Nebraska Congressmen Split On Same-Sex Marriage Vote

      Nebraska’s 3-member Republican U-S House delegation was split yesterday when the House passed a bipartisan bill legalizing same-sex marriage.

      Backers introduced the Respect for Marriage Act out of fear the legal arguments cited by the U-S Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v Wade could also be used to overturn earlier high court approval of same-sex marriage.

      The vote was 267-157 with 47 Republicans joining the majority Democrats in passing it. One of the 47 was 2nd District Congressman Don Bacon. 

       Bacon said afterward that“as a person of faith” he believes in the traditional definition of marriage, but doesn’t believe “the government should dictate who can marry each other based on gender, race, or ethnicity.”

      Bacon pointed out that many thousands of same-sex marriages have been performed in the 7 years since the Supreme Court ruling – adding that “Americans should have the right to their private lives.”

     Voting against the bill were the 3rd District’s Adrian Smith of Gering and the 1st-District’s Mike Flood of Norfolk, who took office just last week.

      Flood called it a “political ploy” that was rushed to the floor, bypassing the normal committee process. 

       Flood called it “cruel, hateful fear-mongering,” adding that the Supreme Court made it clear after the Roe v Wade ruling that nobody’s marriage was under threat.   

      It’s not clear if the bill can pass the Senate, where at least 10 Republicans would need to approve it to overcome the filibuster’s 60-vote threshold.

      Nebraska Democratic Party Chair Jane Kleeb blasted Smith and Flood, saying that “once again, they voted to strip Nebraskans of their rights (and) instead of representing Nebraska families, Flood and Smith represent the cruel wing of the Republican Party.”

8 thoughts on “Nebraska Congressmen Split On Same-Sex Marriage Vote”

  1. “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

    Seems like Smith and Flood haven’t read the first amendment. Your bible doesn’t write the rules in our country. If two of-age, alive, and consenting adults want to get married then let them get married.

  2. For your information, this country was established on Christianity, read your history book. My King James (Hebrew translation) bible is God’s bible and he says in Leviticus 18:22 that “you shall not lie with a male as with a woman, it is an ambomination.” I guess Christianity doesn’t enter into your picture here. Good for Smith and Flood for standing up for God’s law which supersedes ALL other laws. Read your bible, buddy.

    • Dusti,

      Please show me the history book that says America was established on Christianity. I would like to see page numbers, too. The reason I ask is because my US history textbook told a different story. Namely, that the United States was founded on the idea of religious freedom. I can back that up, too, just look at the first amendment:

      “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”

      This directly contradicts your claim that America was established on Christianity, so you can stop looking through that history book of yours if you would like.

      The United States does not have an official religion. My religion does not condemn gay marriage. There are likewise many Christian organizations that support the right to gay marriage. We need to consider the atheists, too. Is it really fair to force all of these people to live by one conservative interpretation of the bible?

      There are so many tangible benefits to getting married these days. Marriage means you can share health insurance, claim tax benefits, visit your spouse in the hospital, inherit your spouses estate, etc. We can’t afford to deprive so many people of these benefits because of our personal religious beliefs, especially when we have no right to impose our religion on other people in the first place.

      • It is true that this nation was founded on the idea of religious freedom. It is also true that Christianity played an important role in this nation’s founding. For example, The First Continental Congress opened in Christian prayer. The Declaration of Independence contains 3 references to God (“Nature’s God”, “Creator” and “Divine Providence”). There were calls for national prayer and fasting/thanksgiving throughout the Revolutionary War. During the Constitutional Convention, Benjamin Franklin requested a time of prayer which was granted.

        To quote John Adams from a letter to Thomas Jefferson on June 28, 1813: “The general principles, on which the Fathers achieved independence, were the only Principles in which that beautiful Assembly of young Gentlemen could Unite, and these Principles only could be intended by them in their address, or by me in my answer. And what were these general Principles? I answer, the general Principles of Christianity, in which all these Sects were United: And the general Principles of English and American Liberty…”

        Patrick Henry: “It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here.” (The Trumpet Voice of Freedom: Patrick Henry of Virginia, p. iii.)

        • You’re kinda missing the point here. Sure, the founding fathers were Christian, but religious freedom is still more important than Christianity. The US doesn’t have an official religion. The founding fathers said that loud and clear in the Constitution. Those quotes are cool and all but the Constitution is the law of the land…not the Bible. This country is for *everyone*, not just the people who believe in jesus.

  3. Josh, obviously you don’t read or believe in the Bible, God’s word. I noticed no comment was made on man sleeping with man. If God had wanted gays, he would have made two men. He didn’t, hence forth the woman and the man. Hmmm, pretty commonsense deduction. What you are saying is that marriage “benefits” outweigh the sanctity of marriage in the Bible. I can afford to “deprive” these people of marriage if the Bible says so. Deprivation of sin is what every human works for in this world. Doing what is right and Godly should be number one priority, not “if it benefits me.” Wow, do you hear yourself? No human rights outweigh God’s word in the Bible.

    Arguing with you is a waste of my time, but knowing what is truly RIGHT in this world is comfort to me. Christians should stand their ground when faced with unbelievers who put their own worldly spin on what God wants for his people. Again, read your Bible and put Jesus first.

    • Yes, I am one of the 30% of Americans who don’t identify as Christian. There are approximately 100 million people in this country who don’t identify as Christian and that number is growing day by day.

      For us Americans in the 30%, the bible is not the law of the land. We have our own religious texts or we don’t have any religious texts at all. That is perfectly fine because the Constitution says so. We’re free to worship in this country as we see fit.

      It sounds like you wish to see America become a Christian theocracy. Again, the first amendment prohibits theocracy in the US. Afghanistan, Iran, and the Vatican are a few examples of theocracies if you care to learn more.

      Live and let live. Love thy neighbor. I think jesus said that, right? ;^)

  4. Yes, he did. I pray for you to read the Bible and try to understand Jesus and what he wants for us. The reasons Smith and Flood voted the way they did is in the Bible. Christian’s who believe in Jesus word are guaranteed one thing in this life…Heaven. May God bless you my friend.

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