DC Mayor Adrian Fenty and Council Chair Vincent Gray were called on the carpet by Congress for not allowing the majority of District residents to vote on the civil rights of a minority. Let's listen in:
Yes, you see, Congress -- Republicans in particular -- really care about respecting the wishes of DC's voters. That's why they've blocked attempts to actually giving DC voting representation in Congress. And why they feel they can waltz in and undo actual initiatives approved by District voters.At a hearing on proposed changes to the city's Home Rule Act, two Republicans on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee grilled Fenty and Gray about why the District will not allow a public vote.
Rep. Jason Chaffetz (Utah), the ranking member of the subcommittee that has oversight over District laws, noted that voters in 31 states have rejected same-sex marriage. "I'm disappointed the people are not getting an opportunity to vote on this issue," Chaffetz said.
Case-in-point: Medical Marijuana. In 1998, 69 percent of DC's voters approved a ballot initiative authorizing medical marijuana. 69 percent.
And then, since Congress respects the will of the peeple so much, former Rep. Bob Barr, a Republican from Georgia, stepped in, said no, and through an amendment killed the implementation of medical marijuana which had won approval from DC's
To the meddlesome members of Congress: if others can vote on my equal rights, I want the same opportunity. Fair is fair.
And it's great that you want to respect the will of the people of the District of Columbia. Do that all the time, not just when it fits your narrow social homophobic agenda.
3 comments:
Scott, you are correct again. Rights are not something decided by voters, they either exist or they do not. Southern voters, in particular, would have voted overwhelmingly to continue racial segregation in the 50's and 60's, but our Constitution prevents one group from stripping rights from another. The "let the people vote" cries are not about respecting voters, but a group of bigots who want to deny that we are all created equal by hiding behind a call to let the people speak. They are cowards.
unfortunately for you there is that small problem about the constitution giving congress explicit authority over Washington D.C why not read it before blaming it on Republicans.
I blame the Republicans for their hypocrisy. They were against DC citizens having a say over their own affairs before they were for it.
Congress granted DC the right to govern itself in 1973. And while the Constitution gives Congress the authority to override our local elected government, that doesn't mean they have to. And it certainly doesn't convey the moral authority for someone who was not elected by the people of DC to nullify the laws that were passed by legislators who were.
Predating the Constitution there is an American principle expressed as "No taxation without representation." Do you disagree with that principle?
And I'm with Graham and the first Republican President: the majority doesn't get to vote on civil rights for a minority.
Or perhaps you're not familiar with Abraham Lincoln?
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