Christianists Continue to Conspire on Perry Appeal

It's instructive in a number of ways watching the gyrations and subterfuge that "godly Christians" will resort to in their hysteria to find a vehicle to force the state of California to appeal the ruling in Perry V. Schwarzenegger. The latest plot may involve an effort to push the state's anti-gay Lieutenant Governor, Abel Maldonado (pictured at right), to file an appeal while Governor Schwarzenegger is out of the state. The hatred of gays borne by these people truly knows no limit and their willingness to do whatever it takes to maintain religious based discrimination in the nation's laws is revolting. As I have said before, these individuals - and the parasites within the professional Christian organizations - have nothing but contempt for the civil rights of other citizens. It's all about them and their intolerant beliefs. Think Progress has details on this latest last ditch effort. Here are highlights:
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Today is the deadline for California to join the anti-gay groups appealing Judge Vaughn Walker’s opinion striking down Proposition 8, and both Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) and Attorney General Jerry Brown (D) have indicated that the state will not do so. Prop 8’s supporters, however, think they have an ace in the hole — the state’s Lt. Governor: A group of conservative leaders led by former attorney general candidate John Eastman have asked to meet with Lieutenant Governor Abel Maldonado to discuss his support of an appeal in a federal court suit regarding Proposition 8.
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[T]here is some question whether the proponents of the measure have standing to argue the case before the court [the 9th Circuit]. The Attorney General and the Governor clearly have authority to file the appeal. But, both Jerry Brown and Arnold Schwarzenegger have refused to do so based on their personal opposition to Proposition 8.
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It’s difficult to imagine that Maldonado would actually do such a thing, however. For one thing, he presently has much more important matters to deal with. Not long after Schwarzenegger left for China, a massive gas explosion occurred in San Bruno, California. As the state’s acting governor, Maldonado has been quite busy dealing with this tragic development.
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Moreover, filing an appeal that Schwarzenegger has consistently and publicly opposed would be nothing less than a declaration of war against the highest ranking official in his state. If the governor had to fear that every time he left the state his decisions would be overruled by Maldonado, Schwarzenegger would be discouraged from traveling outside of the state even when it was in California’s interests for him to do so. Simply put, it makes no sense to have crucial policy decisions rest upon where Gov. Schwarzenegger happens to be sleeping tonight.
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Nevertheless, the anti-gay activists offer one entirely cynical reason for Maldonado to abuse his temporary powers as acting governor: the upcoming election. As one anti-gay activist puts it, “more than a few conservatives are still angry with the Lieutenant Governor for votes while he was in the California Legislature. The simple act of filing this appeal could wipe away many bad memories.”
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Should Maldonado file an appeal, it would seem that Schwarzenegger could void the filing upon his return. Obviously, we can only hope that Maldonado opts not to play ball with the Christianists.