Preserve the Balance
Team Supreme Blog
Stand By Your Man
After the Los Angeles Times reported John Roberts' involvement in the case Romer v. Evans, you might have expected the anti-gay extremist crowd to go berserk. After all, to them, simple equality for GLBT people threatens the "future of western civilization."
But what we heard from the far-right leaders and organizations was restraint. The Family Research Council -- one of the largest and well-funded Washington organizations dedicated to keeping GLBT people second class citizens -- issued a statement urging caution in "jumping to [the] conclusion" that Roberts has any sympathies for the GLBT community.
What do they know about Roberts' views on GLBT equality that the rest of the country doesn't? Well Tony Perkins, President of the Family Research Council, gives us a bit of a hint. In his daily "Washington Update" e-mail the day after the LA Times story, he assured supporters that he "spent the good part of yesterday on the phone and in meetings to get the facts" on Roberts. It begs the questions: who was Tony Perkins talking to and what did they say to make him comfortable not taking Roberts to task?
What seems most likely is that Perkins and other right-wing leaders heard from the White House that Roberts is solidly in the anti-gay camp and they need not worry. We already know that anti-gay leader Jerry Falwell was consulted by the White House for his views on potential nominees, as reported in July 13th's New York Times.
With opponents of equality pulling this Tammy Wynette 'Stand By Your Man' routine, fair-minded Americans should be concerned. Given Roberts' scant paper trail on GLBT issues, right-wing reaction to the Romer news might help us fill in a few blanks.
But what we heard from the far-right leaders and organizations was restraint. The Family Research Council -- one of the largest and well-funded Washington organizations dedicated to keeping GLBT people second class citizens -- issued a statement urging caution in "jumping to [the] conclusion" that Roberts has any sympathies for the GLBT community.
What do they know about Roberts' views on GLBT equality that the rest of the country doesn't? Well Tony Perkins, President of the Family Research Council, gives us a bit of a hint. In his daily "Washington Update" e-mail the day after the LA Times story, he assured supporters that he "spent the good part of yesterday on the phone and in meetings to get the facts" on Roberts. It begs the questions: who was Tony Perkins talking to and what did they say to make him comfortable not taking Roberts to task?
What seems most likely is that Perkins and other right-wing leaders heard from the White House that Roberts is solidly in the anti-gay camp and they need not worry. We already know that anti-gay leader Jerry Falwell was consulted by the White House for his views on potential nominees, as reported in July 13th's New York Times.
With opponents of equality pulling this Tammy Wynette 'Stand By Your Man' routine, fair-minded Americans should be concerned. Given Roberts' scant paper trail on GLBT issues, right-wing reaction to the Romer news might help us fill in a few blanks.
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