A Stitch in Haste

More “democracy” from the land of Goldwater and O’Connor:

During a filibuster-like discussion on another bill during Committee of the Whole, Majority Leader Thayer Verschoor (R-22) and Majority Whip John Huppenthal (R-20), among others, devised a scheme with committee chairman Jack Harper (R-4) to outright violate the rules of the Senate and the rights of Senators Aboud and Cheuvront.

In the middle of their discussion, Senator Harper turned off the microphones of Senators Paula Aboud (D-28) and Ken Cheuvront (D-15) and called on the Majority Leader to make a motion. Then, when Senators Aboud and Cheuvront loudly called for a Point of Order several times, even walking to the front desk where Senator Harper sat, he deliberately ignored their calls. To add insult to injury, these people attempted to justify their actions, even after the Senate President and other Senators admonished them for deliberately breaking the rules. Tonight’s actions of these and other Senators have forever tainted that body, and it’s important that we all let the people of Arizona know how these individuals acted so unethically.

Care to guess the agenda item?

Arizona voters will decide again in November whether to change the state’s constitution to define marriage as a union between one man and one woman.

A 16-4 vote by the state Senate on Friday night sends the gay marriage ban to the ballot. It had previously been approved by the House.

Arizona voters rejected a similar state constitutional amendment in 2006.

It is true that the 2006 bigot amendment was a “no nothing never” version that would have banned any recognition of same-sex unions, while this version bans only gay marriage (which, of course, is already banned by statute). So arguably a second vote is appropriate — if properly brought forth in accordance with the laws and rules of the Arizona Legislature. Point conceded.

But via crass rule-breaking by the leaders of a state legislature? Bigotry at all costs, whatever it takes? In the name of “democracy”?

These unethical politicians may win a vote. They may even win a referendum. But now they can never, ever win the moral high ground.

(Via InterstateQ.)

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Do you really need to be reminded that John “Mixed Record” McCain enthusiastically supported the 2006 amendment? Just as he is widely expected to publicly support this second effort (when he’s not too busy enthusiastically supporting the California amendment, that is).