Congressman Carney Votes Anti-Gay.
Dear Friends in Northeastern Pennsylvania:
Recently, I had a lengthy conversation with Congressman Chris Carney (after an equally lengthy conversation with his legislative director) to share my profound disappointment with his vote opposing the passage of the Hate Crimes bill in Congress. He had committed to voting for it several days ago and changed his vote under pressure from conservative constituents and the Democratic National Committee which gave him a pass on this vote because he is apparently the No. 2 targeted race in the country in 2008. I was not at all persuaded by his excuses and I believe that he needs to hear from as many people as possible regarding his failure to deliver on a campaign promise to support both Hate Crimes and ENDA in addition to his more recent commitment to vote for the bill.
If you live in the 10th District, please contact Congressman Carney Today! — Express your outrage at his vote against the Hate Crimes Bill, the easiest piece of legislation to support with regard to LGBT equality. If he can’t even vote to protect us from being verbally harassed and physically attacked, how will he possibly vote in favor of ENDA to protect our right to work? And if he votes against our community on both of these bills, of what use is he to us in Congress?
CALL him at (866) 846-8124 — his office in Clarks Summit. Then let NEPA Rainbow Alliance executive director John Dawe know by sending a quick e-mail to john@gaynepa.com. Include that you called and what response (if any) you received.
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Best regards,
Steve Glassman
Chair, Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission
Posted by Rainbow Alliance on Sun (5/6/07) in Action Alerts
May 6th, 2007 at 8:03 pm
so much for Chris Carney being “liberal”… and so much for his campaign promises…
He didn’t just abstain, he actually voted against a hate crimes bill. After he promised to vote for it.
Even if you’re not gay, this might pertain to you. Many people have been harrassed or attacked because someone thought they were gay, because they didn’t fit gender stereotypes.
So beware all women in Tunkhannock who don’t wear make-up & high heels!
This isn’t about homosexuality. It’s about crime.
One might expect this sort of thing from Don Sherwood, because, after all, he’s an openly socially conservative Republican. But I wonder if even he would oppose a law against hate crimes!
And it sure makes me wonder what other “liberal” campaign promise Chris Carney will renege on next…
Health care? Small businesses? Social Security?
What else is he going to flake out on? Maybe you’ll want to contact him and find out.
May 7th, 2007 at 6:20 am
How typicaly, so we now know that Chirs Carney is not a man of his word. What too do about it, make sure he is not voted into office again. It’s not just a “gay” issue is correct, it’s an issue of honesty and integrity which he clealy does not possess.
He obviously does not know how too stand up for his belief’s or promises to the public and for that he needs too be taken out of office.
jim howley
May 17th, 2007 at 4:50 pm
This is the response I got back from him. I now regret voting for him as well as the rest of my family.
Dear Christopher,
Thank you for your recent correspondence regarding The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, H.R. 1592.
As a Roman Catholic father of five, I voted to oppose H.R. 1592. I believe treating all groups of people the same is an essential element of our democracy and one of my core values. Creating separate constitutional classes detracts from that ideal. This was overarching legislation and I could not support it. This was a difficult decision with which some of my constituents will disagree. As always, I voted with what I saw to be the best interests of Pennsylvania ’s 10th District.
Again, I want to thank you for contacting me. Please do not hesitate to contact me with your concerns.
Sincerely,
Christopher P. Carney
Member of Congress
July 4th, 2007 at 4:03 pm
That response makes no logical sense. If that were the case he shouldn’t be voting to exclude gays from a hate crime bill. He should be pushing to include everyone on the hate crime bill.
And frankly, I think everyone ought to be on the hate crime bill. Like if someone beats someone up because they’re a woman, or because they’re of Irish ancestry, I think that should count as a hate crime too. But the fact is, more gays are targeted by hate crimes than Irishmen, so that’s why the law is like it is.
I guess it just goes to show Carney’s ready to play slick politician and try to finagle his way out of anything with illogical irrational arguments.