Jason Chaffetz wants DC’s black voters to overturn gay marriage; Keith Fimian will consider his effort [video]
”They passed the law and were afraid of a vote…. The Democrats were scared to death of having a vote, because same-sex marriage has failed 31 times in the states. People vote in favor of traditional marriage, particularly the African American community. Look: I think it’s a shame we didn’t have a vote in the United States Congress. I think it’s embarrassing that we didn’t have a vote in the city. But I don’t know what could be done.”
Jason Chaffetz, the ranking Republican on the Congressional committee that oversees the affairs of the city of Washington, DC. The City Paper quotes Chaffetz here as he reiterates his earlier public statements. It is expected, by most watchers, that Republicans will take over the House of Representatives in nationwide elections later today. It is assumed that Chaffetz will then become the new head of the oversight committee. (Washington City Paper)
Chaffetz, a US Representative from Utah, proposed a bill once already to force DC to hold a public referendum on the civil marriage rights of gay couples. The elected City Council of DC passed a bill in 2009 to legalize the recognition of same-sex unions, and that law went into effect in March 2010.
In January, Chaffetz stood should-to-shoulder with religious conservatives to propose his failed measure. His supportive associates on the matter incuded some anti-gay African-American preachers from the DC area, as well as the National Organization for Marriage (aka NOM), the Family Research Council and the Catholic Archdiocese.
”I’d want to hear the arguments on both sides of that issue, Kojo. I’ve not heard them because I’ve been running for Congress for the last year and a half, quite frankly. And that issue is very meaningful to the people down here. There are issues that are as passionately made on the other side.”
Keith Fimian, the Republican candidate from Fairfax, Virginia. The hosts of ‘The Politics Hour on the Kojo Nnamdi Show’ had asked if Fimian would support Jason Chaffetz effort to overturn same-sex marriage rights in Washington, DC. Fimian is trying to unseat Democrat Gerry Connolly. Connolly voted ‘yes’ to end “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” and co-sponsored both ENDA and a bill to extend benefits to domestic partners of Federal employees. (Kojo Nnamdi Show)
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