FRC: Why aren't you being an anti-democratic, tyrannical court-basher, Arnold?

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11/17/2008

by Jeremy Hooper

The folks at Family Research Council sure are feeling their oats these days. Unfortunately for all of us who understand rights and the judiciary's role in protecting the same, FRC's brand of oats are not fit for any sort of reasoned, rational consumption

This from a newish FRC "alert":

[Gov. Schwarzenegger's] post-election behavior has been completely inappropriate for the State's highest official. He has acted contrary to the rule of law and has helped foment an environment of lawlessness (one protest produced 15 arrests), intimidation, and racism. Condoning street protests and supporting judicial activist scams to overturn a popularly approved state constitutional amendment approaches advocacy of anarchy. Gov. Schwarzenegger is playing a dangerous game, and it needs to stop. Now.

Please express the following concerns when you contact Gov. Schwarzenegger directly:

* Remind him that he is required to fulfill his oath of office which demands that he "support and defend" and "bear true faith and allegiance" to the California Constitution - which now defines marriage traditionally.

* Suggest that he publicly accept the results of the ballot initiative as the will of the people even as he reminds Proposition 8 opponents that they can seek another outcome in the future by electoral means.

* Tell the governor to publicly recant any suggestion that the California courts manipulate the law to reach his desired political outcome.

* Finally, let Gov. Schwarzenegger know that he must condemn the recent assault on the First Amendment rights of California 's churchgoers - most notably Mormons, Catholics, and evangelicals - and use his law enforcement powers to protect parishioners and church facilities from trespassing, disruption, and violence."
Contact California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Urge Him to Fulfill His Oath of Office by Defending the People's Decision on Marriage [FRC]

Interesting. But unbelievably outside the boundaries of accurate!

Here, we've made some modifications:

Gov. Schwarzenegger is uncomfortable with Proposition 8's passage, and rightfully so. Since the election, he has acted conscientiously, expressing hope that the Supreme Court might find the rights-stifling measure to be unlawful. And because he is a governor and not a dictator, he hasn't stopped the overwhelmingly peaceful street protests or the court challenges that the anti-gay side intellectually writes off as "judicial activist scams." He realizes that these protests and legal challenges come nowhere close to "anarchy," but rather define American democracy! The unreasoned attacks on him need to stop. Now.

Please express the following support when you contact Gov. Schwarzenegger directly:

* Remind him that he is required to fulfill his oath of office which demands that he "support and defend" and "bear true faith and allegiance" to the California Constitution. This being the case, you might wanna applaud him for recognizing that Prop 8 raises real legal questions, like (a) whether or not it was a revision instead of an amendment, and (b) whether it is in violation of the equal protection clause. After all, if he was hostile towards those legal challenges, he would be allowing his state's most precious governing document to be altered without reasoned scrutiny.

* Remind him that he does not have to publicly accept the results of the ballot initiative as the "will of the people," nor does he have to confine Proposition 8 opponents' options as confined to only the electorate. He has every right to understand the need for minority rights to be protected from majority tyranny, and he has every right to support the judiciary.

* Tell the governor to publicly recant any suggestion that by putting Prop 8 up to a judicial test, the California courts would be "manipulating the law to reach a desired political outcome." This idea is not only dangerous to gays and other minorities, but also to anyone who enjoys the American way of governance.

* Finally, let Gov. Schwarzenegger know that he should probably stand against the far right's constant assault on truth. Even though hundreds of thousands of people have protested Prop 8 in an entirely peaceful fashion, some folks, like the Family Research Council, are actually claiming that "the First Amendment rights of California's churchgoers - most notably Mormons, Catholics, and evangelicals" are being crushed by gay activists. They are also suggesting that the governor should "use his law enforcement powers to protect parishioners and church facilities from trespassing, disruption, and violence." This is a complete red herring! Of course, we all stand against actual violations of the law and actual violence. But it is logic, peace, and love that have largely defined the Prop 8 protests, not harassment!

Feel free to send whichever version you find more sensible. Although if you find the first one to be more sound, then you might want to first check with the governor's office to ensure his email system can accept messages from Fantasyland.

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