After Rowan County, Kentucky clerk Kim Davis was held in contempt of court and packed off to jail yesterday, several sources--including the Lexington Herald-Leader and the NYT--reported that Davis was elected as a Democrat. Sorry, but that's complete bollocks.
I realize that most Kentucky Democrats--especially those outside Louisville and Lexington--are pretty conservative by national standards. But a real Democrat, even a Blue Dog, knows that one of the most sacred trusts in a democracy is that government will not put innocent citizens in harms' way. As much as people are focusing on Davis harping on the sanctity of marriage when she's on her fourth marriage herself, that's not really an outrage. What's really an outrage is that for two months, NO ONE in Rowan County, regardless of sexual orientation, could get a marriage license. If that mentality is any different than the mentality that led Bridget Kelly and David Wildstein to close lanes on the George Washington Bridge, I'd really like to know.
Davis claims that if she were to issue a license to a gay couple, it would be such an egregious violation of her Apostolic Pentecostal faith that it could potentially send her to hell. But I haven't heard a single convincing explanation for why she's turned away straight couples as well. And that's because there isn't one.
The local U. S. Attorney has strongly hinted that Davis could face federal civil rights charges if she makes good on her threat to resume this farce if released. To my mind, such a case--which could result in her being automatically booted out of office if convicted--would be immensely bolstered by the fact that no one in that county was able to get a license for two months.
As Democrats, we believe that government should work for the people. He or she who uses the power of government to willfully put innocent citizens in harm's way cannot be a member of the Democratic Party. Period, full stop.
