Bush admin tool cites 'Chuck and Larry' defense to deprive same-sex couple fed benefits

[JackBeck]

by: Pam Spaulding
Tue Dec 02, 2008 at 09:00:00 AM EST

January 20 cannot get here soon enough. I've had it with these brain-dead bigoted tools of the Bush Admin who reach high up in their posteriors to pull out BS like this to justify discrimination. http://thinkprogress.org/2008/12/01/chuck-and-larry-defense/">Think Progress:

In September, the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee http://hsgac.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?Fuseaction=Hearings.Detail&HearingID=4567a0c5-c026-461d-8b28-d30898f5e3d9">considered legislation that would provide federal benefits to same-sex domestic partners of federal employees. Howard Weizmann, the deputy director of the U.S. Office Of Personnel Management, objected to the bill because it "http://hsgac.senate.gov/public/_files/092408Weizmann.pdf">could lead to fraud and abuse in the programs we administer." Weizmann claimed that the office was unaware of any interest from federal employees for such benefits. He even evoked a fictional movie plot of two heterosexual New York firefighters who pretend to be a gay couple to suggest such fraud http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2008/12/01/open-season/">would be a problem in real life:

First of all, to suggest that we are being far-fetched in the sense that these benefits are open to fraud or abuse. It's not an unrealistic concern. I would suggest even Hollywood has discussed this in a movie with Adam Sandler. In which, I think, 'Chuck and Larry' get married, which the subject of the movie, was quite frankly, was insurance fraud, along the lines of what we're discussing. This is not far fetched and it's not disingenuous to suggest such.

Should we remove fed benefits from heterosexual couples because some marry under false pretenses in order to obtain a green card for the immigrant spouse?

http://www.pamshouseblend.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=8460

I've known plenty of straight AND gay people who have married for the exclusive purpose of either citizenship or insurance. Using the 'Chuck & Larry' defense to deny rights just to the LGBT community is myopic, which shouldn't come as any surprise from the Bush administration.

I also belong to a private email group with a lot of inside knowledge about what is going down with this bill. It passage looks promising once the Bushies have taken their strangle-hold off of progress in this country. FOr those in support of same-sex marriage, you can chalk this up as a major development in equality.

[LiberalFighter]

1. All the more reason for single payer national health insurance for everyone.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

2. So when does Bush get dry humped by Chris Farley?

Because he got into office illegally, just like in that movie "Black Sheep."

[Mz Pip]

3. Dumb comedy movies

should now be used as justifications for discriminatory policies? Is this like the Bush is Batman nonsense that was going around after that movie was release?

It's pretty pathetic when RW shills use fictional characters as examples of why we should or shouldn't do something. How about plugging into reality for a change?

[HillWilliam]

4. It's one thing for BushCo to have their collective heads up their arses.

It's quite another for them to admire the view.

How silly, desperate, and stupid do they have to sound (and they get worse by the second) before the rest of us finally rise up and say, "Awwwright, that's enough. Sit back down at the kid's table where you belong and let the adults continue talking."?

[LeftHander]

5. GOP Way deprive 100% because of 0.001%

Brilliant argument...(NOT)

[Terran]

6. "unaware of any interest from federal employees"

{insert primal scream here} :grr::grr::grr::grr::grr::grr::grr::grr::grr::grr::grr::grr:

[JackBeck]

7. Take a big, deep breath with me.

In less than 50 days this will ALL change.

[Terran]

8. What will happen in less than 50 days?

It sounds like you know something I don't... :P

[JackBeck]

9. The adults are back in power.

Former HRC staff have quietly been lobbying to enact this Bill. I've got a feeling that within the next year, we may see some major progress...