Dibble and Bachmann Debate on MPR

Openly gay state Senator Scott Dibble and anti-gay amendment leader Senator Michele Bachmann are debating on PR right now.

Bachmann: Let us vote because of the activist judges.
Dibble: This amendment goes beyond just marriage and bans the ability for same-sex couples to support each other.

Bachmann: Gay couples should just get contracts. Every contractual obligation is offered.
Dibble: Bachmann misrepresenting her bill. Some of the benefits of marriage are not offered contractually. Joint tax filings, SS benefits. And those contracts are subject to legal challenges.

Eichten: Issue already decided by Minnesota Court.
Bachmann: Baker decision was first state challenge in the nation. We're not talking about banning gay marriage, "we're talking about something positive" letting people vote. She didn't answer the question.
And here she plays thhe polygamy card.

11:21: Eichten to Dibble: Why not just ammend?
Dibble: Because it's blatantly discriminatory. And what are the politics of this amendment? Basically, the benefit of partisan Republicans. And getting their base out to vote.
Bachmann: "The Senate has not spent one minute debating this bill." One bill hearing in 3 years. "I was in the hospital having surgery when I introduced the bill" (ah, poor thing)
It wasn't Republicans tthat put this issue into play. The Mass. Supreme Court (all Republicans by the way) forced this on the people.

11:25 Caller: What god thinks of Minnesota? Sodomy just filthy and god will hate Minnesota if we don't pass this amendment.
Eichten: What about god and government.

Bachmann: We want diversity. (LOL).
Dibble: About 2000 people of faith in the Rotunda today. This is against their morality and divides Minnesota and is not in keeping with many peoples beliefs.

Bachmann: Must vote this fall! Otherwise taking away from civil and social responsibility. We want diversity, again. Let's get it on the ballot!
Dibble: Disinformation campaign. We have a committee process. "I've never tried to overrun the committee process" It undercuts democratic process.

11:30: Bachmann: My bill will be heard too late. Stall and delay. Be men, Be women!

Bachmann: Free and open debate.
Dibble: She's asking for special treatment.

11:35: Caller Joe: Why does she keep saying that gay marriage threatens my straight marriage?
Bachmann: Personally, gay marriage doesn't impact people. The difference is legal. Schools will have to teach that homosexuality is acceptable and that kids should try it. Businesses would have to offer benefits. It would make us like Canada.
Dibble: This is an attempt to fan the flames of hysteria. Gay people are born this way, the exist. We will not go back into the closet. We are normal and natural. Love and commitment shoudl be honored - a conservative idea. People thrive in areas with same-sex marriage equality.
Eichten: Won't civil rights be restricted? Couldn't say bad things about homosexuality?
Dibble: We have free speech rights in this country. People can say what they want. First amendment.
Bachmann: People losing rights in Canada. She keeps going on and on about Canada. (It's a different country! With a different constitution!) Massachusettes teaches that kids should try homosexuality (what?!?)

11:41: Bachmann: If gay marriage legal will affect 100% of Minnesotans.
Caller: Does Dibble support polygamy?
Dibble: This has nothing to do with polygamy. Just an effort to fan flames of hysteria. This is about couples making life-long committments.

Bachmann: If we should legalize same-sex? Then introduce a bill to make it legal. If people want to legalize polygamy, introduce a bill.
Dibble: It's clear that gays are an unpopular minority. We must eliminate discrimination. We don't subject minorities to popularity votes. That's why these people are reaching into the Constitution, people are starting to notice that discrimination.
Bachmann: Let us debate! Amendment will not take away any same-sex rights or polygamist rights.

Eichten: Is that true? No rights taken away?
Dibble: Yes, thhey will.
Eichten: Why not take out the legal equivalents?
Bachmann: Because of activist judges in Connecticut.

Eichten: Why shouldn't everyone have the same civil rights?
Bachmann: Marriage is not a civil right. Every American has civil rights.
Dibble: Nope. I can be fired in America for being gay. There are many incidents of marriage that are not conveyed, SS benefits, hospital visitation. Is that true?
Bachmann: No, SS benefits are not available to same-sex couples. Think about the 'radical' change in definitions. Look at California! Kids are taught about homosexuality! (Same-sex marriage is not legal in CA, Bachmann)
Dibble: Does she want schools to teach that gay people don't exist? That we're wrong?
Bachmann: I have never indicated that gay people are wrong? (that's a big fat lie!)

11:54: Caller: Lesbian and I will lose domestic partnership benefits and can't stay home with the kids.
Bachmann: It wouldn't prohibit State of Minnesota from providing domestic partnership benefits.
Dibble: It will. Look at Ohio.

Eichten: Do all bills need to come to a full vote in the legislature?
Dibble: Bills get killed, amended, stalled. Constitutional amendments and bills all go through the same process. Never asked to bypass committee process.
Bachmann: Legislators have heard more from people in the past 3 years than any other thing. It's a threat to civil liberties to not vote!

Dibble: Opinion is changing. Many people feel it is a distraction.

*****
Dibble did a good job. How many times could Bachmann fit the word 'polygamy' in there? I counted 10. Someone should remind her of what is being debated. She lied a few times. More on that later.