53 Kentucky Republicans try to take child away from divorcing gay partner because she's not a "husband."

It looks like Republicans in Tennessee have to give up the “small government” myth they’ve worked so hard to establish.

53 Republican state legislators have teamed with a Christian conservative group in trying to become involved in the pending divorce of two Knoxville women who are arguing over child custody.

Are you ready for more of those ridiculously named right wing “constitutional/family” big government special interest groups inserting themselves into everyday Americans personal lives?

The Family Action Council of Tennessee’s legal arm, the Constitutional Government Defense Fund, is representing the legislators in filing a motion to intervene in the divorce case of Sabrina Renae Witt vs. Erica Christine Witt.

It appears a divorcing gay couple is about to harm “Big Government” Republicans:

The motion contends the legislators' "unique and substantial interest in the legislative power and process will be impeded, impaired, and/or nullified" if courts interpret a state law "to apply to any persons other than a man and woman joined together as 'husband' and 'wife.' "

It seems Republicans just can’t fix a law that would give same sex partners the same rights as a heterosexual partners. Instead, this supposed “family” supporting party would rather take a kid’s parent away in what amounts to a legal tantrum:

Knox County Circuit Court Judge Greg McMillan ruled in June that Erica Witt has no legal rights under Tennessee law to involvement with a daughter born to Sabrina Witt through artificial insemination … There is still no state law on the books authorizing same-sex marriages, but they were validated by a U.S. Supreme Court ruling last year. Tennessee statute dealing with parenting rights in cases of artificial insemination speaks only to "husbands" of the birth mother and does not cover the mother's same-sex spouse.

Erica Witt's attorney argued that, under the U.S. Supreme Court ruling, the state law should be interpreted to apply to women spouses of the birth mother artificially inseminated child as well as "husbands."

David Fowler, a lawyer who is executive director of FACT said, "this case involves a very important constitutional question: Does the U.S. Supreme Court's Obergefell decision authorize judges to determine for state legislative bodies what policies it must have relative to custody issues in divorce proceedings? If it does, then matters of family law, which have historically been within the constitutional powers of the states to determine, will have essentially been judicially taken from the states and placed in the hands of federal judges," said Fowler, who filed the motion to intervene.

No Nonsense, Dystopian GOP War against everyone else coming...

In how many ways can "constitutional conservative" Republicans redefine the First Amendment, and turn it inside-out to fit their twisted down-the-rabbit-hole agenda? We see soon.

The Republican Party platform is taking shape, just in time for their glorious convention featuring speakers who don't like or support their "not a Republican" candidate. This is way too surreal to believe:

God puts Walker in charge, to rewrite the Constitution and leave states to decide who's created more equal than others.

We’re all created equal, right? So the argument surrounding the legality of same sex marriage should be focused on equality, and not a historical or religious based idea that is forever changing, right?

None of this seems to matter in the media, even to some attorney pundits, who keep talking about how the constitution protects or doesn't protect gay marriage. Equality under the law trumps all of it. Even vacuous Republicans like Paul Ryan, who want to bypass the constitution by saying our God given rights come first, can’t argue that even God made us all equal.

So when Republicans like Scott Walker want to carve out an exception to those God given rights, and turn them over to the states to politically micromanage for our creator, why isn't anyone asking him how that’s Biblically possible?

The Republicans blatant politicization and manipulation of the Christian religion was front and center as GOP candidates gathered in front of 1,000 people at the evangelical Point of Grace Church. Come on, really? I’m assuming the church is not taking advantage of the standard tax exemption most houses of worship take? Cap Times:

Walker told reporters he's holding out hope that the U.S. Supreme Court will rule that states can bar same-sex marriages. But if that's not the case, he suggested that voters should seek a constitutional amendment to allow state-level bans.

Remember, it’s not the definition of marriage, it an issue of equality:

"I think the appropriate route is … to pursue a constitutional amendment allowing the states to determine what the definition is," Walker told reporters.

Walker knows it’s not about jobs, a lesson he learned after Wisconsin voters gave him a pass on his disastrous jobs creation record, a failed promise his voters just laughed at as though it were an inside joke.

But the crowd wasn't gathered at the church to talk about the economy. Most attendees said they were most concerned with where candidates stood on social issues and national security. Troy McGill, of Ankeny, said he'd like to see a governor run for president, but more than that, he wants a candidate who will say what he or she means and stick to it.

Conservatives love authoritarian leaders willing to go against the public and “stick to it,” doing the “right thing:”

Walker said, "The best way to minister is to accept God's calling when you least expect it," Walker said. "We felt it was a calling to get in that election. We felt we were called to do the right thing..."

Scott Walker gets Colbert treatment on Same Sex Marriage

Stephen Colbert plays with Scott Walker's complete whiff on same sex marriage. Colbert himself is taking no stand too:

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U.S. slowly catching up to other civilized nations on same sex marriage.

Here's part of the story and recent chart from Nate Silver at the New York Times:

The availability of same-sex marriage is increasing almost as rapidly on a global scale. It was legalized in Brazil and France earlier this year and will become legal in Uruguay and New Zealand by August.

A decision last month by a Brazilian judicial panel that is generally seen as legalizing same-sex marriage, but could be subject to appeal, is especially important to this math. Brazil has a population of about 194 million — more than the combined 169 million in the nine countries in Europe where same-sex marriage is now legal. The most recent decision followed court rulings that had authorized same-sex marriage in more than a dozen Brazilian states.

Earlier this year, France, with a population of about 64 million, became the largest European country to legalize same-sex marriage, and the largest in the world to do so by legislative action.

By August, there will be about 585 million people living in countries or jurisdictions where same-sex marriage is legal. 

What goes around comes around...?

The headline on the right caught my attention:

It's a sick example of radicalism.

It was only a matter of time before the tables were turned. Like some active liberals, teachers, recall petition signers and family planning doctors, I wonder how these dedicated hate groups like being on the other end of a radicalism?

The Examiner: The Family Research Council is a pro-life, Christian organization that supports traditional marriage.

Here's how the Family Research Council is spinning the attack, making a their message of discrimination and bigotry comparable to those who've criticized hate such hate groups:

NY Times: At a news conference, Tony Perkins, the president of the Family Research Council, “Floyd Corkins was responsible for firing the shot yesterday that wounded one of our colleagues and our friend Leo Johnson,” Mr. Perkins said, “but Corkins was given a license to shoot an unarmed man by organizations like the Southern Poverty Law Center.”

In a statement on the law center’s Web site, Mark Potok, a senior fellow there, called Mr. Perkins’s statement “outrageous.”

“Perkins and his allies, seeing an opportunity to score points, are using the attack on their offices to pose a false equivalency” between the law center’s criticisms of the Family Research Council and the council’s criticisms of gay men and lesbians, he wrote.

Just your Average Anti-Gay Marriage Conservative!!

Republicans. Let's face it, they're all nuts on that side of the aisle. Here's another bigoted bumbling fool to add to the  tea party whack-a-do list...and it's funny too.

Jonathan Turley: Former Christian radio preacher Michael Leisner’s protest of General Mills seems right out of Saturday Night Live. Leisner is upset with what he says is the support of General Mills for same-sex marriage so he decides to torch a box of Honey Nut Cheerios on their lawn . . . and proceeds to torch their lawn in Golden Valley, Minnesota. He did succeed in reaffirming the company’s new slogan: “You’re on your toes with Cheerios”

I love how Leisner calls for his associates to bolt for the car. Leisner is infamous for his attacks on gay leaders and such comments as stating that President Barack Obama has “bent forward to accommodate the sodomites of New York.” He has railed against the “depraved, debasing debauchery of gay activists.” Of course, they tend not to torch the lawns of their neighbors. 

Biting the Hand that Feeds Corporate Profits, Political Donations May Hurt Customers.

Image via Wikipedia The best reason given so far for disclosing campaign donations; Target.

The head of Target Corp. apologized … for a political donation to a business group backing a conservative Republican for Minnesota governor, which angered some employees and sparked talk of a customer boycott.

Target CEO Gregg Steinhafel wrote employees to say the discount retailer is "genuinely sorry" … would set up a review process for future political donations (to MN Forward)… MN Forward is running TV ads supporting Republican Tom Emmer, an outspoken conservative opposed to same-sex marriage and other gay-rights initiatives that have come before Minnesota's Legislature. Steinhafel said the contribution from the corporate treasury to a political effort, which until this year wasn't allowed, was designed to support his stance on economic issues.

But in the broader context, politicians often support other policies that might hurt a businesses customer base, like Target's. Disclosure prevents a company from biting the hand that feeds them, their customers, just so they can focus solely on profits. They cannot ignore the negative social impact of their donations, as acknowledged by Target’s CEO Steinhafel:

"While I firmly believe that a business climate conducive to growth is critical to our future, I realize our decision affected many of you in a way I did not anticipate, and for that I am genuinely sorry," Steinhafel wrote.

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• APNewsBreak: Target Apologizes for Minn. Donation (abcnews.go.com)