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Interracial couple denied marriage license in La.

SpotsCat

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Filched from Breitbart.com
HAMMOND, La. (AP) - A Louisiana justice of the peace said he refused to issue a marriage license to an interracial couple out of concern for any children the couple might have.

Keith Bardwell, justice of the peace in Tangipahoa Parish, says it is his experience that most interracial marriages do not last long.

Neither Bardwell nor the couple immediately returned phone calls from The Associated Press. But Bardwell told the Daily Star of Hammond that he was not a racist.

"I do ceremonies for black couples right here in my house," Bardwell said. "My main concern is for the children."

Bardwell said he has discussed the topic with blacks and whites, along with witnessing some interracial marriages. He came to the conclusion that most of black society does not readily accept offspring of such relationships, and neither does white society, he said.

"I don't do interracial marriages because I don't want to put children in a situation they didn't bring on themselves," Bardwell said. "In my heart, I feel the children will later suffer."

If he does an interracial marriage for one couple, he must do the same for all, he said.

"I try to treat everyone equally," he said.

Thirty-year-old Beth Humphrey and 32-year-old Terence McKay, both of Hammond, say they will consult the U.S. Justice Department about filing a discrimination complaint.

Humphrey told the newspaper she called Bardwell on Oct. 6 to inquire about getting a marriage license signed. She says Bardwell's wife told her that Bardwell will not sign marriage licenses for interracial couples.

"It is really astonishing and disappointing to see this come up in 2009," said American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana attorney Katie Schwartzman. "The Supreme Court ruled as far back as 1963 that the government cannot tell people who they can and cannot marry."

The ACLU was preparing a letter for the Louisiana Supreme Court, which oversees the state justices of the peace, asking them to investigate Bardwell and see if they can remove him from office, Schwartzman said.

"He knew he was breaking the law, but continued to do it," Schwartzman said.

According to the clerk of court's office, application for a marriage license must be made three days before the ceremony because there is a 72-hour waiting period. The applicants are asked if they have previously been married. If so, they must show how the marriage ended, such as divorce.

Other than that, all they need is a birth certificate and Social Security card.

The license fee is $35, and the license must be signed by a Louisiana minister, justice of the peace or judge. The original is returned to the clerk's office.


Is this miscegenation rearing it's ugly head, or is it possible that Justice Bardwell is acting out of what he believes is the best interest of children?

FWIW Trivia - Tangipahoa parish is where Britney Spears is from.
 
Is this for real?
 
I just am so shocked that there's a story like this in 2009.
 
I agree with the ACLU. He should be removed from office, plain and simple. I don't care how correct this Justice of the Peace feels.
 
Is this for real?
I have trouble with it passing the "smell test." It is always possible, of course, that the JOP is simply showing the signs of senility-- that sort of thing does happen.

On top of that, LA probably has a higher percentage of persons of mixed race than any other State. It hardly seems that it would cause many heads to turn if a mixed couple wanted to marry.
 
I just am so shocked that there's a story like this in 2009.

Depressing, isn't it?

The same comment I made in the thread about the Alabama sex toys law applies here as well -- "As a transplanted Yankee, I'm amazed sometimes at how far the South has come since the early 1960's. Other times, I'm surprised at how backwards they still are."

I wonder how old this JP is? Not that it really matters, but I'd be happier if he was nearing the end of his time on the planet, instead of being someone in their 40's or so.

The sooner his kind of attitude dies off, the better we'll all be!
 
Depressing, isn't it?

"As a transplanted Yankee, I'm amazed sometimes at how far the South has come since the early 1960's. Other times, I'm surprised at how backwards they still are."
Funny, I had very similar but reversed thoughts the first time I drove North and saw the New Jersey Turnpike, and Springfield, Massachusetts.
 
Funny, I had very similar but reversed thoughts the first time I drove North and saw the New Jersey Turnpike, and Springfield, Massachusetts.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

I felt the same way when I got to Sacramento CA.... how can people live like that?
 
They should go to Loranger. There's a JoP there that will marry them. I can't remember his name, but he married me and my wife.

Bardwell might know these folks and feels that they shouldn't be married, nor should they pro-create, too. So we might not know the whole story.
 
They should go to Loranger. There's a JoP there that will marry them. I can't remember his name, but he married me and my wife.

Bardwell might know these folks and feels that they shouldn't be married, nor should they pro-create, too. So we might not know the whole story.
(italics mine)

I thought that at first read of the story, but then I caught this little part --

I don't do interracial marriages because I don't want to put children in a situation they didn't bring on themselves," Bardwell said. "In my heart, I feel the children will later suffer."

If he does an interracial marriage for one couple, he must do the same for all, he said.

"I try to treat everyone equally..."

Bardwell's comment about treating everyone equally, reminds me of Fat Frank De Georgio's line about Harry Callahan -- "Ah that's one thing about our Harry, doesn't play any favorites! Harry hates everybody: Limeys, Micks, Hebes, Fat Dagos, Niggers, Honkies, Chinks, you name it."
 
(italics mine)

I thought that at first read of the story, but then I caught this little part --



Bardwell's comment about treating everyone equally, reminds me of Fat Frank De Georgio's line about Harry Callahan -- "Ah that's one thing about our Harry, doesn't play any favorites! Harry hates everybody: Limeys, Micks, Hebes, Fat Dagos, Niggers, Honkies, Chinks, you name it."

Harry is a great American hero. I hate everyone equally, as well.
 
For the benefit of the children. Ignoring everything else that is stupid with this, he does realize that the art of babymaking doesn't require marriage?
 
Filched from Breitbart.com


Is this miscegenation rearing it's ugly head, or is it possible that Justice Bardwell is acting out of what he believes is the best interest of children?

FWIW Trivia - Tangipahoa parish is where Britney Spears is from.

Wow...original intent.
 
Imagine that, the old vestages of the deep south still presist to today.

Hate to say it, but this does not surprise me in the least.

Image what the JP would choke on if it was a gay couple?

PS some of the most beautiful children I have ever seen come from mixed race couples. One of the most stunningly beautiful woman I have ever seen was half Asian, half Black.
Also, could it be mixed breeds have a higher Intelligence Quotient? Never seen a study to that affect, would be interesting to find out if that is true since with dogs, I've always thought that mutts were more intellegent, while pure breeds can sometimes be a bit whacky and downright stupid.

.
 
Imagine that, the old vestages of the deep south still presist to today.

Hate to say it, but this does not surprise me in the least.

Image what the JP would choke on if it was a gay couple?

PS some of the most beautiful children I have ever seen come from mixed race couples. One of the most stunningly beautiful woman I have ever seen was half Asian, half Black.
Also, could it be mixed breeds have a higher Intelligence Quotient? Never seen a study to that affect, would be interesting to find out if that is true since with dogs, I've always thought that mutts were more intellegent, while pure breeds can sometimes be a bit whacky and downright stupid.

.

Race has nothing to do with intelligence.

Purebred dogs have stronger instincts. If those instinctual needs are not met, they try to fulfill them in ways that are perceived to be "whacky". There are no stupid dogs. There are just owners who are ignorant about their dogs.

Mutts tend to be healthier due to poor breeding practices of purebreeds.
 
If you think this type of thing can't happen....look at prop 8 in California.

Prop 8 showed us in California that Constitutional Rights can be taken away by a simply majority vote under the California Constitution....and your right to marry can be subjected to whatever the whim of those in the "majority" feel like.
 
There's always Las Vegas.
 
Race has nothing to do with intelligence.

Purebred dogs have stronger instincts. If those instinctual needs are not met, they try to fulfill them in ways that are perceived to be "whacky". There are no stupid dogs. There are just owners who are ignorant about their dogs.

Mutts tend to be healthier due to poor breeding practices of purebreeds.

From a personal observation, not based on science, it seems that those poor breeding practices with dogs has resulted in less intelligence. A less healthy brain.

As far as my question about mixed breeding in humans having more intelligence, I am curious to know if that could be true or not. I have daughter that is mixed and she is smarter then all get out. I've generally observed that mixed children seem to have an edge. But non of that is based on science, it is based on my biased opinion.

.
 
If you think this type of thing can't happen....look at prop 8 in California.

Prop 8 showed us in California that Constitutional Rights can be taken away by a simply majority vote under the California Constitution....and your right to marry can be subjected to whatever the whim of those in the "majority" feel like.

That is the result of the referendum system in California. Of which I recently saw a headline that said that a lawmaker, or was it a politician? had said that that system had broken the California legal system. We are a republic to do away with mob rule and issues decided by referendum of the people is mob rule.
 
That is the result of the referendum system in California. Of which I recently saw a headline that said that a lawmaker, or was it a politician? had said that that system had broken the California legal system. We are a republic to do away with mob rule and issues decided by referendum of the people is mob rule.

I agree. The referendum system in California is a complete joke. People without a brain in their heads put all kinds of crazy things on the ballot and most people here have no clue as to what they are voting for.
 
I agree. The referendum system in California is a complete joke. People without a brain in their heads put all kinds of crazy things on the ballot and most people here have no clue as to what they are voting for.

I have no problem with a referendum system as a way to direct the legislative process to act, be it from tabling a bill the public wants acted on to passing it. But to give the mob such power is akin to a lynching mob.

No one wants to live in a pure democracy, that is madness.

.
 
Interracial couple denied marriage license in La.

By MARY FOSTER (AP) – 26 minutes ago
NEW ORLEANS — A Louisiana justice of the peace said he refused to issue a marriage license to an interracial couple out of concern for any children the couple might have. Keith Bardwell, justice of the peace in Tangipahoa Parish, says it is his experience that most interracial marriages do not last long.

"I'm not a racist. I just don't believe in mixing the races that way," Bardwell told the Associated Press on Thursday. "I have piles and piles of black friends. They come to my home, I marry them, they use my bathroom. I treat them just like everyone else."

Bardwell said he asks everyone who calls about marriage if they are a mixed race couple. If they are, he does not marry them, he said.

Bardwell said he has discussed the topic with blacks and whites, along with witnessing some interracial marriages. He came to the conclusion that most of black society does not readily accept offspring of such relationships, and neither does white society, he said.

"There is a problem with both groups accepting a child from such a marriage," Bardwell said. "I think those children suffer and I won't help put them through it."

If he did an interracial marriage for one couple, he must do the same for all, he said.

"I try to treat everyone equally," he said.

Bardwell estimates that he has refused to marry about four couples during his career, all in the past 2 1/2 years.

Beth Humphrey, 30, and 32-year-old Terence McKay, both of Hammond, say they will consult the U.S. Justice Department about filing a discrimination complaint.

O, I wish I was in the land of cotton
Old times there are not forgotten
Look away! Look away!
Look away! Dixie Land.


WTFrack... :shock:Is all I can say.:doh
 
If you think this type of thing can't happen....look at prop 8 in California.

Prop 8 showed us in California that Constitutional Rights can be taken away by a simply majority vote under the California Constitution....and your right to marry can be subjected to whatever the whim of those in the "majority" feel like.

Kinda like what's happening to Rush right now, huh?
 
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