Senator Brownback

[dt3]

I'm reading the transcript from the Republican debate the other night, and here's what he had to say about gay marriage:

Senator Brownback, should there be a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage? And if so, why?
BROWNBACK: The answer to that is yes. And the reason is is this is a foundational institution.
(APPLAUSE)
(AUDIENCE BOOING)
BROWNBACK:It is a foundational institution.
I understand this is a divided audience on this. And I understand we as a country are struggling with this question. But these issues aren't done in a vacuum.
I had a question earlier about family values. And I think this is important for us to rebuild the family structure.
In countries that have redefined marriage, where they've said, OK, it's not just a man and a woman, it can be two men, two women, the marriage rates in those countries have plummeted to where you have counties now in northern Europe where 80 percent of the first-born children are born out of wedlock.

I wanna tap him on the shoulder and be like "Sir, I don't think children being born out of wedlock would be a problem with gay marriages...and by the way your name is really close to Brokeback."

Seriously though, how does the percentage of out-of-wedlock childbirth have anything to do with gay marriage???

 

[Tim]

OMG that is some funny stuff right there... I couldn't believe that 80% number so I went a did a little research... Well it turns out that it's true.

Today, not only 80 percent of first-born children in Nordland but nearly 60 percent of subsequent children are born out of wedlock.

And they blame it on same-sex registered partnerships.

In socially liberal districts of Norway, where the idea of same-sex registered partnerships is widely accepted, marriage itself has almost entirely disappeared.

Wow! Let the gays get married and it will be the end to marriage itself.

And you must be scared, because it's coming...

The scholars note that many family changes that eventually sweep the West show up first in Scandinavia.

But if you are patient enough and read the entire article, you will find that nothing is changing for these kids born into these families. The law now allows registered partnerships as an equal alternative to marriage. So these couples ARE married, they are just using another term for it.

 

[dt3]

Interesting Tim. Thanks for looking up what I was to lazy to

 

[Tim]

I was just curious...

I was amazed that the article I was reading said that allowing same-sex registered partnerships was killing off marriage... it's not even same sex marriage, it's just a partnership...

If I had gay neighbors that were legally allowed to form a partnership, how would that affect me and whether I would get married? I don't see the tie in...

 

[dt3]

That's what I don't get either, and the Senator mentioned it a couple of times. I really can't see how they're related. :dunno

 

[dt3]

I can't see this being the case, but maybe people completely against gay marriage think allowing it somehow makes it mean less for themselves and don't do it?

Like I said, I can't see a large majority thinking that, just maybe for a couple of people.

 

[All Else Failed]

lmao thats hilarious.

 

[GraceAbounds]

If I had gay neighbors that were legally allowed to form a partnership, how would that affect me and whether I would get married? I don't see the tie in...

I concur.