God's Law trumps the First Amendment

This is really a shocking story — not that it happened so much as that the person who did it was so open about it.  Pennsylvania's first openly gay legislator, Brian Sims, stood up to speak about the SCOTUS ruling on DoMA — and was silenced by opponents through parliamentary procedures.  Why?

'One of those lawmakers, conservative state Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler), told WHYY that he believed Sims' comments would be a violation of "God's law."

"I did not believe that as a member of that body that I should allow someone to make comments such as he was preparing to make that ultimately were just open rebellion against what the word of God has said, what God has said, and just open rebellion against God's law," Metcalfe said.

Yes, decide someone is speaking in "open rebellion" against "God" and you are morally justified in shutting them up.  Crikey.

It did give Sims a chance to make an even better riposte, though: 'A few months ago I reminded this House that we put our hands on the Bible and swore to uphold the Constitution, not the other way around.' Those words, apparently, are not being heeded by some of his colleagues.

(And, in answer to +Zachary Cook's question below, folks like Metcalfe get a say for the same reason that folks like Sims should — because everyone should get a say, even the "authoritarian, delusional creeps." Because shutting one person down creates a precedent to shut anyone else down.)

Reshared post from +Zachary Cook

These people make me feel physically ill. Authoritarian, delusional creeps. Why do people so warped even get to have a say?

#americantaliban #teaparty #gop