This is obviously part of a larger strategy of hers to turn Texas into California.
Yes, obviously. Referencing Parker's decision to extend city benefits to all legally married spouses, same-sex or opposite-sex, of Houston employees (which is now being disputed in court), he went on to criticize her for waiting
until after her November election to decree that the City of Houston will recognize same-sex marriages from other states.
[...]
I fully support the lawsuit challenging Parker's edict and look forward to protecting conservative values as the next Lt. Governor.
What a class act.
Harris County GOP Chairman Jared Woodfill (Can we just appreciate this guy's last name for a moment? Okay, moving on...) was not any more congratulatory. In a blast e-mail, he revealed that Parker's previous decision to extend benefits to same-sex couples and her subsequent marriage were all just part of a big ol' plot to get those benefits! AH-HA!
Remember those illegal “same-sex” marriage benefits that were ruled unconstitutional and a violation of Texas Family Code some weeks ago?
Mayor Parker apparently cannot take a hint, and is now upping the stakes, taking her liberal political agenda for City Hall to a whole new level.
Mayor Parker is now in a position to pay herself these same benefits under the guise of her new “marriage.”
The law, and now taxpayer money, evidently matters little to the Mayor of Houston.
We will not allow this reckless and lawless behavior to continue. We will continue to fight Mayor Parker and her illegal actions. The Harris County Republican Party will always stand on principle regardless of who opposes us. Join us in this fight!
Seriously, these guys can't seem to read the writing on the wall. The times are changing--yes,even here in Texas.
Well, Parker has now responded to Patrick and Woodfill. And it's perfect. In an interview with local Houston TV station KHOU, Parker had this to say about charges that she was trying to make a "political statement" with her marriage:
You don't commit 23 years of your life to someone to make a political statement.
It gets better:
Dan Patrick’s running a political campaign. And he wants to make the gay community a whipping boy in that political campaign. And he thought I was an appropriate target. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about. And I don’t think that’s unusual.
And better:
Mr. Woodfill is a little like a windup doll. I say something and he goes on TV and says this is something I planned. It’s part of my grand agenda to promote gay rights.
And better:
I took four days off. I had to leave my home state and make a little wedge of time to marry the woman I love. They can get over it.
Watch the video here (it won't embed).
It's a shame that Parker had to leave her home state to marry the woman she loves. Further, it's a shame that she can't even do that without being publicly and tastelessly attacked by Texas Republicans. Both of these things are going to change, and the sooner the better. In the meantime, congratulations to the happy couple.