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Sen. Renfroe Tells You How He Really Feels

by: Colorado Pols

Mon Feb 23, 2009 at 17:32:00 PM MST

The Denver Post reports on initial passage today in the Senate of SB-88, which would extend limited health benefits to same-sex partners of Colorado state employees. Did you know, gentle reader, that the Bible declares homosexuality punishable by death?

Scott Renfroe does.

After a debate that saw one lawmaker quoting Bible verses and another calling gay rights the "civil-rights issue of our day," a bill to allow gay and lesbian state employees to share health benefits with their partners in the way married couples can passed its first vote before the full state Senate today.
The bill's sponsor, Sen. Jennifer Veiga, D-Denver, began the debate in a low-key way, arguing that such a policy would make the state more competitive for workers with private companies.
"It would place Colorado state employment practices in line with the private sector," Veiga said, noting that 17 Colorado cities and counties, numerous states and many businesses already have such policies. "It will move us toward the 21st century."
But things grew considerably more heated from there...

You might say, yeah.

Colorado Pols :: Sen. Renfroe Tells You How He Really Feels

Sen. Scott Renfroe, R-Greeley, [quoted] Bible verses to argue that the state should not be condoning homosexual relationships. He called such relationships a sin, equal in some sense to murder and adultery, and noted that one passage in the Bible says homosexuality is punishable by death.
"Homosexuality is seen as a violation of this natural creative order, and it is an offense to God," Renfroe said. " When we create laws that go against what biblically we are supposed to stand for, I think we are allowing to go forward a sin that should not be treated by government as something that is legal. We are taking sins and making them legally OK."
That brought swift rebuttal from Democrats...

To tell you the truth, we're a little sick of talking about Senate Bill 88. It's not the most important bill on our scorecard this year--in fact, it's not even the tenth. It does appear to be James Dobson's most important bill, so we suppose that's something.

But the fiscal impact estimates have come back negligible, and if you ask us, granting some basic provisions that let people function in modern life, without treading on the thin semantic ice of "marriage" may just be the right way to deal with the whole divisive business of this issue once and for all. That seems to be the intent of SB-88 and another bill introducted in the House this session that more generally allows people to designate rights and responsibilities to another person.

This approach also clarifies the nature of opposition from Republicans in stark and occassionally (see above) freaky terms. Very few politicians these days are willing to just come out and say "I don't like gay people." It's always couched in more benign, fiscal or procedural language. This is done since most voters don't like frothing haters, even if they could be persuaded on the particular issue.

And then there's Scott Renfroe and death by stoning.

Funny, nobody's talking about health benefits anymore, are they? Republicans had an effective argument against this bill on fiscal grounds, even though we're talking about a trifling amount of money--it's money. Sure. Hold that line all the way, it's an easy sell for voters. But once the conversation turns to, you know, death sentences for homosexuals, you can't help but wonder if Senate Minority Leader Josh Penry has lost his message control.

For the second time in a week, isn't it?

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Sen. Renfroe Tells You How He Really Feels | 45 comments

So much for the present company excluded rule.

And, inquiring minds want to know when Mr. Renfroe is going to introduce a death penalty for adultery bill.

by: ohwilleke @ Mon Feb 23, 2009 at 18:42:34 PM CST

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Not until God (or Penry) tells him it's a great idea

I don't think he can handle anything without permission from on high.

"What can be asserted without proof can be dismissed without proof." - Christopher Hitchens

by: Cartesian Doubt @ Mon Feb 23, 2009 at 19:06:09 PM CST

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Not until his kid's babysitter enters menopause

Laws against biblically-prohibited activities are only worthwhile insofar as they don't affect Republican douchebags.

"I am B.J. Wilson, and I am a troll."

by: sxp151 @ Tue Feb 24, 2009 at 00:49:30 AM CST

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Renfroe must've been a tight end at Mesa State.

by: Jambalaya @ Mon Feb 23, 2009 at 18:46:39 PM CST

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Oh noes...

Michael Bennet is the new Abraham Lincoln.
- Sharon Hanson

by: Dabee47 @ Mon Feb 23, 2009 at 19:12:04 PM CST

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Renfroe isn't going far enough

I know the only government I ever need is Leviticus. I think Scott Renfroe should just go all the way and introduce his "Eric Rudolph Had A Point" resolution.

http://www.godhatesshrimp.com/

"It is hard enough to remember my opinions, without also remembering my reasons for them!" - Nietzsche

by: twas brillig @ Mon Feb 23, 2009 at 18:51:23 PM CST

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I wonder if he's read about the separation of church and state

He can take his sanctimonious diatribe and shove it. We as a supposedly enlightened society have no room for people like him. What makes him so much better than anyone to judge? What gives him the right to judge anyone, besides his party affiliation?

"What can be asserted without proof can be dismissed without proof." - Christopher Hitchens

by: Cartesian Doubt @ Mon Feb 23, 2009 at 18:55:41 PM CST

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Outrage

Your intolerance of the intolerant is intolerable! Tolerance demands the acceptance of the intollerant! Repent!

"It is hard enough to remember my opinions, without also remembering my reasons for them!" - Nietzsche

by: twas brillig @ Mon Feb 23, 2009 at 18:58:25 PM CST

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I like to keep the blood thin with rage

After observing this chucklehead, I've come to the conclusion that a political eugenics program isn't such a bad idea. Might help the partisan gene pool.

"What can be asserted without proof can be dismissed without proof." - Christopher Hitchens

by: Cartesian Doubt @ Mon Feb 23, 2009 at 19:04:54 PM CST

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And where did he get the idea that his bible is at all relevant to civil matters?

There are lots of religions with lots of sacred (to their adherents) writings and our system doesn't demand we follow the teachings of any of them. The bible is full of common behaviors deemed abominations (eating shrimp, wearing blended fabrics) and offenses that call for death sentences (being a disobedient child). Slavery, though, is fine. In any case sin is a religious, not a legal concept.

This Renfroe moron doesn't seem to be insisting we live by the letter of all the other barbaric, primitive laws in the bible. Homophobia really is the only explanation for this kind of cherry picking.

by: BlueCat @ Tue Feb 24, 2009 at 00:06:20 AM CST

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WWJD?

Apparently, he'd stone the gays.

"What can be asserted without proof can be dismissed without proof." - Christopher Hitchens

by: Cartesian Doubt @ Tue Feb 24, 2009 at 17:15:10 PM CST

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What Would Journey Do?

"Any way you want it that's the way you need it."

by: RedGreen @ Tue Feb 24, 2009 at 18:51:07 PM CST

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Without Steve Perry

It's just not Journey anymore.

"What can be asserted without proof can be dismissed without proof." - Christopher Hitchens

by: Cartesian Doubt @ Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 10:42:06 AM CST

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The three bibles have been highly influential in our culture.

Like it or not, many generations have looked to the bible and their religious training for guidance in civil matters.

And some of that has been good, for example, the civil rights movement found its story in the exodus.

Three? Hebrew, Catholic, and Protestant.

"Collective fear stimulates herd instinct and tends to produce ferocity toward those who are not regarded as members of the herd." -Bertrand Russell

by: parsingreality @ Tue Feb 24, 2009 at 23:35:54 PM CST

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Who votes for idiots like this?

Seriously - who? I understand that we have hateful idiots amoung us, but in this case we then have a boatload of people that voted for the cretin.

My recommendations in the 2010 primary?

by: DavidThi808 @ Mon Feb 23, 2009 at 19:06:07 PM CST

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Greeley Republicans, obviously.

by: ohwilleke @ Tue Feb 24, 2009 at 17:59:46 PM CST

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and others who voted for him

by: Jambalaya @ Tue Feb 24, 2009 at 18:05:47 PM CST

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Idiots

by: gertie97 @ Tue Feb 24, 2009 at 23:11:20 PM CST

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Is it okay to call gay marriage opponents "homophobes" now?

What are you talking about?...I don't get it." - bjwilson83

by: Aristotle @ Mon Feb 23, 2009 at 19:12:16 PM CST

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sure, but the bill isn't even about gay marriage

...apparently, you can call those who oppose health benefits for non-married couples "homophobes" now.

by: Jambalaya @ Mon Feb 23, 2009 at 19:17:03 PM CST

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LOL! Oops

What are you talking about?...I don't get it." - bjwilson83

by: Aristotle @ Mon Feb 23, 2009 at 19:26:10 PM CST

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I disagree with Pols that this may be a be-all-end-all

It's a stepping stone. Guaranteeing health benefits is one thing, but there's still an inequality being imposed by the State.

Until the GLBT community stands on equal footing under the law, then and only then will we have "the right way to deal with the whole divisive business of this issue once and for all."

Whether Scott Renfroe and James Dobson like it or not, this is a legal issue--even if it interferes with their beliefs.

"I'll take incompetence over a business model incentivised to kill me any day." -- DtR(H)

by: redstateblues @ Mon Feb 23, 2009 at 19:43:43 PM CST

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Lighten up

We're busy beating up on Renfroe!

by: oldbogus @ Mon Feb 23, 2009 at 21:43:39 PM CST

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These benefits would expose yet more inequality

The employees who claim these benefits will have to claim it as taxable income.

You'd think that being a good anti-tax anti-gay, Renfroe would support the bill.

It takes the thing he hates the most (taxes) and inflicts them upon the people he hates the most (teh gay).

Seems like a no brainer to me.

Non impediti ratione cogitationis.

"Some of the people that wanted to engage me in conversation appeared to have been the losers in the 'Are you smarter than Michele Bachmann contest?'." --Rep. Barney Frank

by: ThillyWabbit @ Mon Feb 23, 2009 at 22:52:18 PM CST

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Bartlett for State Senate

"NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO GIVE UP FIGHTING FOR HEALTH CAFE WITH A PUVBLIC OPGION" - Senator Michael Bevnett

by: Jersey Transplant @ Mon Feb 23, 2009 at 20:42:01 PM CST

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Jersey Transplant?

What exit?

by: Ralphie @ Mon Feb 23, 2009 at 21:01:21 PM CST

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NJTP 9

"NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO GIVE UP FIGHTING FOR HEALTH CAFE WITH A PUVBLIC OPGION" - Senator Michael Bevnett

by: Jersey Transplant @ Tue Feb 24, 2009 at 10:25:23 AM CST

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That would be Parkway exit 130

I'm from exit 151.

by: Ralphie @ Tue Feb 24, 2009 at 12:05:56 PM CST

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There are increasingly many of us

and none of us say "Joysey"

"NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO GIVE UP FIGHTING FOR HEALTH CAFE WITH A PUVBLIC OPGION" - Senator Michael Bevnett

by: Jersey Transplant @ Tue Feb 24, 2009 at 13:04:10 PM CST

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I've been here for nearly 35 years

I lost my accent long ago.

I even say "Maal" instead of "Mawl" when I'm talking about shopping malls.

by: Ralphie @ Tue Feb 24, 2009 at 13:36:28 PM CST

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i still have the accent, bigtime

but i can turn it on and off at will, it's quite useful, to be honest.

"NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO GIVE UP FIGHTING FOR HEALTH CAFE WITH A PUVBLIC OPGION" - Senator Michael Bevnett

by: Jersey Transplant @ Wed Feb 25, 2009 at 11:32:21 AM CST

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Love the Uncle Floyd song that begins this vid:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

by: Canines @ Wed Feb 25, 2009 at 08:22:50 AM CST

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By the way...

Haven't read anything on this site, lately, by another refugee from the Garden State (I recall him mentioning)and great commentator: Phoenix Rising, I hope you're doing well.

by: Canines @ Thu Feb 26, 2009 at 12:25:08 PM CST

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Great references in the Bartlett speech

but I can't find the bible verse he's referring to in the "garments from 2 different threads."

Can someone provide some insight?

by: Majority Moderate @ Tue Feb 24, 2009 at 07:21:03 AM CST

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Leviticus 19:19

19: Ye shall keep my statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee.

by: Ralphie @ Tue Feb 24, 2009 at 09:21:45 AM CST

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Thanks

by: Majority Moderate @ Tue Feb 24, 2009 at 09:49:48 AM CST

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This is the new Big Tent Republican Party?

We have Penry hosting a rally with Caldara, Malkin, Swastika Guy and the Commie; misogynist like Schultheis, Caldara and Peter Boyles referring to a female US Representative as a vagina, and Renfroe taking a narrow biblical view thats the gays are in violation of gods law so he should go medieval on them.

Sure sounds like the Colorado GOP under DICK "let the crap flow" Wadhams is really positioning itself for a come back...

"Suddenly, it may be cool to be American again" - William J. Kole

by: Go Blue @ Tue Feb 24, 2009 at 07:13:12 AM CST

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Dear Sen. Renfroe:

It has recently come to my attention that there are purveyors of sin right in my own--and I believe your--hometown. I speak of course of Red Lobster, Wendy's, and Old Navy.

Red Lobster sells--nay--flaunts! it's peddling of shellfish BOTTOMDWELLERS! And an abomination in God's eyes...at least when dipped in butter, a tequila-lime sauce, or enjoyed over rice.

Wendy's sells, happily so, on nearly every street corner it seems, bacon-double cheeseburgers. Doubly delicious, perhaps, but double the sin too (pork and milk of the mother atop an all beef patty...)

Then there is Old Navy--packed full of blended fabrics from basement to rafter, and not a one even behind the counter where young eyes might not have it shown to them that a cotton-poly combo is just A-OK with our society.

Do you know it can be shown statistically that since DOW chemical and their ilk have been pushing the blended agenda on our backs that morality in this land has plummeted, at least according to my narrow interpertation of it. Certainly pollution, traffic, and the sheer number of Red Lobsters and Wendy's has greatly exploded across our land since nylon and its related silky pleasures were tossed into our midst.

Think about it. And please: stamp out the evils of Red Lobster, Wendy's and Old Navy...God is watching.

"[McInnis] already appeals to those of us who have half a brain..." ChenWui

by: ClubTwitty @ Tue Feb 24, 2009 at 09:08:12 AM CST

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Thank you for bringing this to our attention

A horrible state of affairs that cannot be allowed to continue.

My recommendations in the 2010 primary?

by: DavidThi808 @ Tue Feb 24, 2009 at 09:15:51 AM CST

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The sins and abominations you recount are all to be ignored

because Renfroe apparently only recognizes the ones that support his homophobia. Wonder why that one is so primal for so many social conservatives? Could it be because just as many of them are gay as is the case in general and those who are gay or have doubts know they'll be kicked out in the cold if the don't live a lie and make a show of hating gays more than anyone else? Why should a confident heterosexual be at all threatened by anyone else's orientation? Just wondering.

by: BlueCat @ Tue Feb 24, 2009 at 10:25:00 AM CST

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Wendy's even advertises its bacon cheeseburgers

during campaigns that include all of Lent, Ramadan and Passover, an offense to monotheistic faiths of all stripes.

Next thing you know, Colorado Republican elected officials will propose bombing Mecca.

by: ohwilleke @ Tue Feb 24, 2009 at 18:03:54 PM CST

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"Will Propose"?

Wrong tense ohwilleke.

by: Justin.Henceroth@gmail.com @ Tue Feb 24, 2009 at 18:39:49 PM CST

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Not even wrong.

Simply not the most pertinent fact.

by: ohwilleke @ Tue Feb 24, 2009 at 19:32:59 PM CST

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You know your Leviticus, Twitty!

Kudos.

"Collective fear stimulates herd instinct and tends to produce ferocity toward those who are not regarded as members of the herd." -Bertrand Russell

by: parsingreality @ Tue Feb 24, 2009 at 23:38:21 PM CST

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If God knew how politicians were using his word

He'd be advocating for the separation of church and state. Oh yeah, we already have that. Anyone mention this tidbit to Rev. Renfroe?

"What can be asserted without proof can be dismissed without proof." - Christopher Hitchens

by: Cartesian Doubt @ Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 10:46:28 AM CST

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Sen. Renfroe Tells You How He Really Feels | 45 comments