Jeb Bush on Thursday said that Kentucky clerk Kim Davis “is sworn to uphold the law,” and that there should be a way for people to stay true to their beliefs while still allowing same-sex couples to get married.
“It seems to me that there ought to be common ground, there ought to be a big enough space for her to act on her conscience, and for now that the law is the law of the land, for a gay couple to be married in whatever jurisdiction that is,” Bush told reporters after a town hall event in New Hampshire, according to Buzzfeed News. “I’m a little confused about why that can’t be done.”
“It’s being done all across the country and it’s a sign of leadership to be able to make that climate,” he continued.
The former Florida governor said that states should be able to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples while still allowing individuals to follow their beliefs. He said that “we shouldn’t be pushing people out of the public square if they have deeply held views, nor should we discriminate against people, particularly after this court ruling as it relates to sexual orientation, so I think there ought to be a way to figure this out,” according to Buzzfeed News.
He suggested that clerks be able to opt out of certain duties while still keeping their jobs if they have deeply held religious beliefs.
“There are ways that other places are looking at it, which is to say you don’t have to exercise this responsibility, we’ll have someone else in the office do it, so that you can maintain your religious conscience, which I think is appropriate, but people have the right to get a certificate of marriage,” he said.
Davis was taken into custody on Thursday after she was found in contempt of court for repeatedly refusing to issue marriage licenses to gay couples.
What he says here shouldn’t be controversial, and I would guess that even the couples turned away from the license bureau would agree with him, that there should be some option for those whose religious convictions conflict with this particular job criteria. BUT - and this is a big BUT - Davis instructed her entire office to turn gay couples away. She didn’t say, “Let me get someone who can help you.” She clearly stated, even in court yesterday, that she was refusing to allow anyone in her office to issue licenses. That is, without question or controversy, completely unacceptable.
But kudos to Bush. He must’ve read some internet comments yesterday, which on just about every site were running 10-1 against Davis. As for Cruz and Huckabee and Paul, the less said about those losers the better.
There is. People whose beliefs rule out same-sex marriage should not marry someone of the same sex. Those same people should not take jobs that require them to license marriages.
What’s so hard about this?
If a devoutly Catholic county clerk refused to grant a license to a Catholic who wanted to marry a Protestant or Jew, there wouldn’t even be any discussion about this.
Bush Bush has to win an award for the least substantial thing said about all this. Take a damn position, dumbass!
as other people have started to point out… suppose the clerk in your local fish and game office is a dedicated vegan and refuses to issue you a fishing or hunting license… what then?
the signature is on the state document is to assure that its a valid legal document… its not a personal approval or disapproval of the act the document is for…
your job is as an agent of the state and it requires you to do certain things… if you have a some deeply held ‘conviction’ that prevents you from doing your job then find another job…
signing your name for $80K a year isn’t exactly skilled labor…
Bunning gave Davis the option, you incompetent fool. She refused the reasonable accommodation stating she would order the clerks willing to issue the licenses not to do so. She would fire them if they did.