R000719
Thursday, March 14, 2002 3:17 AM
Overlooking domestic partners in 9/11 benefits is an atrocity of it's own.
THE FOLLOWING IS EXCERPTED FROM AN ARTICLE ON US POLITICS AND CURRENT
EVENTS ON ABOUT.COM
http://uspolitics.about.com/library/weekly/aa031102a.htm
Yep, the Attorney General is himself willing to overlook US law so that
every victim of September 11 can be fully compensated. But when it
comes to gay Americans who lost a loved one to Mohammad Atta and his
band of thieves, that's when Feinberg's and the Department of Justice's
well of generosity suddenly dries up:
"[Gays and lesbians are] left out of my program to the extent that their
own state doesn't include them. I cannot get into a position in this
program, which has a one-and-a-half or two-year life start
second-guessing what the state of New York or the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts or the state of Virginia or New Jersey, how they treat
same-sex partners, domestic live-ins, etc. I simply say this: What does
your state law say about who is eligible? If your state law makes you
eligible, I will honor state law. If it doesn't, I go with the state.
Otherwise, Tim, I would find myself getting sued in every state by
people claiming that I'm not following how the state distributes money.
I can't get into that local battle. I've got to rely on state law." -
Kenneth Feinberg on NBC's "Meet the Press," March 10, 2002.
THIS IS A HORRIBLE REPRESENTATION OF RESPECT FOR HUMANITY ON THE BEHALF
OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. IT IS SICKENING TO THINK THAT MY
GOVERNMENT WOULD BE WILLING TO HELP ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS AND FOREIGNERS
WHILE OVERLOOKING THE PEOPLE OF IT'S OWN NATION FOR ANY SUCH REASON AS
SEXUALITY. FEINBERG OPENED HIS MOUTH AND REVEALED A HORRIBLE FLAW IN
OUR GOVERNMENT'S THINKING. THIS IS A SICKENING ACT OF DISCRIMINATION
AGAINST GAYS AND LESBIANS.
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