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Jim DeMint on Civil Rights
Jr Senator; previously Republican Rep (SC-4)
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Apologizes for gay teachers "distracting from the debate"
DEMINT: DeMint was taken to task for comments he made that homosexuals and unmarried, pregnant women should not teach in public schools. "I answered as a dad with my heart and I did not answer as a Senate candidate. I apologize for making the remark
because it distracted from the debate," he said.TENENBAUM: "If this is what is in your heart, this is how you are going to vote. So you still need to apologize to the people you offended and not apologize for changing the debate," Tenenbaum said.
Source: SC Senate Debate analysis on Carolina Channel
Oct 25, 2004
Ban openly gay teachers from public schools
In a moment - in a single statement - DeMint may have transformed himself from "innovative conservative" to "homophobic kook." He announced that he supports banning every openly gay teacher from South Carolina public schools.
Tenenbaum immediately jumped on the comment as "un-American" and bizarre, the story flew across the nation on the internet and DeMint has single-handedly revived the old notion that
South Carolina's democracy is only slightly more advanced than Afghanistan's. DeMint supporters grumpily blame the South Carolina Republican Party for this mess.
If the party didn't have this goofy "gay teacher" ban in its platform, the question would have never been asked at the debate.
Source: SC Senate debate analysis by Charleston City Paper
Oct 22, 2004
Voted YES on Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage.
Marriage Protection Amendment - Declares that marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman. Prohibits the Constitution or any State constitution from being construed to require that marital status or its legal incidents be conferred upon any union other than that of a man and a woman.
Reference: Constitutional Amendment sponsored by Rep Musgrave [R, CO-4];
Bill H.J.RES.106
; vote number 2004-484
on Sep 30, 2004
Voted YES on protecting the Pledge of Allegiance.
Pledge Protection Act: Amends the Federal judicial code to deny jurisdiction to any Federal court, and appellate jurisdiction to the Supreme Court, to hear or decide any question pertaining to the interpretation of the Pledge of Allegiance or its validity under the Constitution.
Reference: Bill sponsored by Rep Todd Akin [R, MO-2];
Bill H.R.2028
; vote number 2004-467
on Sep 23, 2004
Voted YES on constitutional amendment prohibiting flag desecration.
Desecration of Flag resolution: Vote to pass the joint resolution to put forward a Constitutional amendment to state that Congress shall have the power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States. Note: A two-thirds majority vote of those present and voting (284 in this case) is required to pass a joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution.
Reference: Resolution sponsored by Thomas, R-CA;
Bill HJRes.4
; vote number 2003-234
on Jun 3, 2003
Voted YES on Constitutional amendment prohibiting Flag Desecration.
Proposing a Constitutional amendment to state that Congress shall have the power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States.
Bill HJRES 36
; vote number 2001-232
on Jul 17, 2001
Voted YES on banning gay adoptions in DC.
Vote on an amendment banning adoptions in District of Columbia by gays or other individuals who are not related by blood or marriage.
Reference: Amendment introduced by Largent, R-OK;
Bill HR 2587
; vote number 1999-346
on Jul 29, 1999
Voted YES on Amendment to prohibit burning the US flag.
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States authorizing the Congress to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States.
Reference: Resolution proposed by Cunningham, R-CA;
Bill HJ.Res.33
; vote number 1999-252
on Jun 24, 1999
Rated 7% by the ACLU, indicating an anti-civil rights voting record.
DeMint scores 7% by the ACLU on civil rights issues
The mission of the ACLU is to preserve protections and guarantees America’s original civic values - the Constitution and the Bill of Rights: - Your First Amendment rights-freedom of speech, association and assembly. Freedom of the press, and freedom of religion supported by the strict separation of church and state.
- Your right to equal protection under the law - equal treatment regardless of race, sex, religion or national origin.
- Your right to due process - fair treatment by the government whenever the loss of your liberty or property is at stake.Your right to privacy - freedom from unwarranted government intrusion into your personal and private affairs.
We work also to extend rights to segments of our population that have traditionally been denied their rights, including Native Americans and other people of color; lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgendered people; women; mental-health patients; prisoners; people with disabilities; and the poor. If the rights of society’s most vulnerable members are denied, everybody’s rights are imperiled. Our ratings are based on the votes the organization considered most important; the numbers reflect the percentage of time the representative voted the organization's preferred position.
Source: ACLU website 02n-ACLU on Dec 31, 2002