Through the looking glass
Rather than issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, the Benton County commissioners today announced that they will not issue any marriage licenses to any couples until a court rules on the constitutionality of Oregon's hetero-only marriage statute. Apparently, they're going to send all couples out of county for their licenses until the Multnomah County test case -- which technically hasn't even been filed yet -- is decided at the trial court level.
What a brilliant maneuver. You make an empty gesture to the gay couples, forcing the heteros to drive over to the next county to do their paperwork. But for most (if not all) heteros, it's just a minor incovenience.
Did I miss it, and somebody's started a Cuteness in Government Contest here in Oregon? Between the Sisters of Hawthorne, Governor Ted, Hardy Har Har, and now See-No-Evil, Hear-No-Evil and Speak-No-Evil down in Corvallis, the competition for the distinction of most precious politician has gotten mighty tough.
| Posted at 8:20 PM | Permalink |
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Comments (5)
Sounds like Oregon has becom completely Californicated.
Posted by Parkway Rest Stop | March 23, 2004 2:05 AM
It's even crazier than that. Down there they have at least managed to preserve the status quo while the whole thing gets properly litigated. Not up here.
Posted by Jack Bog | March 23, 2004 2:27 AM
At least the county seat in Linn county, Albany, is about 10 minutes from Corvallis, so not a big deal, but I agree that this is absolutely ridiculous. Is there some sort of contest that we all don't know about that will give extra state funding to the county who gets Oregon the most tourism dollars? Multnomah or Deschutes are going to be fighting for that prize, I'm sure (and we're actually doing it through tourism, at least, and not some sort of wonky media attention travel plan).
Posted by Jake Ortman | March 23, 2004 10:11 AM
Did you catch the Tribune profile today of Diane Linn? I can't figure out if was an attempt to humanize her or to demonize her. I'd be interested in what others think.
Posted by Dave Lister | March 23, 2004 12:54 PM
Okay. I just had time to read the Diane Linn profile in its entirety and was struck by one thing: There was not one item on her busy agenda that had anything to do with addressing the dismal business climate in Multnomah County.
Posted by Dave Lister | March 23, 2004 1:04 PM