Politicians Who Favor Discrimination

In May, 2011, Minnesota politicians voted to pass a proposed Constitutional Amendment which would deny equal rights to all Minnesota citizens. Past proposed amendments to Minnesota’s Constitution have always sought to expand equal rights, not deny them.

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it”

– George Santayana, 1905

Irrational fear, hatred, and bigotry have left many stains on our nation’s otherwise proud history. What is amazing is that some politicians, in 2011, believe that it’s still alright to vote in favor of discrimination.

The few politicians who were willing to speak openly about their proposed Constitutional Amendment gave the same arguments used by politicians in the 1950s and 1960s as they opposed Equal Rights for Blacks.

There is NO valid state interest in adding discrimination to Minnesota’s Constitution.

It’s important that the names of the politicians responsible for yet another setback in our nation’s long struggle toward true freedom for all be available for generations to come. Their names appear below.

Please do not use this list to harass these poor misguided souls. If you do, you’ve missed the intended message. Help educate them, and hold them accountable, but do not  harass them.

If you happen to meet any of these individuals at a family gathering, a social affair, or in work setting, it might be very appropriate to ask why they support discrimination. Everyone – especially their children and grandchildren – should ask them about their vote.

Listen carefully to their answers. Do they repeat the same irrational reasons given by past opponents to equal rights to justify discrimination? Do they say they are only following their religious teachings? Do they believe that their religious views, no matter how faulty, must be added to our nation’s laws? If so, which religious views? All of them, or just the ones they believe in? Why can’t they see that discrimination harms our nation?

Critical listening and open discussion is needed to shine a light on those who would advocate discrimination. Eventually, all politicians must learn that irrational fear, hatred, bigotry, and discrimination have no place in this great nation. Only then will we have a truly free nation.

In May, 2011, the following Minnesota politicians voted (SF-1308) for a proposed Constitutional Amendment to deny Equal Rights to all:

Rep Jim Abeler (R-Anoka)

Rep Bruce Anderson (R-Buffalo Township)

Rep Diane Anderson (R-Eagan)

Rep Paul Anderson (R-Starbuck)

Rep Sarah Anderson (R-Plymouth)

Rep King Banaian (R-St. Cloud)

Rep Bob Barrett (R-Shafer)

Rep Michael Beard (R-Shakopee)

Sen Michelle R. Benson (R-Ham Lake)

Rep Mike Benson (R-Rochester)

Rep Kurt Bills (R-Rosemount)

Sen David M. Brown (R-Becker)

Rep Mark Buesgens (R-Jordan)

Sen John Carlson (R-Bemidji)

Sen Roger C. Chamberlain (R-Lino Lakes)

Rep Tony Cornish (R-Good Thunder)

Rep Roger Crawford (R-Mora)

Sen Gary H. Dahms (R-Redwood Falls)

Sen Theodore J. "Ted" Daley (R-Eagan)

Rep Kurt Daudt (R-Crown)

Rep Greg Davids (R-Preston)

Rep Matt Dean (R-Dellwood)

Sen Al  DeKruif (R-Madison Lake)

Rep Bob Dettmer (R-Forest Lake)

Rep Denise Dittrich (D-Champlin)

Rep Connie Doepke (R-Orono)

Rep Keith Downey (R-Edina)

Rep Steve Drazkowski (R-Mazeppa)

Rep Sondra Erickson (R-Princeton)

Rep Dan Fabian (R-Roseau)

Sen Michelle L. Fischbach (R-Paynesville)

Rep Mary Franson (R-Alexandria)

Rep Pat Garofalo (R-Farmington)

Sen Paul E. Gazelka (R-Brainerd)

Sen Chris Gerlach (R-Apple Valley)

Sen Joe Gimse (R-Willmar)

Rep Steve Gottwalt (R-St. Cloud)

Rep Glenn Gruenhagen (R-Glencoe)

Rep Bob Gunther (R-Fairmont)

Rep Tom Hackbarth (R-Cedar)

Sen Dan D. Hall (R-Burnsville)

Rep Rod Hamilton (R-Mountain Lake)

Rep David Hancock (R-Bemidji)

Sen David W. Hann (R-Eden Prairie)

Sen Gretchen M. Hoffman (R-Vergas)

Rep Mary Liz Holberg (R-Lakeville)

Rep Joe Hoppe (R-Chaska)

Sen John Sterling Howe (R-Red Wing)

Rep Larry Howes (R-Walker)

Sen Bill Ingebrigtsen (R-Alexandria)

Sen Michael J. Jungbauer (R-East Bethel)

Rep Andrea Kieffer (R-Woodbury)

Rep Debra Kiel (R-Crookston)

Rep Mary Kiffmeyer (R-Big Lake)

Sen Amy T. Koch (R-Buffalo)

Rep Lyle Koenen (D-Clara City)

Sen Benjamin A. Kruse (R-Brooklyn Park)

Rep Morrie Lanning (R-Moorhead)

Rep Ernie Leidiger (R-Mayer)

Rep Mike LeMieur (R-Little Falls)

Sen Ted H. Lillie (R-Lake Elmo)

Sen Warren Limmer (R-Maple Grove)

Rep Kathy Lohmer (R-Lake Elmo)

Rep Jenifer Loon (R-Eden Prairie)

Rep Tara Mack (R-Apple Valley)

Sen Doug Magnus (R-Slayton)

Rep Pat Mazorol (R-Bloomington)

Rep Joe McDonald (R-Delano)

Rep Carolyn McElfatrick (R-Deer River)

Rep Carol McFarlane (R-White Bear Lake)

Rep Denny McNamara (R-Hastings)

Sen Geoff Michel (R-Edina)

Sen Jeremy R. Miller (R-Winona)

Rep Mark Murdock (R-Ottertail)

Rep Pam Myhra (R-Burnsville)

Sen Carla J. Nelson (R-Rochester)

Sen Scott J.  Newman (R-Hutchinson)

Sen Sean R. Nienow (R-Cambridge)

Rep Bud Nornes (R-Fergus Falls)

Rep Tim O'Driscoll (R-Sartell)

Sen Gen Olson (R-Minnetrista)

Sen Julianne E. Ortman (R-Chanhassen)

Sen Mike Parry (R-Waseca)

Sen John C. Pederson (R-St. Cloud)

Rep Joyce Peppin (R-Rogers)

Rep Branden Petersen (R-Andover)

Rep Duane Quam (R-Byron)

Sen Claire A. Robling (R-Jordan)

Sen Julie A. Rosen (R-Fairmont)

Rep Linda Runbeck (R-Circle Pines)

Rep Tim Sanders (R-Blaine)

Rep Joe Schomacker (R-Luverne)

Rep Peggy Scott (R-Andover)

Sen David H. Senjem (R-Rochester)

Rep Ron Shimanski (R-Silver Lake)

Rep Kirk Stensrud (R-Eden Prairie)

Sen LeRoy A. Stumpf (D-Plummer)

Rep Chris Swedzinski (R-Ghent)

Sen Dave A Thompson (R-Lakeville)

Rep Paul Torkelson (R-Nelson Township)

Rep Dean Urdahl (R-Grove City)

Sen Ray Vandeveer (R-Forest Lake)

Rep Bruce Vogel (R-Willmar)

Rep Doug Wardlow (R-Eagan)

Rep Torrey Westrom (R-Elbow Lake)

Sen Pam Wolf (R-Spring Lake Park)

Rep Kelby Woodard (R-Belle Plaine)

Rep Kurt Zellers (R-Maple Grove)

We must never allow them, or us, to forget. Please share this list of names with everyone who believes in Equal Rights. Post it on your blog or on your social networking site. Make it easy for search engines to find, so that their ancestors will know the truth.

Disgraceful Abuse of Power (Equal Rights In Peril)

My compliments to those Democrats (and one Republican) who stood on the floor of the Minnesota House and spoke so eloquently in support of Equal Rights for all Minnesota citizens.

 

The proposed Constitutional Amendment under "debate" on the House floor - the first ever proposed Constitutional Amendment in Minnesota to deny Equal Rights, rather than expand those rights - perfectly reflects modern-day Republican views and values. They believe that they were elected into office to cut - no matter what the consequences. Throughout this session, they've voted to cut all sorts of programs in this once proud state. They've voted to throw the poor and senior citizens under the bus, so why not vote against Equal Rights for everyone too?

 

The only arguments heard on the House floor by proponents in support of the proposed Constitutional Amendment centered on letting the people vote. The House author of the proposed amendment refused to answer repeated questions about the merits of the amendment or his thinking in authoring it. Instead he kept repeating only his prepared words - that the amendment gives Minnesota voters the opportunity to vote on an existing law. 

 

What a crock of "Bull Whoee." The original law was wrong, and now he wants to enshrine it in Minnesota's Constitution. 

 

Equal Rights are granted by the US Constitution. Revoking them should not be subject to pandering wrong-minded politicians and the bigoted special interest groups who support them. No politician, no special interest group, no group of voters, and no wrong-minded judge should ever be allowed to deny Equal Rights to American citizens.

 

In 2012, Minnesota's voters will, for the first time ever, vote on a Constitutional Amendment to deny Equal Rights to Minnesota citizens.

 

Between now and then, Minnesotans will be bombarded with messages and commercials, both pro and con.

 

I have heard nothing from the Republican majority to indicate why denying Equal Rights to all should be enshrined in Minnesota's Constitution. I've heard nothing to support a legitimate state interest in denying same-sex marriage - in fact, all legitimate evidence supports the benefits of a loving relationship, including relationships between same-sex couples.

 

Shame on Minnesota Republicans. Shame on those equally wrong-minded citizens who elected them.

 

The fight for Equal Rights continues, despite this appalling setback. And, as with all past Equal Rights struggles, this setback will (eventually) be corrected. History shows that Equal Rights will eventually prevail. But, it's unfortunate that the once proud Republican Party has turned its back on Equal Rights, and all this country is supposed to stand for.

 

Shame on you Republican Majority.