Criminal Clerks: Freakazoid Freedom Law and Beshear's Pandering Enables Clerks to Refuse Licenses

Resign your positions, motherfuckers.  As for you, Kentucky "Democratic" Party:  Start finding out whether your candidates agree to FOLLOW THE FUCKING LAW before you let them run as Democratic candidates.

 

This was completely predictable.  First came the state's "Freakazoids Don't Have to Obey Any Laws" bill, then Dr. Jekyll Beshear told the clerks "no one can tell you what to believe," and they've take him at his word to refuse to extend human rights to human beings.

John Cheves at the Herald:

Defying the instructions of Gov. Steve Beshear, several county clerks around Kentucky said they won't issue marriage licenses anymore because of the U.S. Supreme Court's 5-to-4 ruling Friday in favor of a nationwide right to same-sex marriage.

Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis said Monday that her Christian beliefs won't allow her to give marriage licenses to gay men or lesbians seeking to marry a member of the same sex. Rather than face claims of discrimination, her office in Morehead is refusing marriage licenses to all couples until further notice, Davis said.

"We've not had any applicants yet, but we've had several calls," said Davis, 49, a Democrat who took office in January.

"It's hard; I will tell you that," Davis said. "What has happened is that five lawyers have imposed their personal view of what the definition of marriage should be on the rest of us. And I, as a Christian, have strong views, too. And I know I don't stand alone."

Chris Jobe, president of the Kentucky County Clerks Association, said he has heard from several clerks who have religious objections to same-sex marriage, so they won't issue marriage licenses anymore.

Several more clerks are consulting with their county attorneys to determine whether they must obey the letter Beshear sent them Friday instructing them to comply with the Supreme Court's decision, Jobe said. Beshear's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday on the governor's next move.

Lawrence County, where Jobe is clerk, likewise has gotten out of the marriage- license business, at least for now.

"We're exploring our options," Jobe said, citing the suddenness of the change. "We're still trying to sort it out."

Clerks in Kentucky's major cities, including Lexington and Louisville, began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples within hours of the court decision Friday.

Boone County Clerk Kenny Brown, who had publicly supported the state's same-sex marriage ban, did not issue any marriage licenses Friday while he "digested" the decision. But Monday, his office was issuing licenses to all applicants, deputy clerk Amanda Oberer said.

Beshear sent a letter to all 120 county clerks Friday that read, in part, "Neither your oath nor the Supreme Court dictates what you must believe. But as elected officials, they do prescribe how we must act."

In Kentucky, marriage licenses must be obtained from and later filed with a county clerk.

Kentucky law includes a number of criminal penalties for people who violate the state's marriage laws, such as knowingly issuing a marriage license to two immediate family members or to a polygamous trio. But it does not appear to include any penalties for clerks who refuse to issue a marriage license.

But refusing to do the job for which you accept taxpayer dollars is criminal misfeasance.

Throw the motherfuckers in prison. Do it now.