Ken Paxton, Texas’ criminally indicted attorney general, has
issued an opinion
that would, it seems, be an obstruction of justice and a contravention of the United
States Supreme Court’s ruling making every citizen of this country equal under
the law — allowing same sex partners to enjoy the rights of conferred with a
state-sanctioned marriage.
Paxton’s opinion also assured those county clerks with religious
opposition to issuing marriage license to same sex couples that a raft of
lawyers are standing by to assist those clerks and Paxton in his obstruction of
justice and violation of his and their oaths of office. The opinion arises out
of a request for “guidance” from Dan Patrick, the hate-mongering lieutenant governor,
although it’s unclear why and how Patrick would be impacted by this ruling. According
to the hateful press
release, Paxton implies that religious freedom is threatened.
The language is odious.
“Indeed, for those who respect the rule of law, this lawless
ruling presents a fundamental dilemma: A ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court is
considered the law of the land, but a judge-made edict that is not based in the
law or the Constitution diminishes faith in our system of government and the
rule of law.
Now hundreds of Texas public officials are seeking guidance
on how to implement what amounts to a lawless decision by an activist Court
while adhering both to their respective faiths and their responsibility to
uphold and defend the U.S. Constitution.”
But how can a law be lawless if the very Constitution states
the Supreme Court’s rulings are the law of the land?
And here is an even greater irony. The date on the opinion
is Sunday, June 28, the Sabbath. As a Bible-thumping, breast-beating nondenominational
Christian, Paxton has violated, at least, the Fourth Commandment: Remember the
Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
This Supreme Court ruling is unusual. It doesn’t really have
losers; no money will be forfeited as a result of the ruling. The hypocrisy and
hatefulness of this attorney general contradicts everything Jesus preached.
Sometimes you have to wonder how low a public official, and Paxton in
particular, can go. I have a feeling we’re far from seeing him reach bottom.
