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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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BrianO | May 06, 2012, 10:05 AM EDT

seems like this article is written by a neo- communist.

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hollabackgurl | May 06, 2012, 09:08 AM EDT

Most North Carolina voters don't realize that Amendment One bans heterosexual civil unions too, which is why it stands a good chance of passing. They'll be sorry they didn't educate themselves on the potential consequences of gay bashing later.

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ProudCanadian | May 06, 2012, 01:27 AM EDT

I think that Pipermack52 and Murph should come out of the dark ages and join us in the 21st century. God is up there shaking his head at all of us and he is saying,"What is with all my children,they can't get along." If Jesus was here he would say no matter what you are you are loved. We have tarnished religion and the bible by our own interpretions. No one is saying that Hetetrosexuals should feel threatened. I'm married and very happlily so I can't figure out what right we have to tell two consenting adults what they can do or can't do with their sexuality. Wake up and smell the roses.

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tombegs | May 05, 2012, 10:06 PM EDT

Perforce that list MUST include The Catholic Bishops' Conference and the Mormon Church. I could never make up that strange group of bedfellows. Maybe not exactly BEDfellows but close enough in my opinion.

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hollabackgurl | May 05, 2012, 08:52 PM EDT

Some posters here are amazed that heterosexuals would willingly enter into civil unions rather than marriages, tacitly conceding that they are second tier arrangements and legally less equal.

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hollabackgurl | May 05, 2012, 08:48 PM EDT

PiperMac52 I watched the video. The pastor says parents should punch your gay acting child. You should take the trouble to read articles before you comment on them, that way your comments won't be disregarded.

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Murph46 | May 05, 2012, 07:41 PM EDT

Right on PiperMac52 what bias phrased headlines!

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mamaginnty | May 05, 2012, 06:59 PM EDT

Goergefriggindillon, your the know it all on this site, see if you can answer all your own questions.

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PiperMac52 | May 05, 2012, 06:38 PM EDT

Neo-Nazis, Pastors who condone punching Gay children...? What hyperbole for a headline constructed in obvious bias and with an agenda to paint all who support what has been recognized throughout human history and in every traditional faith as a given. You can mention any issue and there will be some fringe groups who will support it. This issue is about preserving our Judeo-Christian ethos on which this nation was founded. As George Washington stated:"...omly a religious and Moral people can uphold the republic." The morality he was speaking of was the laws of the Almighty/Creator which where understood without contention for 2000 years. Not the moral relativism that has become the accepted bane of a hedonistic culture headed for implosion just as all ancient societies that choose that route. We do not seem to learn anything from history.

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seanomelb | May 05, 2012, 06:16 PM EDT

The above drones are GOP/teaparty supporters. It's quite sad that a GOP state legislature would act in this way and have someone like the fascist Brunstetters n their midst.You can always judge a party by the company it keeps. I wonder if the law is in breach of the US constitution!

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rpbrown | May 05, 2012, 05:29 PM EDT

Oh wow this was extremely entertaining to read! I got a good laugh. I do fit the label "gay" and may or may not want to marry another guy some day and it's so funny to me that people get themselves so upset about something that has nothing to do with them. But the world is crazy and it is not surprising: if only we listened to our Kindergarten teachers who taught us to keep our hands to ourselves and if you don't have anything nice to say don't say it at all. But it is nice after years of fighting for equal rights and hearing so much unwarranted hate to hear kind people like you in support.

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just4fun | May 05, 2012, 05:06 PM EDT

There are NO Caucasians in North Carolina only ninkumpoop animals that have no brains.

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ProudCanadian | May 05, 2012, 04:39 PM EDT

Boy racisim and judging is alive an well and living in North Carolina. How do people live down there with Neo-Nazi, people haters and gun shooting ediots who shoot up there neigbourhoods just for something to do and film themselves doing it. Is there no law inforcement? I am a religious person and I thank god everyday that I was brought up to love everyone no matter of their race,creed or sexual preference. That pastor needs a straight jacket and a padded room.

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Bythebay | May 05, 2012, 03:37 PM EDT

More US bias! And if you go to Arizona, don't forget your "papers" for the police suspician-based stops!!

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GeorgeDillon | May 05, 2012, 03:24 PM EDT

Don't be so stupid, jamthecat. it certainly was not a "specious question". Maybe someone smarter than you out there can give me a reasonable answer, as opposed to your screaming nonsense. I repeat: The article speaks of "civil unions (for heterosexuals too)". What does that mean? Are heterosexuals entering into civil unions? And if so, why? What does a civil union offer that marriage doesn't? Is a civil union better than marriage? Jamthecat, you certainly showed yourself unable to deal with the many nuances of the question.

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