus would call homosexuals “an abomination.” It is too inconsistent. I am heterosexual and my wife and I decided to not have children, so we “produced nothing” but love and care for each other. So I don’t understand the point you are making on that front.

The simple point is why do we need to use ancient writings - that may have been the best thoughts and rules of the time - in our society? They are out of date. There are many rules about health and other ules to make sure the community was protected and organized. The ten commandments are reasonable and Jesus took them a step further adding - You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

I just can’t find anywhere that Jesus supported any of the rules that lead to hate and separation.

I just think Jesus would throw-up if he saw all that was done in his name today. It is man’s manipulation of God - pure and simple.

By David S

November 18, 2008 8:54 AM | Link to this

Whether black, white, green or red, there are several things that our government is DIRECTLY responsible for that are destroying the family. If Perdue and the Supreme Court want to discuss an appropriate solution to these, then they might be on to something. Anything short of this is just political window dressing like everything else.

The War on Drugs - lets start with the biggie. Drugs are a serious problem. But they are a medical problem, not a criminal problem. The day they were made illegal they became a criminal problem. Profits are high ONLY because they are illegal. Nearly 40% of federal prisoners are non-violent drug offenders. The number is not as high in state prisons, but it is close. Black men and men of color in general are the most impacted by this failed policy, Prison time means a broken home, an uncertain future, and a permanent black mark that is impossible to overcome. Throwing moms in prison is just as bad if not worse. Legalize everything, control access and quality, hold people accountable for their actions and return some sanity to our world. This one thing alone could restore millions of families to normalcy.

The Welfare/Warfare state - First we set up a welfare system that encourages girls to get pregnant and kick their children’s daddy out. Then it pays more and more the more kids they have. Holding people responsible for their actions is the only way to encourage right behavior. Of course just look to Washinton where we see the worst, most irresponsible behavior rewarded with hundreds of billions stolen from taxpayers. No wonder government solutions are always failures. Thene there is the warfare state. Too many young men and women see the military as a vehicle for success and a future. Death or dismemberment is the only assured future in the military. We see no problem shipping both mom and dad away to kill or be killed in an unnecessary war while their orphan kids languish at home. We extend deployments so folks can never get their lives back together. We see families falling apart all over this country - some through violence and death and suicide - all as a result of an immoral and unconstitutional war. Peace fosters family - just ask any Iraqi.

The income tax and Federal Reserve - Nothing causes problems in relationships like money problems. With an average of 50% of income going to taxes at all levels of government, a family has to struggle through everything else on half the pay. Being enslaved to the government for 6 months will destroy any family. The marriage penalty only makes things worse and discourages marriage. The Federal Reserve makes things worse by constantly printing money, thus reducing the value of every dollar and causing inflation. Managing a household is difficult enough without the government causing prices to rise everytime they turn around.

If Perdue and the Supreme Court want to discuss these issues and propose solutions (end them), then great. Otherwise, shake hands and get back to work because any other solutions will not address the underlying problems.

By David S

November 18, 2008 9:32 AM | Link to this

The problems with marriage start back when YOU conservatives ALLOWED the GOVERNMENT to steal marriage from you.

Marriage is a sacrament. The legal contract is a civil issue. The minute you allowed government to dictate what marriage is, you gave it away to the unholiest of agencies and somehow expected it to remain holy.

Contracts between people MUST be honored by their governments. There is little else a government should do. It should not matter who those people are. The church, whatever church, should decide for itself what the sacrament of marriage will consist of. Legal rights are legal rights and you don’t lose them just because you happen to love somebody that somebody else doesn’t like.

Don’t ever count on hearing this kind of argument put forth by the democrats or the republicans. The republicans are just haters and the democrats are too afraid of losing their grip on power to ever care about the people that vote for them. Why the gays do not vote straight libertarian ticket is a mystery to me. That is the only part that actually respects and would work for their rights - not as a special group, but as deserving of rights JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.

An even bigger mistake was allowing the government to get involved with adoption and family protective services. DEFACS is probably the most destructive organization in this state when it comes to family welfare. All of their employees are just chomping at the bit to find problems where no problem exists. The legislature has passed even more ridiculous laws forcing people to call this agency and the police at the first sign of any issue (intelligence or common sense be damned). The smart family in this state would keep everyone from knowing they have children at all.

By Mrs. Numbers

November 19, 2008 3:33 AM | Link to this

Sorry parents… the biggest mistake and most destructive force in parental realms. I weep decade after decade and yet those who wish their immoral will against this country and it’s families exist. And we wonder why the kids are ill prepared.

By Cherokee

November 19, 2008 4:33 AM | Link to this

William @ 1:53 AM. The Bible also says that slaves should be content in their situation. When you go down to South GA and put yourself and your family back into the Biblical position of being a slave to a white landowner, then you can talk to me about how offended you are at gays’ talk about civil rights. Until then, you’re a hypocrite. If you’re going to quote Bible verses to us, then you need to follow them all.