Posted on 10/16/2009 6:23:56 AM PDT by Ebenezer
A Louisiana justice of the peace said he refused to issue a marriage license to an interracial couple out of concern for any children the couple might have.
Keith Bardwell, justice of the peace in Tangipahoa Parish, says it is his experience that most interracial marriages do not last long.
"I'm not a racist. I just don't believe in mixing the races that way," Bardwell told the Associated Press on Thursday. "I have piles and piles of black friends. They come to my home, I marry them, they use my bathroom. I treat them just like everyone else."
Bardwell said he asks everyone who calls about marriage if they are a mixed race couple. If they are, he does not marry them, he said.
Bardwell said he has discussed the topic with black people and white people, along with witnessing some interracial marriages. He came to the conclusion that most of black society does not readily accept offspring of such relationships, and neither does white society, he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at nola.com ...
Very interesting. Probably switched parties with the intent to sabotage the Republican party a little more with the racist label. We all know democrats aren’t racist.
Exactly, what is in this J.P.’s geological history? It makes you question just how many branches there are on the tree. However, Kentwood is Britney Spears’ Home town, if that helps to explain.
“I’m not a racist. I just don’t believe in mixing the races that way,”...Bardwell said he asks everyone who calls about marriage if they are a mixed race couple. If they are, he does not marry them, he said.”
Yeah, you are a racist! Moron.
Good lord! Someone needs to slap this fella into the present day. I guess there’s still a few folks like that out there. Whatta ya gonna do?
That was my immediate thought. I bet he intended to retire after this year and intends to do a little damage before he goes.
Seeing he lives on a street which is named after his family it is likely they have been running things around there for quite a while.
How convenient this story pops up when Obama is in NOLA.
A pastor, priest, rabbi, etc., should not be forced to perform marriages that violate their religious beliefs or conscience, but a government official should.
Also, an objection to interracial marriage is not a reasonable issue of conscience. It is not only racist, but irrational and arbitrary. What if one JOP doesn't think it is right for blonds to marry brunettes, or a man to marry a woman who is taller than him? What if a judge doesn't believe a paralyzed person should be married? Should we have conscience exceptions for all these things.
Abortion is totally different, as it is the taking of a human life. Also, performing abortions is by no means essential or even typical for most doctors, whereas issuing marriage licenses and performing weddings is an essential function of a JOP.
Also, even if one thought he should not be forced to perform the ceremony, there is absolutely no excuse for him refusing to issue the license.
He is not paid to “stand up for his beliefs”. He is paid to issue marriage licenses and marry people who meet the legal qualifications. He should be removed from office and prosecuted for violating the couple’s civil rights.
For any professed “conservative” to support the radical, ACTIVIST Justice of the Peace, is disgraceful. Do we believe in the rule of law, or judges and JOPs making up the law as they go along?
Throw in our home being foreclosed on, my 50 yr old Husband getting cataracts 3 mons after we had to drop health insurance, a dead in the water building industry and it's fun times around here! Oh, and Hubby and I both have the flu.
Not exactly where we thought we'd be 23 yrs ago when we married, and some encouragement from our families would be appreciated, but it's all about skin color. Had they encountered problems when they went to the courthouse for license and ceremony I may have gone postal!!
So? Who appointed this guy to be God. It's none of his damned business.
I’m surprised this is the first one he has seen. I know more interracial couples than black couples
how is he ANY DIFFERENT then the liberal activist judges that have taken over the courts today?
.. I would really like to know that
But we do elect them president!
He is just like the activist, liberal judges. That is why conservatives should oppose him vehemently.
Conservatives don’t believe in judicial restraint for liberals and judicial activism for conservatives. We believe in constructionist judges who follow the law, not activists who try to make the law.
Also, racism is a liberal value, not a conservative one. Liberals believe in treating people of different races differently, as evidenced by their support of affirmative action, and their claims that fact based promotion exams are “racially biased”.
Conservatives believe that people of all races should be treated equally, and allowed to go as far as their abilities and actions take them, whether that means success or failure.
Somehow I doubt this thread is going to be showing up in any liberal discussions of Free Republic.
“
He is just like the activist, liberal judges. That is why conservatives should oppose him vehemently.”
nah, conservatives need to find their minds and spines, remember how to fight fire with fire
I suspect you are right. The whole thing smells like a set-up. Gives CNN something to denounce other than Rush. More here than meets the eyeball.
“nah, conservatives need to find their minds and spines, remember how to fight fire with fire”
Wrong!
a) If conservatives start legistlating from the bench, there will be no hope at all for the Constitution.
b) How is discriminating against a interracial couple, “fighting fire with fire”? Does this cut taxes, reduce government, promote freedom, enhance national security or further conservative values in some other way?
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