Wade Kach – Hypocrite
This year, Republican Delegate Wade Kach voted in favor of legalizing same-sex marriage. What makes him a huge hypocrite is the fact that he was one of the co-sponsors of the following last year, HB-474 - which is summarized as:
Adding a new section to the Maryland Constitution to establish that a marriage between one man and one woman shall be the only domestic legal union valid or recognized in the State; and submitting the amendment to the qualified voters of the State for their adoption or rejection.
Seriously. How do you go from supporting a Constitutional Amendment defining marriage one year, to voting in favor of legalizing same-sex marriage the next unless you have no moral backbone at all. Whatever side of this issue you're on, you have to admit - this wreaks.
Red Maryland has more on a reported promise of a job to Kach by the O'Malley administration which, if true, explains this vote and also reveals the character of this man.
HT to MSOP
Southern Baptists AKA Great Commission Baptists
The Southern Baptist Convention's task force has released the results of their review of the Convention's name. Here's the piece from Baptist Press:
The task force appointed to study a possible name change of the Southern Baptist Convention is recommending that the convention maintain its legal name but adopt an informal, non-legal name for those who want to use it: Great Commission Baptists.
Jimmy Draper
The name "Southern," task force chairman Jimmy Draper said, is a barrier to the Gospel in some regions of the country. The task force was appointed by Southern Baptist Convention President Bryant Wright.The task force made its recommendation during the Executive Committee meeting Monday night. The Executive Committee will consider the recommendation Tuesday.
The recommendation means that the legal name of the convention will remain “Southern Baptist Convention” and can be used by any church who wishes to use it. But other SBC churches can call themselves “Great Commission Baptists” if they wish.
What do you think of the informal name proposal? I get the idea, not sure how I feel. I get the Southern Baptist name sounds very regional, just undecided on the proposed new name. That said - a focus on the Great Commission in name as well as actions can only be a good thing for the church.
More from Dave Miller of SBC Voices.
Pandering
State Senator Garagiola (D), who's also running for Congress in a district currently held by a Republican, has come out opposing O'Malley's proposed gas tax.
But wait - wasn't this the same man who drafted his own legislation last year pushing a different gas tax? Yes, yes it is. Garagiola also supported energy taxes and higher vehicle registration fees last year.
This is a little thing called pandering. It doesn't look good on you, Senator.
Baltimore County 3-12 May Get Amended
After hearings today, Baltimore County Councilmembers have proposed amendments to controversial measure 3-12, which would remove bathrooms and similar public restroom related facilities from the legislation. The bill seeks to prohibit discrimination of transgendered individuals, but as I mentioned previously it's very vague. This amendment may help to alleviate some concerns regarding the legislation - but I'm sure not all. Here's an excerpt from the Sun on the amendments:
After hearing hours of testimony on a bill to ban discrimination against transgender people, Baltimore County Council members said Tuesday they would consider exempting public restrooms and locker rooms from the measure.
Restrooms have emerged as a hot-button issue in the county's debate over the bill. At public hearings, the bill's opponents have said they fear that if the law is passed, men would sexually assault women in restrooms.
Supporters of the legislation say places with transgender laws have never reported such incidents, and accuse opponents of using the bathroom issue as a distraction. The bill would add gender identity to existing county laws that prohibit discrimination in housing, workplaces, and public places.
Four of the council's seven members have signed on to the proposed amendment, which says the law wouldn't apply to public places "that are designated for male or female use, such as restrooms, bath houses, locker rooms, dressing rooms, changing rooms, and similar facilities." The sponsors are: Democrat Cathy Bevins of Middle River, Republican Todd Huff of Lutherville, Republican David Marks of Perry Hall, and Democrat John Olszewski Sr. of Dundalk.
A vote on the bill and amendments is set for next week. Other proposed amendments would exempt certain institutions, including religious ones, from the law, and would allow employers to require that workers "adhere to reasonable workplace appearance, grooming, and dress standards" as long as the employer allows employees to dress as the gender with which they identify.
Again, this may alleviate some concerns, but there are others that will remain - such as religious institutional exemptions. Next week amendments will be heard / voted on. If you have concerns, call your representative.
EDIT 10:25 PM - Bryan Sears of the Patch has more on the proposed amendments. Vote is expected Monday. Here's an excerpt:
Olszewski's amendment is one of four amendments given to reporters after the hearing.
A second amendment, sponsored by Bevins, a Democrat, and Perry Hall Republican Councilman David Marks, adds language that restates exemptions to the law that are already part of county code.
Another, sponsored by Olszewski and Marks, allows employers to establish rules governing appearance in the work place while allowing employees to dress in a way that is consistent with their employee's gender identity.
A final amendment, sponsored by Quirk and Bevins, seeks to define the term "gender identity and expression" as a "persistent, bona fide gender-related identity and the consistent public manifestation of that identity" in the appearance of an individual regardless of the person's sex at birth.
Quirk's bill has three co-sponsors, enough to assure passage.
The amendment sponsored by Olszewski and Huff has three co-sponsors, including Councilwoman Cathy Bevins, a co-sponsor on Quirk's bill, and Marks.
The council is scheduled to vote on the bill and amendments Monday night at 6 p.m. at the Old Courthouse in Towson.
Luter Interview with Baptist Press
Fred Luter was interviewed by Baptist Press last week to discuss his pending bid for SBC President. Here's an excerpt:
BP: If you are elected, what do you envision as your key emphases or key messages to Southern Baptists? What do you see as greatest challenge to the SBC in the short-term?
Luter: This convention has been one of the top conventions in the world as far as our primary mission of evangelism and discipleship. My goal and vision is that we would get back to being that convention we're known for. Through the years we've kind of gone off-track with some things and that has allowed us to not make evangelism and discipleship our main focus. My prayer is just that we get going back in the right direction, depending on God to help us fulfill the Great Commission and the Great Commandment. That's what He's called us to do and that's what I hope to lead this convention to do during my time as our president.
BP: Even with just your nomination, what message do you hope it sends to the SBC and to the nation?
Luter: The thing I hope it sends to the SBC is that if you're faithful to God and faithful to God's Word, that God will be faithful to you. That's what's happened here. I'm from the Lower Ninth Ward, and Mom and Dad were divorced when I was a kid. But through the 30-some years I've been a believer and the 25 years I've been a pastor, I have been faithful to God, faithful to the Word of God, and faithful to my wife. I just believe God has allowed this [nomination] to happen for such a time as this. It is nothing I was looking for. It was not on my bucket list, so to speak, but I think God ordained this because of the fact that what we're dealing with right now through the convention is trying to make the convention diverse. I think this will speak not only to our convention but to our country and throughout the world that this convention is serious about reaching all people.
BP: Since news broke at last year's meeting that you would consider allowing your nomination as SBC president, what comments by fellow SBC leaders and by friends have been most significant or most encouraging to you?
Luter: They've been saying, 'Fred, it's time. Many of them feel God has just raised me up for this time to speak not only a message of the Word of God to our convention, but to the folk who are not part of our convention about the direction this convention wants to go as far as reaching all peoples. I think this will say to a lot of young preachers across America who are Asian, African American, Hispanic that hey, this convention is not just saying this. They're putting their money to their mouth. This convention is truly open to all people.
BP: Describe the rise in awareness of you by SBC leaders. How did it come to pass that you preached the annual sermon at the Southern Baptist Convention in 2001 when it was last in New Orleans?
Luter: It happened as a result of our baptism record. We started growing as a church and as a result leading our association in baptisms, and from there our Louisiana Baptist Convention. Wayne Jenkins [LBC evangelism director] called one year in the early 1990s. I didn't know him when he called, but I will never forget it. He said Franklin Avenue was first in the state in baptisms and he'd like me to come up and receive an award at the evangelism conference, 'and I'd like you to preach,' he said. After that, Wayne would give my name to different ones and before you know it I would be preaching at different evangelism conferences and state conventions across the country.
Read the whole article. I'm excited about Luter's candidacy and think he has the opportunity to be a powerful voice / leader for the Southern Baptist Convention.
Maryland Blogs / Sites
- Augie "Citizen Watchdog"
- Baltimore County GOP
- Inside Charm City
- Maryland Public Policy Institute
- Maryland Reporter
- Maryland Society of Patriots
- MD Conservative Action Network
- monoblogue
- Potomac Tea Party Report
- PVRC Blog
- Red Maryland
- Right Coast Conservative
National Blogs / Sites
- 2012 Candidates on Twitter
- Anthropocon
- Bearing Drift
- Moe Lane
- Musings – It's Zarf-tastic!
- Oddly Said
- Other McCain
- Pithy Title Goes Here
- Pundit League
- Race42012
- Ramblings…
- RedState
- RightKlik
- Ruby Slippers
- Secular ProLife
- Sundries Shack
- The Quinton Report
- TORARADICALcom
Religious Blogs / Sites
- Challies.com
- Coleen York
- Ed Stetzer
- Edgemere Baptist Church
- Just1Word
- SBC Voices
- Star Wars & Spirituality
- Tally Wilgis
- The 140 Bible
- The Girl On The Road To Self Discovery
- Thom Rainer
- TroyStouffer.com
