creekdipper

Combining the two (or three) main topics for this forum, Chris Christie weighs in on current issues (story below).

Question: In your opinion, how much religious/political doctrine can one reject and still call oneself a bonafide member of the group espousing those views?



Christie Says Gayness Inborn as He Signs Therapy Measure
By Elise Young & Stacie Sherman - Aug 19, 2013 3:56 PM ET


New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a Republican who has opposed same-sex marriage, said that homosexuality is inborn and not a sin.

The statement was released as he signed a bill banning therapy that tries to change a minor’s sexual orientation. Christie said such efforts pose “critical health risks including, but not limited to, depression, substance abuse, social withdrawal, decreased self-esteem and suicidal thoughts.”
Enlarge image NJ Governor Chris Christie

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has walked a fine line on issues surrounding homosexuality as polls show a majority of Republicans oppose gay marriage amid broader acceptance of the practice.

June 27 (Bloomberg) –- Udi Ofer, executive director of the New Jersey chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, speaks in Trenton the about the prospects for a bill to legalize same-sex marriage in the state. Democratic lawmakers in New Jersey have started seeking Republicans who will support an override of Governor Chris Christie’s veto of gay marriage. (Source: Bloomberg)

“Exposing children to these health risks without clear evidence of benefits that outweigh these serious risks is not appropriate,” Christie, 50, said today in the statement.

Christie, who is seeking re-election in November and may run for president in 2016, has walked a fine line on issues surrounding homosexuality as polls show a majority of Republicans oppose gay marriage amid broader acceptance of the practice. A Gallup poll last month showed about two-thirds of Republicans are against making same-sex marriage legal in all 50 U.S. states. The survey of about 2,000 adults found that 52 percent of all voters favor such a measure.

Christie told CNN’s Piers Morgan in 2011 that while he is Catholic and his church believes homosexuality is a sin, he doesn’t share the view. “If someone is born that way, it’s very difficult to say then that that’s a sin,” he said, a quotation reproduced in today’s statement.
Ballot Box

Yet on Feb. 17, 2012, Christie vetoed a same-sex marriage bill, saying he believes that marriage should be between a man and a woman. Three weeks earlier, he nominated Bruce Harris, a Republican and openly gay lawyer, to the New Jersey Supreme Court. Senate Democrats declined to confirm Harris after the nominee said he would recuse himself from any matters involving gay-marriage issues.

Christie has said he’d support a referendum on gay marriage. Democrats have balked at a statewide vote on a matter that they say is a civil right.

Michael Drewniak, a spokesman for the governor, declined to comment on why the governor has divided philosophies on conversion therapy and same-sex marriage. Colin Reed, a Christie spokesman, said in the statement that the governor’s action on conversion therapy “is consistent with his belief that people are born gay and homosexuality is not a sin.”
‘Rational Decision’

New Jersey permits same-sex civil-unions under a 2006 law, one that Christie has said he supports. Seven gay couples sued in 2011, claiming in state Superior Court that the statute has made them a separate legal class whose rights aren’t fully understood or recognized. On Aug. 2, Christie’s administration filed a brief in that case, saying the state had made a “rational decision to reserve the name of marriage for heterosexual couples.”

As the court case plays out, Democratic lawmakers are pushing for an override of Christie’s veto.

Christie is a Roman Catholic. In July, the faith’s leader, Pope Francis, opposed a stance by his predecessor, Benedict XVI, who had written that gays shouldn’t be priests.

“If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?” the pope told reporters on a return flight to Rome from Brazil.
Alienation Risk

Republicans nationally have emphasized opposition to gay marriage as a central tenet of the party, which is heavily influenced by the social-issues activists -- including many evangelical Christians -- who dominate early presidential contests such as the Iowa caucus that select its presidential contenders.

The 2012 Republican Party platform endorsed efforts to protect “traditional marriage,” asserting that it was best for children and that its erosion ultimately led to bigger and more costly government.

Yet following their 2012 election losses, when Republicans failed to win the White House or take over the U.S. Senate, many party leaders are rethinking their approach. A March report on remaking the party argued that it “must in fact and deed be inclusive and welcoming,” or risk alienating young people, women and others “who agree with us on some but not all issues” -- a recommendation seen as a call for Republicans to tone down their rhetoric on gay marriage.

whaaat

Hehe.

kvrdave

That is what I thought of first as well.

wm lopez

God says gay is sin and Chris Christie says it's not.
Looks like Chris Christie is going for the liberal vote.

inri222

creekdipper

Well, my question was just about Christie...he was just a current example.

How much of the official platform do you have to agree with in order to be a "good" Democrat, Catholic, Patriots fan, etc.?

The point is, it seems that there are an awful lot of 'Big Tent' advocates who make claims to a label while holding views that are often totally contradictory to the 'official views'.

How far, in your opinion, can one go before he/she jumps the shark? Or should anybody who wants to be a member of the club be admitted regardless of views? Is there a limit?

Just a question I've been pondering lately and wondered what others thought. Obviously, not a pressing issue weighing (there it is again) on everyone's mind.

kvrdave

I think the Republican party lets people who are not pro-life in (grudgingly) more than the Democrats let people who are not pro-choice in. There are still some blue dogs that are pro choice, though.

As far as the religious moral issues go, those that hold religious moral views seem to believe that it is important for the sake of the country to pass laws about those things. If I were running for office, I am quite sure I'd be on the Republican ticket. I also no that I would not be opposed to laws on abortion or gay marriage. Simply put, what good do those laws do? I don't think they stop abortion and I don't think they stop people from being gay. Why have so many laws that have to do with personal behavior that doesn't affect anyone else (behavior wise). You can make the case that abortion is murder, and I wouldn't fight that case unless I was just in a mood to argue. But that absolutely doesn't change the fact that abortions are not going away.

People use those hot topics because the sheep easily decide what they think about you based on a single issue. It is easier than thinking.

As far as Christie goes, I've heard rumors of him being on the ticket with Hillary, which I find silly. He doesn't bring her anything. I don't see Republicans voting for him being the VP (VPs don't typically change any votes). Hard to say about him on a Republican ticket. I'd enjoy a big, fat president though.

wendersfan

This is insane. Christie is a conservative Republican. There's no way he's ever be nominated by the Dems, nor would he allow himself to be placed into nomination. Things like that are a fantasy for people who don't know anything about politics and have these bizarre, infantile views about how we could solve all the problems in our country if we just got rid of parties and partisanship.

kvrdave

Agreed. I think that is something that just happens when you are the media darling who does a few things that are viewed by the press as "bad" for your party, like hugging (or even being nice *gasp*) to Obama, etc. You look at his fiscal policies and how he has gone after teachers, etc. and he is very conservative. Damn near in the Scott Walker category.

JasonF

Disagree. After Hurricane Sandy, I saw pictures of Governor Christie with President Obama where the governor was not punching the president in the jaw. It's clear he's not a conservative. The only real question is whether he's a socialist or a full-fledged communist.

Ky-Fi

The reason people think he could be a Democrat is that he's too fat to just be in one party!

Thanks, folks---I'll be here all week!

...is this thing on?

Bandoman

He's a Springsteen fan, so...full fledged commie.