Local GOP Extremists Supported Navy Backtracking on Navy Chaplains Performing Gay Marriages

The Daily Press is reporting that not surprisingly three local Republican Congressman were among those demanding that the Navy rescind its revised policies that would have allowed Navy chaplains to perform same sex marriages on bases and installations in states where such marriages are legal under the state laws. All three have again underscored that they place their own personal religious based discrimination - or that of their puppeteers in the Christian Right - ahead of the U. S. Constitution's guarantee of religious freedom for all. All three thus demonstrated that they have violated their oath of office. In the case of Scott Rigell (pictured at above left), the move is in keeping with his embraces of the nastiest elements of the far right having been endorsed during his campaign by Lou Sheldon, head of the registered hate group Conservative Values Coalition. As for Randy Forbes (pictured at right) - one of my former classmates - he continues to act as if some sort of "Stepford Wives" procedure was done to him. He's gone from reasoned conservative to theocratic nutcase. As for Rob Wittman, he's a follower and would never have the spine to place the Constitution ahead of what the haters at Liberty University, Regent University and The Family Foundation demand. Here are some story highlights:
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After the proposed rule change was reported by the Navy Times and Stars and Stripes, it stirred controversy on Capitol Hill, including the sharply worded response from Rep. Todd Akin, R-Missouri, and other Republican lawmakers. Virginia Reps. Rob Wittman, R-Westmoreland, Randy Forbes, R-Chesapeake, and Scott Rigell, R-Virginia Beach, are among 63 members of Congress to sign the letter in opposition to the plan, according to Akin's website.
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Akin's letter said the Navy's proposed change would violate the federal Defense of Marriage Act, a 1996 law that prohibits the federal government from recognizing the marriages of same-sex couples.
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"My colleagues and I are calling on the secretary of the Navy to make sure that the Navy actually follows the law," Akin said in a statement.
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As I have noted many times, the Christofascists and their political whores in the GOP are a clear and present danger to constitutional government in this country and it is long past time that they cease being allowed to write religious based hate and discrimination into the nation's laws.