Here are the four DFL senators who voted to block the gay marriage bill yesterday [PHOTOS]

Keith Morris

1 Like

There's nothing moral about denying equal rights to other citizens because they don't go to your church. The educated liberals of the TC understand the difference between church and government. Since understanding the basics of either is too much to handle for most outside the cities just leave the politicking to us and stick to manual labor, domestic abuse, and watching the Vikings lose (yet again).

East_Coast_Doug topcommenter

There are 8 million less people in the work force, than in 2008. There are 47 million people on SNAP - more than the entire country of Spain. There are 3.5 million more people on 'disability'. Real wages are down. The average middle class family lost $4,000 in purchasing power last year. We have a $16 trillion deficit. The student debt has surpassed $1 billion dollars. Housing prices are down. The US is printing money out of thin air.

And this is what our elected representatives focus on? I guess they don't have the mental capacity to tackle the real problems facing our country.

MNjoe topcommenter

@East_Coast_Doug I know this must be hard for you to comprehend but many people (including our legislators) can multi-task. Anyway, same-sex marriage will be good for jobs and the economy. Much $$$ will be spent on renting halls, hotel rooms, travel, catering, presents, etc. and eventually lawyers. The state will get additional revenue from taxes on some of this as well as license fees. It's a win-win!

green23 topcommenter

3 Like

@East_Coast_Doug I don't recall you complaining when the Republicans controlled the Legislature and put a ban on SSM on the ballot.

keny1

@East_Coast_Doug The DFL is not concerned about the economy. They push these social issues because it appeases their voter base, while pushing the real issues concerning Americans under the rug. Just like Obama, when today he actually stated that he is not interested in balancing the budget. After all, he hasn't proposed a budget since he took office in '08. This stalling is just a political game as the DFL wants to regain the House in 2014, and the only way to do it is to continue to pander to their constituents (gays, illegal "undocumented" citizens, the poor, African Americans, etc.) These populations are not affected by the economic woes this nation is facing because the vast majority of them are on some sort of Government assistance (well, OK, maybe not the GLBT population), but it gives the DFL an major weapon against the GOP. The GOP admittedly is in shambles, and the DFL will milk every last bit out of it to their advantage. And who can blame them? But as you so eloquently stated, gay marriage (as well as issues such as giving illegal immigrants drivers licences, amnesty, etc.) is not going to do anything to help the economy nor reduce the deficit. But the DFL doesn't care. Just as long as they can get the votes, that's all they are concerned about. As long as they can brainwash their sheeple into thinking that big government can solve all of their problems, you can expect to see the DLF control the state as well as the federal Government from now on.

That is, until the nation goes bankrupt and China takes over. And when (not if) that happens, all of the Liberals will be crying, "It;s all Bush's fault!!!!!"

Eric Kanzenbach

This shows at least 4 Democrats morals. Great that they stood up for them.

gabemichael12

2 Like

Yes, like denying equal protection to everybody is immoral. Your an idiot and yet you have the equal opportunity to walk and breath among us.

green23 topcommenter

1 Like

This vote result is better than I had expected. The Senate is tough because there are fewer potential switches, and less leeway. If the bill does ultimately end up passing in the Senate, there may be incremental progress in the form of a compromise coming out of a conference committee. Perhaps civil unions, perhaps recognition of same-sex marriages from other States.

The real losers in this vote are the Republicans, who voted as a virtual bloc to continue down the path to electoral irrelevance. Sooner or later, the MNGOP will have to abandon conservative social issues. And when they do, they will deny that this vote ever happened or denounce the Republicans who voted against SSM as not representative of their Party.

mcgwizz

1 Like

I think we should send a message to the 4 democrates who voted to block this.

sen.dan.sparks@senate.mn,

sen.kent.eken@senate.mn

sen.lyle.koenen@senate.mn

sen.leroy.stumpf@senate.mn

MNjoe topcommenter

1 Like

@mcgwizz They were doing their jobs - they're supposed to vote according to the wants/needs of their constituents and that's what they did. Can't fault them for that. However, if they were in my district I wouldn't vote for them. They are on the wrong side of history; the legalization of same-sex marriage is as inevitable as ending slavery, women's sufferage or any civil rights issue that's been fought for over the centuries.

Busta

A representatives job is to do the right thing for the constituents, not just rubber stamp the majority opinion. We have a representative democracy, not a direct democracy. People are confused about this.

green23 topcommenter

1 Like

@mcgwizz If you live in their district, it could matter. If not, then it's a waste of time.

Tim Mc G

sen.dan.sparks@senate.mn, sen.kent.eken@senate.mn, sen.lyle.koenen@senate.mn, sen.leroy.stumpf@senate.mn

Trevor Ludwig

1 Like

It sounds like they represented their districts, even though I think the decision to not support is wrong... Edit: or they're trying to secure re-election...one or the other.

Tim Mc G

I think we should send a message to the 4 democrates who voted to block this.

Kinnell Tackett

1 Like

Good for them for representing their districts, eventhough I feel they made the wrong vote. You don't have to vote with your party, you're there to represent the views and beliefs of your district.

gabemichael12

Yop, can't wait until we vote to reinstate slavery and make our women be like cattle at our beck and call like tho majority in those districts