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Prop 8., Ground Zero and Joe the Plumber: Conservatives Who Sue

By Joe Consumer

We just thought this might be a good day to remind everyone that our civil courts don?t discriminate.  Even conservative extremists who rail against lawsuits (we?ve covered a bit of that phenomenon here, here) are allowed to sue in civil courts, and they do so all the time!  Even if their sole purpose is to score political points!

Yesterday?s decision striking down California?s Prop 8, the gay marriage ban is a fascinating match up between conservatives: well known conservative Ted Olson, who argued and won the case vs. Protect Marriage, the religious and conservative groups that sponsored Proposition 8, who are immediately appealing it.

With all the hoopla about this decision yesterday, you may have missed the fact that also yesterday, Joe the Plumber?s retaliation lawsuit was thrown out of court.  "What lawsuit"? (you must be asking yourself).  Turns out that right-wing personality Samuel "Joe" Wurzelbacher had sued the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Director Helen Jones-Kelley and two others, claiming he was retaliated against "for speaking out against Obama" and that his privacy was violated, i.e., his constitutional rights.  No dice, said the judge. Guess it's back to plumbing and writing books for Sam, er Joe.

And in New York City, a conservative group called the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), has sued the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, which denied landmark status to an old Burlington Coat Factory building.  The group doesn't like the fact that this clears the way to begin construction on an Islamic cultural center in Lower Manhattan. 

One way or the other, that?s what courts are for!

Full post as published by ThePopTort on August 05, 2010 (boomark / email).