“Open Season” Call Changed Hansen’s Amendment Vote

If the amendment to the Wisconsin Constitution banning legal recognition of all unmarried couples’ relationships is defeated, either in the Assembly or by voter referendum next year, Republicans pressing for the measure may be able to point to a single answering machine message as the reason the bill was killed.

The message was left by an amendment supporter who felt comfortable enough in his opinion to identify himself on the answering machine in Senator Dave Hansen’s (D-Green Bay) office, according to staffers. The message suggested legislators create a new Constitutional amendment creating an “open season” on gays and lesbians, an implicit reference to the state’s recently concluded gun deer hunting season.

The message, in full, said: “We, we, gotta stop these queers, Ron. There’s no question in everybody’s mind that this can not go through. Uh, we, we - this is gettin’ ridiculous. We gotta, we gotta stop this. There’s no such thing as, as queer marriages. We gotta stop it. In fact, you know, I think we should have an amendment - uh - put on the ballot, a referendum. Maybe we should have an open season on those people and just let ‘em know how we really think. Okay? Bye.”

Hansen, who had voted for the amendment on its first passage last year, cited the phone message in remarks he made on the Senate floor as he offered an amendment to eliminate the second sentence of the amendment that would invalidate any “legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals.”

http://www.quest-online.com/NewFiles/Quest_Newsroom_25.html

Don't ya just love it when the fundies and other assorted wingnuts turn out to be their own worst enemies? :toast:

it's someone agreeing with you stupidly.