Washington (CNN) - The District of Columbia's representative in Congress is criticizing a new effort led by a Utah senator to ban same sex couples from legally marrying in the nation's capital.
Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-District of Columbia, said Sen. Robert Bennett, R-Utah, and eight of his Republican colleagues are "Disregarding the most basic of American self-government principles" by "trying to overturn same-sex marriage legislation in the District of Columbia.
"Marriage is a fundamental state's right in the District as elsewhere in America, not a political football to be used or abused to score points back home at the expense of the people of the District, and of democratic principles," Norton added.
Bennett introduced his legislation Tuesday that would stop same-sex marriages from becoming legal in the city without a referendum or vote by citizens of the District. Republican Sens. Sam Brownback of Kansas, John Cornyn of Texas, Mike Enzi of Wyoming, Orrin Hatch of Utah, James Inhofe of Oklahoma, Pat Roberts of Kansas, David Vitter of Louisiana and Roger Wicker of Mississippi, cosponsored Bennett's bill.
"The definition of marriage affects every person, and should be debated openly, lawfully, and democratically," Bennett said in a statement.
In December 2009, Mayor Adrian Fenty signed the "Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Equality Amendment Act of 2009," legislation that would allow same-sex marriages, after a period of Congressional review.
Last month, GOP Reps. Jason Chaffetz of Utah, and Jim Jordan of Ohio, introduced a resolution of disapproval in the House, objecting to the actions of the District of Columbia Council.
By law, Congress has the right to review and overturn laws approved by the council.
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David Vitter should talk about the "sanctity of marriage." Laughing.
As a Utahn, I can reveal the official news. Both Bennett and Hatch are certified morons.
"The definition of marriage affects every person, and should be debated openly, lawfully, and democratically," Bennett said in a statement.
Then why are you trying to SHOVE your beliefs down other people's troats?
republicans, always yelling about "small government staying out of people's lives!" ... except when it comes to who should marry who and taxpayer funding of "abstinence only" programs ... just ask Grandma Palin how well that works!
Senators aim to stop D.C. same-sex marriage
Republicans are determined to be remembered as the party most closely linked with anything to do with homosexuality.
Republicans wanting to run every city now. What's next - every household?
The reps are the Amercan Taliban.
This is the reason the citizens of the District of Columbia need to have their own vote in Congress. Because bozos like Bennett can't shove their own views down the throats of the citizens of the District. I hope he gets embarrassed and kicked to the curb on this one.
I don't believe in ss marriage, but I'm not a citizen in the District of Columbia. How arrogant for this man to think he knows more than over 650 thousand citizens who voted for ss marriage. Bennett is an idiot of the worst kind. You let someone come into his state and try to shove their views down the throats of his constituents. It would not go over well, and for good reason. This is America.
Taxation without representation. It's not just a clever slogan, it's a way of life for Washingtonians.
Once again republicans stand for bigotry and against basic human rights. gay people being able to marry each other instead of entering into a sham marriage, which is perfectly legal, will not make any straight couple any less married any more than a gay man owning a Ford diminishes a straight man's Ford ownership. this mindless hate is totally un-American and a disgrace in this day and age.
Leave it to the Party of No to know no limits to their loathsome lies and hypocrisy.
Why is it that the party of small government constantly uses their jackboot thug tactics to cram their agenda down the rest of our throats? It's because there is really no difference between them and the real Nazis, them and the real Communists. With them there is no compromise, ever. It's our way or the highway, uber alles, 24/7/365, even when we've been voted out of office.
Why do Republicans so hate America?
Let this bozo take a wide stance in the stall of an Minneapolis bathroom.
Honestly, why is a old wrinkly dude from Utah mouthing off about issues in the District of Columbia? He wasn't elected to inact laws affecting people living within Washington.
Good thing the hate mongering GOP don't have the majority in Congress. They would love throw that whole separation of church and state out the window and legislate their narrow minded religious beliefs. Oh wait, they already did.
Mormon Terrorism
hey he is from utah you have to have the opposit sex then you can have as many wives as you want. More repo nonsense. If they toe tap in the rest room thats ok. Why don't they mind their own business and worry about their own states. The party of No strikes again. Cosmo centerfolds are ok.?
I'm pleased to see that Lousiana Senator David Vitter is cosponsoring this bill. He's a fine champion of traditional marriage and well-qualified to tell other folks how to behave. (Disregard that prostitution scandal with the D.C. Madam a couple of years back.) Way to protect us all, Dave!
Seriously...the GOP needs to stop bullying the Gays and start putting forth some ideas on how to improve our economy!!
I bet you that this old man Bennett spends more time in strip joints, airport bathrooms, parks, etc when he is supposidly on a business at tax payers money. This old man doesn't have anything better to do than to stick his nose in other peoples business. At what he is paid about $175,000 per year and only works 3 days a week if that he needs to be doing something more productive Jim Hall Kansas City Missouri.
The Repubs have insisted that gay marriage is a state issue, but now tactics have changed when the old goats think they can get some press out of it.
The guy is a Senator from UTAH wanting to overturn a law in a CITY on the other side of the country.
An analogy would be Bernie Sanders demanding that the people of Salt Lake City drink microbrew beer and wear Birkenstocks.
The real question is:
How in the world does the thought even get from Bennett's brain to the world without him wondering if it's a smart idea or not?
Oh wait, he's a Republican, so he's thinking:
POLITICS FIRST, COUNTRY LAST.
Whenever gay unions have been given the title "marriage," it has been done by corrupt judges and bureaucrats, while whenever the issue is put to the citizens, people have voted to call a spade a spade, reserving the title "marriage" for actual marriages. Bennett isn't trying to do anything other than let the people decide.
Unbelievable! The party of "less government" and "more individual freedom" still feels the need to prove that they hypocrits by denying a specific population the same type of rights that they have just because they are different!
If the GOP is really the party of less government and more individual freedom they will leave the gay population in DC and America alone and let them live their lives just like any average American!
They probably won't though. It's in their blood to claim to be heroes and turn out to be persecutors. After all, they are Right Wing Republicans!
How dare these elected senators and congressmen support special rights for heterosexuals. They make me sick.
Funny. Republicans say government should stay out of people's lives but now they want to stick their noses in someone elses business?
Typical hyprocrites.
Do as I say not as I do. These rules only apply when it benefits my beliefs.
What if Jesus were gay, would it change things. He spent most of his time with men.
The gop is always on the side of going backwards instead of forward. That's why their numbers continue to diminish. They are out of touch with the majority of Americans and what is right. They will never increase their numbers with thinking like this- and for sure-DC is NOT Utah!
People are born gay. Period. Dont start with your bible crap here.
EVERYONE deserve the SAME RIGHT to marry! It is so funny that here is a MORMON, fighting the right marry, yet his own family has PALGMY! DOuble standard!
People, its about LOVE. Period. If you think gay marrige is going to reck traditional marriage then you need to get help! That mean's your own marriage is not strong. Period!
I understand that some persons' religions are opposed to same-sex marriage and even to civil unions.
My religion is not.
Is there a new State Religion we all have to join and obey?
Where are its churches or mosques, that I may go and worship there too?
So much for local control. Conservatives talk a lot about it, but they don't meant it. Whenever any local government does anything they don't like, they go federal. Another example: when the Florida court wanted to recount Florida votes, Conservatives ran to the five Republican political hacks on the Supreme Court, who obligingly overturned the election.
Q: How can you tell when a Conservative is lying?
A: If he's breathing.