American Morning
Avlon: 'Wingnut' literally locks out Republicans
Editor’s note: John P. Avlon is the author of Independent Nation: How Centrists Can Change American Politics and writes a weekly column for The Daily Beast. Previously, he served as Chief Speechwriter for New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and was a columnist and associate editor for The New York Sun.
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/10/22/wingnuts.towns.bardwell.art.jpg caption="Rep. Edolphus Towns (left) and Justice Keith Bardwell (right)."]
This week’s wingnuts feature a racist judge (as well as the home-state senator who refused to condemn him) and a Democratic congressman, who literally locked Republicans out of committee in an attempt to block a vote on a financial scandal. Plus, a bonus round Profile in Courage award for President Obama, who calmed a crowd heckling a Republican governor. Take a spin through the World of the Wingnuts from the Big Easy to the Beltway.
If you thought that any lingering sense of scandal about interracial marriage had been erased by the presence of a biracial president of the United States, you haven't visited Louisiana Justice of the Peace Keith Bardwell.
When Beth Humphrey and her boyfriend Terence McKay called to collect a marriage license they were told to take a hike because the judge didn’t approve of the colors of their skin.
When the media came knocking, Justice Bardwell was unrepentant. “It's kind of hard to apologize for something that you really and truly feel down in your heart you haven't done wrong," he told CNN affiliate WAFB.
But in case you were wondering, he isn’t racist. He was doing it for the kids.
"I'm not a racist," Bardwell told his hometown Hammond Daily Star. "I do ceremonies for black couples right here in my house. My main concern is for the children."
Maybe he’s worried they might grow up to be president.
Louisiana’s Republican Governor Bobby Jindal was quick to call for Bardwell’s dismissal: "This is a clear violation of constitutional rights and federal and state law. ... disciplinary action should be taken immediately - including the revoking of his license." Democratic Senator Mary Landreau called it “an example of the ugly bigotry that divided our country for too long."
But self-styled conservative Senator David Vitter – who’s best known for letting ‘les bon temps rouler’ with a DC Madam – decided to withhold both judgment and comment for five days. He dodged reporters’ questions on the subject and finally, on Wednesday, his office put out a statement saying “Sen. Vitter thinks that all judges should follow the law as written and not make it up as they go along.”
This is conservative boilerplate – the rubber-stamp equivalent of name, rank and serial number. It leaves open two options: either Vitter isn’t offended by Judge Bardwell’s stand or he’s pandering to the racist vote.
Here’s a Supreme Court decision both Vitter and Bardwell might want to dust off before hiding behind judicial philosophy or personal bias – 1967’s wonderfully named Loving v. Virginia, which states: “Under our Constitution, the freedom to marry, or not marry, a person of another race resides with the individual and cannot be infringed by the State.”
What’s on Tap – Friday October 23, 2009
Here are the big stories on the agenda today:
- Investigators are trying to find out whether the crew of Northwest Airlines flight was asleep at the controls. The plane left San Diego last night bound for Minneapolis, but overshot its landing by 150 miles. The explanation is sketchy at best, so far. Why air traffic controllers briefly believed the plane may have been hijacked.
- The “optional” public option? Talk of a health care compromise on Capitol Hill. Sources say Senate Democrats and White House officials may let states "opt out" of a government-run health plan. Senators were at the White House yesterday. We're live in Washington with where we stand right now.
- The secretary of education gave a lecture to the people who teach teachers. He's hoping changes the administration has planned will trickle down to our kids. We’ll ask him why he thinks education programs in college are “mediocre.” He’ll also talk about swine flu and whether schools are ready.
- And – his stand on interracial marriage has earned a Louisiana justice of the peace a place in John Avlon's "hall-of-shame.” Find out who else earned “wingnut of the week” honors.
Hate crimes bill goes to Obama for signature
WASHINGTON (CNN) - The Senate passed groundbreaking legislation Thursday that would make it a federal crime to assault an individual because of his or her sexual orientation or gender identity.
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/POLITICS/10/22/hate.crimes/art.1751.shepard.kare.jpg caption="The bill is named for Matthew Shepard, a gay teenager who was beaten to death in 1998."]
The expanded federal hate crimes law now goes to President Obama's desk. Obama has pledged to sign the measure, which was added to a $680 billion defense authorization bill.
President George W. Bush had threatened to veto a similar measure.
The bill is named for Matthew Shepard, a gay Wyoming teenager who died after being kidnapped and severely beaten in October 1998, and James Byrd Jr., an African-American man dragged to death in Texas the same year.
"Knowing that the president will sign it, unlike his predecessor, has made all the hard work this year to pass it worthwhile," said Judy Shepard, board president of the Matthew Shepard Foundation named for her son. "Hate crimes continue to affect far too many Americans who are simply trying to live their lives honestly, and they need to know that their government will protect them from violence, and provide appropriate justice for victims and their families."
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