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The Spectacle Blog
Are libertarian-leaning Republicans responsible for legalized same-sex marriage in New York State? Gary Bauer addresses that question in Human Events today. It’s a case study in the tension between libertarianism and traditional conservatism.
It’s a tension that needn’t exist. Capital “L” libertarians — as in, the Libertarian Party — typically take an active stand in support of same-sex marriage on the basis of individual freedom and expression. I’ve found that small “L” libertarians — those who identify with the philosophy, not necessarily the party — tend to ignore the issue in favor of fiscal matters.
Taking an honest assessment of the political playing field, which side in the equation is more freedom loving, the liberal or the conservative?
Bauer provides a few examples of same-sex marriage advocates’ anti-freedom inclinations:
Same-sex marriage is already having a chilling effect on religious freedom. In states that have legalized civil unions or gay marriage, Catholic adoption agencies have been shuttered or lost their tax-exempt status for refusing to let gay couples adopt children.
Last week in Illinois, Gov. Pat Quinn affirmed a decision by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services not to renew adoption contracts with Catholic Charities for the same reason because of the state’s law recognizing same-sex civil unions.
The radical homosexual rights movement is also trumping parental rights. In California last week, Gov. Jerry Brown signed a first-of-its-kind bill that requires public schools to add lessons about gay history to their social studies classes. Other states have incorporated the homosexual agenda into their curricula. In 2007, a federal judge ruled that Massachusetts public school students would not be able to opt out of lesson plans that normalize the homosexual lifestyle and promote same-sex marriage.
Even more, recall the outright harassment, threats, and intimidation that supporters of California’s marriage amendment have faced in recent years. The idea is to erase any public disapproval of homosexual behavior (or any exaltation of traditional marriage), through any means necessary.
Already, First Amendment freedom of speech and freedom of religion protections are falling under the homosexual-marriage juggernaut. Which freedoms do Libertarians value more? Soon, will any public disapproval of same-sex marriage be rendered “hate speech,” and sanctions enforced through the hand of state and federal government?
It’s intellectually inconsistent, and self-defeated to their cause, for Libertarians to support that shift. Same-sex marriage never has been about a desire among homosexual couples to enter into long-term, committed relationships. They can do that now in all 50 states without punishment or sanction. Rather, it’s been about forcing society, through government mandate, to put homosexual relationships on par with heterosexual marriage — through a marriage license.
Reeks of big government to me.
simon templar| 7.21.11 @ 1:10PM
This has always been just one of the many goals in the platform of the cultural marxist to destroy traditional western values, the nuclear family, and religion. What does libertarianism have to do with any of this? Is there anyone here at TAS that has ever picked up a book on the history of marxism and marxist, a book on communist ideology, or literature of the Left? Do you know anything other than superficial prevailing notions of the day and what is known withing the Washington beltway? Reeks of big government? It reeks of the century old marxist agenda and the goals of the Frankfurt School. You can not see the connection beween this agenda and that of the atheist's movement to remove religion from the public sector or the abortion and sexual revolution agendas? We will never regain control of this society or these debates until we start identifying who is behind these destructive efforts and why?
Roger McKinney| 7.21.11 @ 1:34PM
Thanks for the clarity on the issue. Many libertarians have been fooled by the media attention to research on the gay gene. What the mainstream media refuse to do is print the results of follow-up studies attempting to confirm the gay gene results. In all cases the studies have been found to be junk science.
There is no biological origin for homosexuality. The media has deceived the public on purpose.
No one has any scientific evidence for what causes homosexuality, but the scientific evidence has proven that a biological origin does not exist.
The best explanation I have found for the cause of homosexuality comes from Dr. James Dobson. He says that the sexuality of boys reaching puberty are very sensitive to experiences. Older homosexuals recruit young men into their lifestyle. They tend to prey on social outcasts who are clumsy around females.
Once in the lifestyle, the sexual orientation of the young man changes toward homosexuality and it is very difficult to change if the young man has remained in the lifestyle for long.
Also, Dobson's research on pornography shows that the desire to rape and commit other kinds of sexual perversions come from watching violent pornography at that age.
Homosexuality as a civil right is based on junk science.
CalMark| 7.21.11 @ 2:15PM
Keep standing strong.
Traditional Marriage Forces have been fighting hard and winning. Then victory is snatched away by diabolical maneuvers by our enemies.
The Almighty has been strangely absent despite the hard, untiring work of religious people. Something might happen Stand by.
Michael L. Hauschild| 7.21.11 @ 2:24PM
Acknowledge same sex marriage? Acknowledge this; in case you have not noticed the only ones that give a rat’s patooty are a few gays and an equally few church lady types. (And, of course us libertarian leaning troglodytes that are simply amused.) The country is circling the economic drain and some are worrying about who is holding hands as we drown.
jo blo| 7.21.11 @ 5:36PM
The whole reason we're circling the economic drain is based on 'social conservative' issues. Welfare programs - sloth, envy and greed. Health care costs - lack of moderation (sexual (incl. AIDS), alimentary, alcohol, drugs ). The impending fall of Social Security/Medic-X: inter alia, the nearly 50 million taxpayers slaughtered by abortion. Overregulation - pride, libido dominandi, greed (on part of corporations who want to shut out competition). Inflation - greed (think ethanol). I could go on. But you get my point. The problem is, that in the end, social and fiscal issues go hand-in-hand. The Founders understood this - that's why all the quotes about only a virtuous/moral/religious people being able to govern themselves.
The success and stability of our country has so far removed us from these realities of human existence, that even many non-libertarian conservatives have forgotten these lessons.
Therefore, I am afraid that we will have to re-learn them. History indicates that that is a very painful and very ugly process.
Michael L. Hauschild| 7.21.11 @ 6:48PM
Silly me, always thought it was because we spent more than we took in.
darcy| 7.21.11 @ 7:51PM
Jo Blo is right on this one, Michael L. Hauschild.
No way would the US be spending more than it takes in if its people weren't happy as a lark allowing the state to steal on their behalf. Theft is a moral issue.
Libertarians seem blind to this fact.
Michael L. Hauschild| 7.21.11 @ 9:33PM
Let us take just the one issue, fifty thousnad abortions; how much would have been spent supporting those children should those mothers have not made that decision? (see oldfarte)
This is not a moral issue of the Nation, it is YOUR moral issue. You want to tell people what to do, who they can fall in love with, how to manage their own bodies.
No one is going to let you do that, women have not let you do that since 1973 and state majorities (not judges) are now telling people who they can marry.
All the "moral" bunch has to offer is "my way or the highway." You simply are no longer in the argument, you have lost and any angst you feel is not rational, it is the "moral indignation" of a poor loser.
Let me repeat the salient points; libertarians, women and people who are either gay or tolerant to their lifestyle are not going to let you change this. You have lost the argument, you have lost the fight. The sooner we get to electing representitives who show fiscal responsibility the quicker we can restore our democracy; that is something we need. Most of us are capable of ignoring you, I only post here on this subject to try to get you to focus on issues that matter.
ManassasGrandma| 7.22.11 @ 1:07AM
How many of your kids did you have chopped and sucked?
jo blo| 7.22.11 @ 5:09PM
Read comprehension is your friend. No where did I say you HAVE to do the right or wrong thing. You are free to ignore history, fact; you are free to be an idiot. I have noticed that most libertarians are really one-issue hacks. Their whole life revolves around that issue (be it drugs, deviant sex, what have you). They think that if they clothe that one issue with 'nobody can tell me I can't do X' and they couple that with 'I'm a fiscal conservative...YEAH!' then that forms a coherent system of approaching politics. ( Indeed, I notice that you did not offer a coherent response to my comment, even misquoting the number of abortions I mentioned by a factor of 1000. You assumed (really stupidly) that those babies would all be born into poverty. After that, you went into a senseless harangue about the eeeevil social conservatives and how they have lost .Funny though, libertarians can't ever get more than 5% of the vote, and the GOP can't win without social conservatives. Just sayin' All in all, your response was a nice reflection of the epistemological chaos in which you, as a self-styled 'libertarian', find yourself.) Doesn't work. As for your comment that we have lost the fight, only history will tell. I personally think that a social backlash is building, big time. But even if not, history still backs me up. If America continues in its moral decay, the rest of the country will quickly follow. Only the morally strong will have the constitution to re-build. And history will repeat itself. Don't like it? Take it up with God/universe/whatever you wanna call it. Just because you say the sky is green, doesn't make it so.
jo blo| 7.22.11 @ 5:12PM
sorry 'reading' comprehension
Al Adab| 7.21.11 @ 2:36PM
Libertarians and The Left often overlap. The error comes from the Libertarian rejection of moral absolutes and the concept of victimless crime. Drug use, as one example, is not victimless. ask all the ADD, learning disabled children of the users and ask their Doctors. . The social costs are huge.
Clark Kent| 7.21.11 @ 2:39PM
Somehow the phrase, "Kneel before Zod" comes to mind.
Wayne | 7.21.11 @ 3:14PM
Libertarianism just like liberalism is used by Marxist to defeat any institution that competes with Big Government. The gay marriage meme which would have been laughed down even 1 or 2 decades ago is now center stage. The purpose is simply to change the meaning of marriage thus destroying it. They need to destroy christianity and marriage so that government becomes the sole authority.
Doug H| 7.21.11 @ 3:28PM
Marriage is and always has been a sacred contract between man, woman, and the Creator. And now, a very small minority is determined to demand those same rights or destroy the institution that has existed for thousands of years.
Yes indeed, if I can't have it I'll make sure nobody has it because it's not fair.
Ladies and gentlemen, natural laws are not subject to fairness. A major reason marriage exists is to protect the union of a man and a woman -- by law -- in such manner that children can be born into this world under the natural creation process.
Every child needs both the male and the female influence in his life [I'm not politically correct.]. It is extremely difficult for single parents (those that deliberately want to do it alone) and same sex couples to meet that need . . . men cannot be women and women cannot be men. It's not that they don't try to be great parents; however, natural laws are absolute and are not subject to interpretation.
With regard to the rearing of my child and his education, that is my responsibility. The state has absolutely no business or right to interfere in the process or in the affairs of family government . . . period.
The state does not own our children. The state may have a vested right in a child's physical and mental safety; but, everything else belongs to the mother and the father. The state didn't sire or give birth to our child. And don't think for a moment the state can come through the door of our home and tell us what's best for our child . . . that is our choice and our duty to know.
Single parents and homosexual couples cannot provide a distinctly separate, 24/7, male and female influence -- or balance -- for their children. (Again, it's not that they don't try.)
I can accept homosexual couples establishing a domestic partnership. The title of marriage belongs to unions of one man and one woman.
I have several homosexual friends, but they are gracious enough and love each other enough to keep physical affection private. They know I object to their lifestyle; but they also know that I do care about them as people because I value the friendship more than the controversy. They don't force their homosexuality on me, and I don't lecture or harass them about their lifestyle.
Jim| 7.21.11 @ 3:41PM
Is Himself worried about same sex marriage ? - I doubt it . ( Not talking about the pope , either ) .
Tina B| 7.22.11 @ 1:21AM
If by Himself you mean the Almighty God, He doesn't worry.
He is Holy and cannot abide sin. Sex outside of marriage, and He determined marriage to be one man and one woman, is sin. Not just gay sex, but any sex outside of marriage. Sin is sin. Christ came to earth to live a perfect life, an unadulterated life, and then die as the final and perfect Sacrifice , for the sins of ALL mankind.
Accept Him and His death for you on that cross, and be forgiven of your sins. Gay sex, whatever sins, sexual or not.
We are all sinners and we all need His salvation. Gay or straight, we are all sinners. Gays just don't want to stop sinning, any more than sluts (male or female sluts), liars, thieves, or whatevers want to stop sinning.
But the rest of us sinners aren't out there propagandizing for our sins. You don't see any other adulterers marching, protesting, going to court, changing the laws, to legalize any other form of sin. Gays want to change the sin of adultery by making their adultery legal, and even good.
Sin is never good. We can be forgiven, all of us. But sin is evil and we must not encourage it. We are not forgiven so we can continue in our sin. We cannot legislate our way out of sin. We must go to the Cross. Gay or straight, the Cross of Christ is the only place to go to became clean. Daily, and for some of us, hourly.
P.S. I, too, am not politically correct.
Derek Leaberry| 7.21.11 @ 4:11PM
Libertarians don't like normal civilized life or traditions of any kind unless it revolves around worshiping Ayn Rand, Ludwig von Mises and Friedrich Hayek. They are very much like the Left in this way. That is why they are not conservatives.
Willy| 7.21.11 @ 5:11PM
After years of government policies that have seriously damaged the American family, what is the most important issue from the progressive mind? Same sex marriage? Most of us would like to see the same kind of concern over single parent families and damaged kids who grow up without any moral compass.
Pete Brown| 7.21.11 @ 6:37PM
A Libertarian is someone who realizes that left-liberalism is insane, but still wants to play with the Kool Kids.
Bob| 7.21.11 @ 7:02PM
This is a silly piece. As a small 'L' libertarian, I am opposed to government intervention in who one loves or what one does with his or her body. But I am equally opposed to the government enforced PC crap that leads to the decisions described above. One does not necessarily proceed the other and correlation is not causation. To link the two is truly a juvenile point of argument. Aren't you better than this?
john dubose| 7.21.11 @ 11:37PM
A the right of toleration does not equal a right to approval for either the conservative anti-gay crowd or the liberal pro-gay-marriage crowd. As a small l sometime large L libertarian, I am annoyed by folks like this author who keep on insisting that it does.
ManassasGrandma| 7.22.11 @ 1:05AM
Libertarians are hypocrites. They support homosexual marriage because everyone should be able to do exactly as they want, but then they are silent when christians are forced to accept homosexual marriage or become second class citizens without the right to operate a bed and breakfast as they see fit.