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Manhattan Diary by Cahir O'Doherty

Pastors, racists, Neo-Nazis supporting North Carolina's Amendment One

Posted on Saturday, May 05, 2012 at 10:17 AM

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North Carolina residents will go to the polls this Tuesday to vote on Amendment One, which would define marriage as being between a man and a woman in the state's constitution, banning both gay marriage and civil unions (for heterosexuals too).

The state already bans same sex marriage, but some particularly anxious lawmakers feel it's their civic duty to prevent gays from forming legal unions in the state's constitution.

The New York Times reports that recent polls of the state and an analysis of past ballot initiatives in other states suggest the measure is likely to pass.

I'm writing about it today because I've noticed that Amendment One has picked up some notable supporters in recent weeks.

First came Pastor Sean Harris who, whilst explaining his support for the Amendment, made national headlines for offering 'dispensation' to his parishioners to punch their children if they exhibit 'gay behavior.' Parents should squash that impulse 'like a cockroach,' he said, adding 'Give him a good punch, you're not going to act like that…' (See the Video below for the full details).

Then came Alex Wiles, a North Carolina man who filmed himself shooting a neighbors anti-Amendment One sign with his shotgun. 'So, somebody decided it would be a good idea to put this sign near my house,' Wiles says, putting on his shooting glasses. 'They ought to know not to put stuff like that near my house.'

To underline his threat Wiles then trains what looks like a 12-guage pump-action shotgun, taking aim and unloading two rounds into the yard sign. 'That’s how we do it ’round here,' he explains with a triumphant smile. 'That’s all folks.'

Then came Jodie Brunstetter, the wife of North Carolina State Senator and Amendment One supporter Peter Brunstetter. During a widely reported conversation with a freelance journalist, Brunstetter reportedly said her husband was the architect of Amendment One, and one of the reasons he wrote it was to protect the Caucasian race.

'The reason my husband wrote Amendment One was because the Caucasian race is diminishing and we need to uh, reproduce,' she said.

According to Daily Kos Brunsetter allegedly said, 'Caucasians created this country. We wrote the Constitution. This is about protecting the Constitution. There already is a law on the books against same-sex marriage, but this protects the Constitution from activist judges.'

Heartened by her alleged comments the Neo-Nazi and white supremacist site World-Wide White Pride posted the story on their website, underlining that the amendment had actually written to prevent the Caucasian race from extinction.

To recap, Amendment One is now supported by pastors who advocate punching gay or gay-suspected children, it's supported by sinister shotgun-wielding neighbors, it's supported by people want to protect the Caucasian race from extinction and by Neo-Nazis.

Once upon a time they used to wear sheets on their heads. These days their intolerance is worn right out in the open.

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hollabackgurl | Jun 03, 2012, 04:56 PM EDT

IrishandProud, now that you and your 'family' have damaged the rights of other families to make their own arrangements tell me exactly how your blatant bigotry has strengthened your marriages? How?

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IrishAndProud | May 11, 2012, 12:42 AM EDT

Agreed, Mr. Sinatra. I and my family fully support this amendment -- FULLY, I emphasize -- and a number of them are JEWISH. I wonder why Cahir doesn't note that people of extremism also OPPOSED this amendment? Both sides have their extremism...and if you'd like to know just how 'tolerant' and 'diverse' the obviously twisted author of this article is, just cross him, even once, on anything. You may even have to read this post of mine rather quickly, because he may well make my point by pulling it, once he sees it (trust me, this is experience, talking. This article is a case of the pot calling the kettle...).

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MrSinatra | May 10, 2012, 04:32 PM EDT

i love how the left always, ALWAYS takes their POV, and says if you are against it, then you are in league with racists and neo-nazis.

nothing motivates me more to not agree with them, (and by them, i mean the left)

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BrianO | May 10, 2012, 09:23 AM EDT

teaparty again falsely labeled as extreme, supporting the U.S Constitution and the bill of rights is not extreme, smaller government will mean less intrusion for all.

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seanomelb | May 09, 2012, 01:20 AM EDT

then stand alongside the extremist teaparty.

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Scrivner | May 08, 2012, 02:17 PM EDT

I want to know where the New Black Panther Party stands on this. You know, the guys who stand guard in front of polling places in Phillie to make sure people vote the right way.

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bonjouryall | May 07, 2012, 08:05 PM EDT

I think it's ironic that this writer wants toleration and respect but gives none. Can't have it both ways. He also cherry picks the supporters of the provisions and imputes their reasoning as belonging to all that support the measure, despite his knowledge to the contrary. This is muckracking in its finest tradition. I will give him credit in one respect. Most liberals will use the R- word as a racial slur at the drop of a hat. The author did use the word correctly and upon actual evidence.

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rainbowbrew | May 07, 2012, 12:03 PM EDT

I find it highly ironic that the RCC is all about life and savig the unbron but if they come out with a genetic difference they abuse the individual. Sexual orientation is genetic and here are a bunch of christians saying no we don't love you and don't want to sully the term marriage with your odd ways. I find the RCC to be highly hypocritical.

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hollabackgurl | May 06, 2012, 10:08 PM EDT

The Catholic Bishops have been sending mailers to every Catholic household in the state. Most voters don't understand that no legal relationship other than man and wife will be permissible. No civil unions. No domestic partnerships. Nada. It's un-American.

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racallahan | May 06, 2012, 09:26 PM EDT

It was interesting that the full page ad by pastors in the major NC papers this morning didn't include either of the NC Catholic Bishops.

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hollabackgurl | May 06, 2012, 08:12 PM EDT

BrianO, marriage for most of its history was (and still is) an economic arrangement. The raising of children wasn't as important as securing an heir. The Irish aristocracy allowed their children to be foster raised by other ruling families. The idea that marriage exists to raise children is a romantic late 20th century idea and not at all in line with the facts. Homosexuals do come from families as you sau but you haven't explained how granting them equal marriage rights is an attack on the family unit. And no one anywhere has, because no one anywhere can. You should study the world history of marriage, your opinion on the issue is ill-informed.

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seanomelb | May 06, 2012, 07:51 PM EDT

I find it amazing that the religious zealots posting below do not condemn the "punching of gay children" The Christian right are a godless lot. PiperMac rather a hedonistic life style the bashing gay children which you seem to condone.The article (Briano) is meant to inform us so we can condemn such religious hypocrites which you fail to do.

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BrianO | May 06, 2012, 04:04 PM EDT

These articles are meant to divide people, most are in the middle, are not assaulting people, haven't been to a klan meeting in weeks (that's humor). Marriage is used because of children. If we didn't reproduce there would be no reason for marriage or a family unit. But we do reproduce, and the stable family makes for a stable society. The family unit seems to be under attack from all sides these days. My homosexual friends come from families too you know.

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Intercessor | May 06, 2012, 02:39 PM EDT

I imagine that some people in Ireland would be appalled that someone in the States would take a gun and shoot a sign out of someone's yard, but one needs to understand that the politics in many of our States can be described as somewhat "weird!" In Texas for example, if there isn't a sign outside of a church statingm "No one can bring a gun into church," THEN, guns are allowed in Church! It is the Law! Some of our cultural differences need an explanation, because they are too bizarre to believe at face value.

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Intercessor | May 06, 2012, 02:35 PM EDT

Sorry, Mrs. Brumstetter, but I think that it would be difficult for most "normal" heterosexual women "to reproduce" with a homosexual male! I think your logic is fatally flawed as most homosexual men would also not have a desire to reproduce with a heterosexual female!

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