Jimmy Carter disappoints on the issue of Texas and gay marriage

[MADem]

43. That is not what Carter said.

How can people not granted a right by a state in the first place have that state "vote it away?"

Carter said TX voters should make the decision--not that they should vote AGAINST it.

Were it not for "states' rights" there would be no marriage equality in USA. DOMA wouldn't be a weak idea, it would be enforceable law. There was never any impetus at the federal legislative level to advance marriage equality--that push came from the states. In some cases, states that weren't too thrilled initially were hoisted on their own constitutional non-discrimination petards, and good enough for them, but the bottom line is, equality would be nowhere without the states.

Without the majority of states making the decision-- by voters, by judicial decisions of judges elected by voters or appointed by politicians elected by voters-- supporting equality, there was no compelling reason for the federal government to act.

I support the Freedom to Marry roadmap--it is working where other tactics failed. It is a multi-pronged approach, but the centerpiece is "Win More States."

I never thought a day would come when I agreed with Ted Olson on anything, but that day did come, much to my surprise.