In a Thursday decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of disclosing the names of petitioners who called for a ballot measure to repeal an expanded domestic partnership rights law in Washington state last year.
The 8-1 ruling, considered in the heated context of the nationwide marriage equality debate, could hold far-reaching implications for public disclosure, including the right to know who contributes to political campaigns against gay rights, and how much they spend.
Justice Scalia, to his credit, acidly notes that no one has the "right to anonymity in the performance of an act with governmental effect." Don Surber is sad. The West Virginian Wanker, eager to burn himself at the stake, has decided he's a noble heretic. Rod Dreher has yet to weigh in, but will undoubtedly be horrified that SCOTUS has implicitly blessed "gay activist hate maps."
Anyway, it's strange for me to say so, but this line from Scalia is really wonderful:
Requiring people to stand up in public for their political acts fosters civic courage, without which democracy is doomed.
Hehindeedy!
No comments:
Post a Comment