Even with cognitive dissonance this striking, they still think they've got a right to withhold civil rights from a whole segment of the population:

Maggie Gallagher's disdain for Marriage Equality New York board president Cathy Marino-Thomas was palpable. The feeling, we're guessing, was mutual. The two shared the stage at Hofstra University's “Day of Dialogue," and even outside the confines of a 30-second spot, Gallagher was still trafficking in misinformation. And eye rolls.

We do appreciate the debate over whether our "intolerance" for bigotry is, by definition, hate — of the very same variety we call out and despise daily on this website. That's Gallagher's position: By labeling Prop 8 supporters as advocates of hatred, we're being intolerant ourselves, showing no respect for a difference in viewpoints.

But what Maggie does not, and may never understand is the difference between agreeing to disagree, and actively endorsing discrimination against an entire group of people. For that, we cannot be tolerant. [..]

But here's the soundbite we're holding on to, as Maggie addresses Marino-Thomas: "[Your marriage] may be better, but it's not a marriage. … It's probably better than my marriage to hear you talk about it. I wouldn't talk about my marriage in such glowing terms."

It's so sad that someone who cannot speak well of their own marriage feels it's their right to fight to keep others from having that legal union.

On a related note, it's not a serious move so much as a political statement, but here in California, someone has decided to fight a real threat to the sanctity of marriage: the ability to divorce:

California Secretary of State Debra Bowen today authorized the backer of an initiative that would ban divorce to begin collecting signatures to put the proposed constitutional amendment before voters.

John Marcotte now has until March 22, 2010, to collect 694,354 signatures of registered voters in order to get the measure on the ballot next year. The proposal would change the California Constitution to "eliminate the ability of married couples to get divorced in California."[..]:

ELIMINATES THE LAW ALLOWING MARRIED COUPLES TO DIVORCE. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. Changes the California Constitution to eliminate the ability of married couples to get divorced in California. Preserves the ability of married couples to seek an annulment. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: Savings to the state of up to hundreds of millions of dollars annually for support of the court system due to the elimination of divorce proceedings.

While I obviously don't want my rights taken away (not that I'm planning on divorcing my husband, mind you. He's stuck with me.), I do appreciate the sentiment behind it. My gay uncle's marriage does not harm my marriage, threatens no one else's relationship and it's a ludicrous argument to claim it does. However, the ease in which we may end marriages (one-third of all first marriages end within 10 years, according to the CDC) certainly does. If these wingnuts want to hold up marriage as the foundation of society, then put up or shut up.

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Part 1: Yesterday Keith Lewis, co-executive director of the Miss California USA pageant, was furious over NOM's use of Prejean, and attacked them throughout his presser. The pageant also helped pay for her new body. What would Jesus say?

He also said that she breached her contract by being involved with the special interest group. He already had to use the runner-up to fill some of her duties because she's being used as a pawn by the anti-gay lobby, but it's a choice she's quite happy with, I assume. I imagine they'll keep the money flowing to her.

Lewis said that 42% of NOM's fundraising cash made its way to Gallagher personally and that NOM exploited Prejean to put her contract at risk. Prejean also lied about the saucy pictures to them, but judging by her released statements, she is a perfect conservative.

"I am a Christian, and I am a model. Models pose for pictures, including lingerie and swimwear photos. Recently, photos taken of me as a teenager have been released surreptitiously to a tabloid website that openly mocks me for my Christian faith. "I am not perfect, and I will never claim to be. But these attacks on me and others who speak in defense of traditional marriage are intolerant and offensive. While we may not agree on every issue, we should show respect for others' opinions and not try to silence them through vicious and mean-spirited attacks."

You see, we're all trying to silence her. Typical conservative talking points. She'll fit right in at her new digs until they lose interest in her.

Part 2: Donald Trump says he got all of them in a room and worked it out and she keeps her crown. He put the hammer down it looks like. She was crying and saying nobody should be silenced, (ugh) and how her grandfather fought in WWII. She said she wasn't an activist only a person of beliefs. Working with NOM makes her an activist, doesn't it? She says she won't speak out against Gay Marriage anymore. I guess that was the trade off she made. She also says that some of the pictures were photo-shopped, but the one released today was the photographer releasing some that weren't made public. She forgives everybody including P. Hilton and the Donald said Hilton was just doing his thing even if he scored her very low.

Keith Lewis said he's putting it behind him. They just weren't all on the same page. One question was asked about her involvement with NOM and she said she's not working for them. A question was asked in the beginning about NOM, but that wasn't answered. David Shuster said it was a ridiculous presser with the Donald. I wrote Part 1 yesterday. Prejean being involved in NOM kinda caught my interest so that's why I made the video from the Lewis presser.

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Trace Gallagher, the co-host of FNC's The Live Desk on Fox News got a little excited at the prospect that Arlen Specter's defection might give President Obama that 60th vote -- which could mean that he can pass his key policies! Like he won the election or something!

Gallagher completely lost his objectivity as a news host and told us how he really felt:

Gallagher: Brit, over the past 24 hours I have read countless articles about the doom of the GOP, but might it be the reverse? I mean if you think about this, if you have 60 votes, right? You can't really blame the other guy, if you don't have 60 votes you can always say it's their fault, but if you have 60 it's kind of your game.

Hume: Well, that's true Chase, but in the near term it certainly doesn't help the Republicans as they try to resist the enactment of much of the Obama agenda, which they consider something of a radical agenda, and Specter's presence as a Democrat now will change all that. Remember this, Trace, Specter has been welcomed into the Democratic Party by its leaders in Washington. It is not entirely clear, however, that the Democratic voters of Pennsylvania, who remember Specter as a Republican who did many things that they did not like, will be so welcoming.
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So, look for Specter to very much be, most of the time, the 60th vote. And while the results in the end of the policies enacted will tell the tale of which party benefits from all this, in the near term at least it certainly does help the Democrats.

Gallagher: So what you're saying in essence -- the president has wide popularity now and the American people are willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, so if Specter really does as you say serve as the 60th vote, are we about to see the Obama agenda, for lack of a better phrase, crammed down out throat?

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Fox News anchor Shepard Smith let loose with one again today in a spirited discussion on enhanced interrogation techniques. Another Fox anchor Trace Gallagher toes the Fox News line. This isn't the first time Smith has gotten all hot and bothered on the subject either.