Friday, May 30, 2008

S.C. Attorney General Worried About Calif. Gay Marriage

Posted by Greg Hambrick on Fri, May 30, 2008 at 7:22 PM

Henry McMaster has joined nine other state attorneys general (yes, that's the plural) in pleading with the California Supreme Court to hold off on allowing gay marriages until a November referendum.

The attorneys general say in court documents filed Thursday that they have an interest in the case because they would have to determine if their states would recognize the marriage of gay residents who wed in California.

This puzzles me because the South Carolina legislature made it pretty clear this kind of thing would have no impact in the state.

A marriage between one man and one woman is the only lawful domestic union that shall be valid or recognized in this State. This State and its political subdivisions shall not create a legal status, right, or claim respecting any other domestic union, however denominated. This State and its political subdivisions shall not recognize or give effect to a legal status, right, or claim created by another jurisdiction respecting any other domestic union, however denominated. Nothing in this section shall impair any right or benefit extended by the State or its political subdivisions other than a right or benefit arising from a domestic union that is not valid or recognized in this State. This section shall not prohibit or limit parties, other than the State or its political subdivisions, from entering into contracts or other legal instruments.

Why is he worried? My guess is that it's just because 10 concerned attorneys general are better than nine.

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Thursday, May 29, 2008

Colbert Grills Perkins On Calif., S.C. Marriage Rights

Posted by Greg Hambrick on Thu, May 29, 2008 at 1:38 PM

Stephen Colbert had anti-gay Tony Perkins on his show last night and gave him an earful on California's gay marriage decision.

"Many are shocked and outraged," Colbert said of the ruling. "I get the outrage, but shocked? That California is pro-gay? I assume these are the same people who were shocked when Elton John finally came out, even though he'd been wearing fuchsia sun goggles with windshield wipers for years."

"I've read the constitution forwards and backwards," Colbert continued, "and I see nothing in there that protects gays.

"Why," he asks Perkins, "do these judges keep seeing gay things in the Constitution?"

"They're afforded the same rights and privileges as you and I are," Perkins responded. "They don't have a right to marry just as you and I don't have the right to marry anybody we want to. We don't have a right to marry our first cousin..."

"No, no, no," Colbert countered. "I'm from South Carolina."

Graham's War Chest Overflowing

Posted by Greg Hambrick on Thu, May 29, 2008 at 1:25 PM

Most recent campaign filings put Lindsey Graham's campaign war chest at $4,519,323.36.

Jim Clyburn to Endorse Tuesday

Posted by Greg Hambrick on Thu, May 29, 2008 at 12:14 PM

Clyburn says he'll make his endorsement at 11 a.m. Tuesday.

"I voted," he told the Stamford Advocate. "I'm not undecided, just unpledged."

Clyburn will likely endorse Barack Obama. But instead of being framed as the leading black man in the Congress endorsing what could be the first black president, the endorsement will likely be looked at as a response to the mismanaged statements that have flown out of the Clinton camp in regards to race and civil rights in this primary.

Also: Clyburn won't be the only endorsement Tuesday.

Like a Good Neighbor, Bobby Harrell is There for Payday Lenders

Posted by Greg Hambrick on Thu, May 29, 2008 at 9:22 AM

click to enlarge unknown.jpg

A payday lending bill is dead after House Speaker Bobby Harrell used the power of his office to send the bill back to committee without debate.

Harrell said Tuesday he has the power as speaker to send to committee any amended bill that's substantially different than the original. The Charleston Republican said the move was not debatable.

The speaker said that Senate amendments to the bill would have made it impossible to defend against a court challenge. Which might have been a reasonably debatable argument … had not not kept talking.

Harrell said he supports restricting payday lending but doesn't want to "regulate it out of existence," which is where he's concerned the debate is heading.

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