Interracial couple denied marriage license

[isign]

Honestly, I know I'm going to get flamed for this, but I don't think he should apologize, and I think there is way too much of it going on. If you believe something, right or wrong, then believe it and don't apologize. Do I agree with the guy - no, and I think he was wrong. However he believes that and as misguided as he is, he should stand by what he believes.

[pocahontas]

I completely understand what you're saying, Isign. No flames here because you really do have a point about standing by what you believe in. (And I far from agree with the guy either.)

[Katie1]

isign- I totally agree with you. The myriad apologies that we hear from public figures has long been one of my biggest pet peeves. How is it really an apology if the person is forced to make it? And how can we ever expect that anyone will stand by what they believe if they are willing to retract what they have said at the first sign of negative public opinion?

I don't agree with this man either but an apology from him would A)not seem like anything more than lip service and B) make me respect him even less because not only is he a jerk, but he's jerk that can't stand by his beliefs.

[kimbyj]

Honestly, I know I'm going to get flamed for this, but I don't think he should apologize, and I think there is way too much of it going on. If you believe something, right or wrong, then believe it and don't apologize. Do I agree with the guy - no, and I think he was wrong. However he believes that and as misguided as he is, he should stand by what he believes.

My problem is that he should not have accepted or stayed in a position where he knew could not fulfill the duties required of him. It's not like he didn't know how he felt about this subject. He has admittedly done this before. I am surprised the others who were denied have not jumped on the lawsuit bandwagon yet.

An apology now, IMO, would add insult to injury. However, I guess I would have liked to have heard him say something more about why he is stepping down. He certainly didn't do it even after the govenor asked him to. At least provide some statistics to back up your claim, KWIM?

[amew]

My problem is that he should not have accepted or stayed in a position where he knew could not fulfill the duties required of him. It's not like he didn't know how he felt about this subject. He has admittedly done this before. I am surprised the others who were denied have not jumped on the lawsuit bandwagon yet.

Exactly--I don't care if this guy apologizes for his ridiculously offensive beliefs (heck, it would be totally insincere if he did), but I don't think it would hurt for him to apologize for acting on those beliefs in direct violation of the United States Constitution. There is a difference between having a belief and breaking the law in reliance on that belief. And yes, I am frankly shocked that he has been doing this for years and is just now getting sued for it.

I guess I would have liked to have heard him say something more about why he is stepping down.

I thought the CNN article was pretty clear that he is stepping down because of the suit, presumably on advice of counsel:

Bardwell, speaking to CNN affiliate WBRZ, said he was advised "that I needed to step down because they was going to take me to court, and I was going to lose."

[Sposa06]

Exactly--I don't care if this guy apologizes for his ridiculously offensive beliefs (heck, it would be totally insincere if he did), but I don't think it would hurt for him to apologize for acting on those beliefs in direct violation of the United States Constitution. There is a difference between having a belief and breaking the law in reliance on that belief. And yes, I am frankly shocked that he has been doing this for years and is just now getting sued for it.

Well said--ITA.

[kimbyj]

I thought the CNN article was pretty clear that he is stepping down because of the suit, presumably on advice of counsel:

Right but if I was so adamant in my beliefs then why would I step down after the fact? If I am being sued and going to lose fine - but why do I need to step down? Doesn't that lend itself to the Plaintiff's case? Well, I guess we aren't dealing with the most logical fella here anyways.

[amew]

Right but if I was so adamant in my beliefs then why would I step down after the fact? If I am being sued and going to lose fine - but why do I need to step down? Doesn't that lend itself to the Plaintiff's case? Well, I guess we aren't dealing with the most logical fella here anyways.

I am not entirely clear on that either, but my guess is that either his attorney has reason to believe that resignation might result in the plaintiffs dismissing their claims against him (perhaps because of conversations with opposing counsel) or he is afraid that now that the incident has been made public, more interracial couples would approach him for marriage licenses in the event that he stayed in office, thus forcing him to committ additional legal violations and open himself up to additional lawsuits. Or it may just be that the lawsuit caused him to see the writing on the wall and made him realize that he was going to have to leave the position sooner or later.

[msnicolea]

This ios no dioffernt to me than a pharmacist who refuses to dispense particuar prescriptions--believe what you want, but don't take a job whose duties you cannot fulfill.

[amew]

This ios no dioffernt to me than a pharmacist who refuses to dispense particuar prescriptions--believe what you want, but don't take a job whose duties you cannot fulfill.

Agreed. Though if anything this situation is even more clear cut because there is no question whatsoever that it is 100% illegal for a public official to deny two people the right to marry because of their race. The pharmacist issue at least brings up some gray areas legally speaking (though don't get me wrong--I am no fan of pharmacists who deny people prescriptions, and I agree that it is the same problem from the standpoint of people taking jobs they know darn well they cannot in good faith perform).