Louisiana JP's halt of interracial marriage sparks outrage

This fellow reminds me a bit of "Marryin' Sam" in the "L'il Abner" cartoons set in Dogpatch. It seems there is a certain arbitrariness to government on the local level. But does the man think anything he refuses to do in one parish (county) of his state will have any impact on behaviour of the citizens in the rest of the US? If he does, he's a fool. He's also not qualified if he doesn't know that Louisania's anti-miscegenation statue was struck down by the US Supreme Court in 1967.

Pretty clever guy this chap. Not many people can read wedding vows while wearing a white pointy hat.

Just to clarify, he is a Justice of the Peace, which is one step above dog-catcher. As most people know, many people can perform weddings, so this is not such a big deal. I am pretty sure that you can get a marriage license in cases like this and get a notary to sign it, and that is sufficient. So the "harm" to the couple is minimal.

It IS a big deal because these are duties of an elected official and they clearly violate federal law. So the harm is to the American public and should be rectified... immediately.

This is news from Louisiana.

Or maybe he just doesn't want another OB

The idea that he was worried about "the children's future" is a load of crock n' hash. If the children are taught to think racially then it will keep on going the same way in those wonderful KKKstates. If the children are not taught about their differences they grow into wonderful adults.

Amazing that this wasn't thought of much back in the days of slavery when the "master" thought he'd start nickin' up the skirts of his slaves.

If he was really smart he should have kept his mouth shut (since assuming it was his job elected by the public) and just send them to another justice who didn't have personal bias against such a situation. While he may have the right to free speech and his own personal opinions, he still did not do his JOB to the public which is grounds for disciplinary action and termination.

Reminds me of this one sheriff that was dismissed from his job due to his biased racial opinion and activities in a white supremacists group. You can't hold a position of some trust if you're not going to do your job properly.

Is this the first time he has refused to marry an interracial marriage?

I think this guy is lower than a snail's belly, but he's got balls. I mean in a world that is getting ready to allow gays to marry nationwide (it'll happen) we have this judge who's morals haven't involved evolved since 1952.

We've all got friends who are in an interracial relationship one way or another. Interracial couples are just more colorful. < :-)

I think it's wonderful that LA has such progressive elected officials! He worried about their child's future? Amazing! What a talented man, precognition is so rare a talent, I'm glad to see he put it to good use. I think I will see what I can do about contacting him for investment advice, since he knows so much about the future. I am sure he also does pre-marital counseling, as well, to weed out prospective spouses who are mentally unstable/drug addicts/alcoholics/gambling addicts/cheaters/abusive. As we all know, that kind of behavior is also detrimental to future children. I am also sure he refuses to marry these people as well, being that he is such a concerned and caring man. A fine example of a human being!

Give me a break. He's a racist, pure and simple. What a perfect example of cognitive dissonance.

People like him are the REASON these kids have problems, not the solution.

The quote in this article that reads “Perhaps he’s worried the kids will grow up and be president” was the exact thing that crossed my mind when I first read this article. WTF? Are we in the 21st century or what? Didn't realize this was still the 1860s.

Outrage!

Racial mixing is a time honored tradition in the South anyway.

So I don't see what he is complaining about,I am sure he is got some black ancestry at some point.

@Delarapier

Yeah, it is kinda like the South's dirty little secret. It provokes the same reaction as the kid who got caught with his hand in the cookie jar before dinner. I remember reading a book once that was about Louisiana oddly enough. It stated that every well off White man in the old days was pretty much expected to have a mistress, and that mistress was pretty much expected to be black or a mulatto.

Go figure though. I dont know whats worse; The fact that these people were turned away and probably made to feel like crap, or the fact that this guy honestly believes that what he is doing is the lesser of two evils.

Someone needs to tell this guy it isn't 1956.

ecause he’s worried about their children’s futures.

Yeah like maybe the child will grow up to be president. We can't have a non white in that position now can we?! SHocking that this still happens in many countries.

SHocking that this still happens in many countries.

And even more so that it happens in a nation that claims to be a light of democracy and human rights to the universe!

It is so incredibly shocking. I'm still amazed that this hate crime was actually reported on by the same corporate media that is trying to bring down President Obama.

And even more so that it happens in a nation that claims to be a light of democracy and human rights to the universe!

But this would have serious consequences in most civilized countries where people would be outraged (as in the opposite of apathetic) and calls for his resignation would come flooding in. As pointofview says, I wonder what would have happened if this took place in Japan. In fact, I suggest Bardwell apply for a job here.

And even more so that it happens in a nation that claims to be a light of democracy and human rights to the universe!

Ummm...Re-read the headline. It doesn't say 'Louisiana JP's halt of interracial marriage sparks tears of joy and dancing in the streets throughout the nation'. It says 'Louisiana JP's halt of interracial marriage sparks outrage .' As Pukey" points out, there are calls for his resignation and there is outrage, as there should be. While very imperfect, it does seem like many in the US are trying to maintain respect for democracy and human rights in spite of racists like this man.

Bardwell should be required to move his McCain-Palin sticker a bit further away from his Confederate battle flag.

I understand that fellow Louisiana Republican David Duke is coming to Bardwell's defense.

"Republican Gov Bobby Jindal said in a statement a nine-member commission that reviews lawyers and judges in the state should investigate.

“Disciplinary action should be taken immediately—including the revoking of his license,” Jindal said."

Too late Bobby, you can't cover for your fellow white supremacist buddy.

I understand that fellow Louisiana Republican David Duke is coming to Bardwell's defense.

Well, that is not a surprise considering the other people David Duke also defends. Pigs of a feather...

seijichuudo9sha, I believe Mr. Jindal is of Indian (as in India) descent and perhaps not a white supremacist.

has served as justice of peace for 34 years.

You would think maybe this guy should have fired along time ago. But what the hey.....Seems only now he makes news.

Ah yes, the old,"I am not a racist, I have black friends." I always love that when it is followed by,"But I do not believe that the races should mix!"

Classic racist comments by a bigot who just does not get it.......

And so many said that there was little racism in the United States.....No no, by far, if a person can get elected to office with these views. It makes me wonder how many of the people that voted him into office feel as he does?

Truly the far south needs an enema to get rid of folks like this putz!

"Bardwell maintains he can recuse himself from marrying people"

How about if he just recuses himself from this job?

Republicans are made up of a lot of different voting groups. Actually in 1964, many republicans voted with democrat president Lyndon B. Johnson for the civil rights laws.

The republicans are still scary though.

from borscht "I believe Mr. Jindal is of Indian (as in India) descent and perhaps not a white supremacist."

But he is a republican and living in the deep south.Are you sure ?

seijichuudo9sha,

Borscht is correct. Please google Mr. Jindal's name. He is of Indian descent.

I dont understand. Jindal is not white, but he was elected governor of a southern state like Louisiana. And why would they elect a repub after Katrina?

seijichuudo9sha,

I don't know much about Louisana or any state per se, however, I assume voters were voting for the person, not a race or a party. At least, I would hope so. I think that is the way people should vote all the time. If Keith Bardwell thought of people that way, we would be seeing this kind of article. It wouldn' be necessary because he would have been thinking of people as people and not as 'races'.

Sorry, should have been: If Keith Bardwell thought of people that way, we would not be seeing this kind of article. It wouldn't be necessary because he would have been thinking of people as people and not as 'races'.

I don't know much about Louisana or any state per se, however, I assume voters were voting for the person, not a race or a party.

They were actually voting for a person named Piyush Jindal. The name alone is enough to cost you 20 percentage points in Louisiana among Republican voters. (His skin color was cited as a major factor in his loss in 2003.)

He did reject his name in favor of "Bobby," after one of the Brady Bunch kids, likewise rejecting his religion for something that would be more comfortable in the Brady home. So as not to upset the sensitivities of heavy Republican constituency -- represented by the long-serving Bardwell -- by appearing too uppity, Jindal chose to marry one of his own kind.

yabits,

I don't know if you are trying to be sarcastic. However, your assessment of Mr. Jindal sounds much like something that the 'long serving Bardell' might suggest. Mr. Jindal has had the nickname 'Bobby' since he was a kid. He did not reject his name, nor has he changed it. Just because he converted to another religion does not mean he 'rejected' his original religion. Also, seriously what gives you the right to suggest the man married someone merely so that he would not appear 'too uppity'. I really hope that is sarcasm as I generally enjoy your posts. This one, however, leaves an extremely bad aftertaste. I am surprise you did not suggest Mr. Jindal also altered his skin color in order to win his last election.

kinniku,

My sarcasm is equal to those who make the premise that a great many white Louisiana Republicans like Bardwell do not harbor race-supremacist feelings simply because they voted for Jindal.

Jindal simply has had to make compromises in his life to match the realities of what it takes to achieve success in Louisiana politics.

My sarcasm is equal to those who make the premise that a great many white Louisiana Republicans like Bardwell do not harbor race-supremacist feelings simply because they voted for Jindal.

How do you know Bardell voted for Gov. Jindal? Personally I would not be surprised of the pig did not vote for him based on the racism you are suggesting. I could very much be wrong, however, I find it hard to believe racists such as Bardell or Duke would put aside their racism long enough to vote for a person of a race, religion, ethnicity they did not approve of no matter how much that person made compromises.

Jindal simply has had to make compromises in his life to match the realities of what it takes to achieve success in Louisiana politics.

I am sure you are right about his making compromises. I am not sure that they are the ones you have listed above however. I especially found the comment about his wife rather inappropriate. I mean, do you actually know the things you suggest are true for a fact?

I especially found the comment about his wife rather inappropriate.

If I made a comment about Mrs. Jindal personally, that would be inappropriate. My comment was about the choice of Mr. Jindal, and not the person he chose.

This is a person who wants to assimilate, but who also understands where the lines are drawn, and seems to respect the walls that the majority race has maintained (via folks like Bardwell) to keep people apart. It is not so much David Duke, as the many thousands of Republican supporters of Duke's ideas and candidacy.

Bobby Jindal marrying across the color line would have been as well received by those types as the union of Sammy Davis with Mae Britt. Or Terence McKay with Beth Humphrey.

With all due respect, your comment was both about Mr. and Mrs. Jindal and you seem to be suggesting the only reason she was 'picked' to be his bride was because of her color. That was inappropriate to both of them, particularly so as you seem to not know whether what you have suggested is true or not. While I completely agree with your comments about the racist named in this article and any racists who would share his opinions of racism, including Duke, I do not see any basis for your comments specifically about Mr. Jindal, who is a US born citizen, and as such find them quite unfair. You talk of him wanting to 'assimilate'. What are you basing this on? Anything concrete? Did he actually say this? Have you based any of your commentary specifically regarding Mr. Jindal based on any specific facts? It really does not seem like it. Mr. Jindal voiced his own outrage and it is mentioned clearly and plainly in this very article. It seems his attempt at 'assimilation' didn't stick as he plainly and clearly sees what a racist Bardell is.

With all due respect, your comment was both about Mr. and Mrs. Jindal

If that is how you want to read it, that is your choice.

It really does not seem like it. Mr. Jindal voiced his own outrage and it is mentioned clearly and plainly in this very article. It seems his attempt at 'assimilation' didn't stick as he plainly and clearly sees what a racist Bardell is.

You appear to equate assimilation with whites as requiring acceptance of the most overt expressions of white supremacy. Most whites in America know how to couch those feelings under layers of denial such that we can erupt in outrage when a fellow white blows our cover. Jindal appears to have that act down pat.

I view Jindal as a climber who has few qualms about doing what it takes to change his image to gain the approval of the dominant group he is trying to curry favor with.

If that is how you want to read it, that is your choice.

That is the only way to read it. I wonder. Would you also say President Obama married a person of color merely so as not to appear too uppity? How do you think either he or his wife would feel about such a remark? I am sure they would both feel it was inappropriate. As it would be and as it was in your post. Particularly as you still have not shown any basis in reality for your posting it.

Jindal appears to have that act down pat.

You appear to have created your own fantasy in which Mr. Jindal acts and thinks as you would have him act and think. However, in all of your responses you have been completely unable to specifically back up anything you have written. That leads any reasonable person to the conclusion that you are just writing a story and that it has no basis in fact.

I view Jindal as a climber...smear, smear, slam, slam, insult, insult...

Again, I wonder how much you would say the same thing about President Obama? You have written a whole lot of 'opinion', but very little in the way of facts to back them up. Maybe you are reflecting on your own personal experience and projecting it on to this article and onto Mr. Jindal. I do not know. What I do know is that you have merely written what appears to be a fantasy with no basis in factual reality. Why should Mr. Jindal have to act the way you think he should act and not the way he has acted? Merely because he is a person of color? Again, that sounds like something Mr. Bardell might say...

Would you also say President Obama married a person of color merely so as not to appear too uppity?

The differences between "Bobby" Jindal and Barack Obama in the way they regard their backgrounds are quite profound. Obama dabbled with "Barry" for awhile but realized that that was not him. The "uppity" remark was couched in sarcasm, as I previously stated, and if anyone wants to take it to seriously, they are barking up the wrong tree.

you are just writing a story and that it has no basis in fact

I am stating my opinions, formed on the basis of some comments from Jindal's relatives.

Why should Mr. Jindal have to act the way you think he should act and not the way he has acted? Merely because he is a person of color?

He can act any way he wants. Just as Michael Jackson did, who was also a "person of color." If he wants to ignore, as one of his cousins puts it, his Hindu-Indian roots, that's his choice. I am under no obligation to praise him for it.

If Louisiana had an Indian constituency the size of the African-American constituencies in many U.S. states, I don't believe Jindal would be doing much to de-emphasize his "Indian-ness," especially if he was trying to gain office as a Democrat.

The "uppity" remark was couched in sarcasm, as I previously stated, and if anyone wants to take it to seriously, they are barking up the wrong tree.

It is a tree you planted with your confusing remark:

"My sarcasm is equal to those who make the premise that a great many white Louisiana Republicans like Bardwell do not harbor race-supremacist feelings simply because they voted for Jindal."

Bardell's racist feelings and those like him are not 'sarcasm', they are racism plain and simple. So, maybe you are barking up the wrong tree.

He can act any way he wants.

However, it doesn't seem like you really feel that way. You think he should act a certain way or he is not being genuine. You think he is 'acting' white, whatever that means.

I don't believe Jindal would be doing much to de-emphasize his "Indian-ness

Again, why do you automatically assume he is de-emphasizing his Indian-ness? He is exactly the same person he was when he lost his election in 2003. He didn't change his skin color, or hadn't you noticed?

I am under no obligation to praise him for it.

You are also under no obligation to berate him for acting as he sees fit, especially when you seem to be judging his actions based solely on what his race is. Again, Bardell would seem to want to say similar things.

I am stating my opinions, formed on the basis of some comments from Jindal's relatives.

So, again, no facts. Thanks. That is what I thought. You have been unable to support the conclusions to which your opinions have led you, leading me to think your opinions and conclusions are way off base...

especially when you seem to be judging his actions based solely on what his race is.

Not nearly right. I am commenting on how his own confrontation with his Indian background and religion appears to me.

Not nearly right.

This is one of the few times when I hope I am not nearly right.

I am commenting on how his own confrontation with his Indian background and religion appears to me.

The thing is you have shown no factual basis to suggest such a confrontation.

thing is you have shown no factual basis to suggest such a confrontation.

It certainly has a factual basis based upon the observations of other members of the Indian community:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-2495845,prtpage-1.cms

i wonder why nobody used the word "racist" in any of the quotes?

It certainly has a factual basis based upon the observations of other members of the Indian community

Translation: You think the opinions of people other than the man himself are better for factually describing the thinking of Mr. Jindal himself? That is a pretty bad example of facts...You have not proved even one of your assertions here. You have merely provided an article filled with the same kind of innuendo that you have provided yourself. You do know what the word 'facts' means, don't you? I was not asking for opinion when I asked you these very specific questions:

How do you know Bardell voted for Gov. Jindal?

Your comment was both about Mr. and Mrs. Jindal and you seem to be suggesting the only reason she was 'picked' to be his bride was because of her color. That was inappropriate to both of them, particularly so as you seem to not know whether what you have suggested is true or not. Do you know it to be true for a fact?

You talk of him wanting to 'assimilate'. What are you basing this on? Anything concrete? Did he actually say this? Have you based any of your commentary specifically regarding Mr. Jindal based on any specific facts?

Again, why do you automatically assume he is de-emphasizing his Indian-ness? He is exactly the same person he was when he lost his election in 2003. He didn't change his skin color, or hadn't you noticed?

You keep providing opinion. However, you do not show any factual provable specific basis for your opinion. Let me suggest that a person is able to decide for themselves how much of their background, race, religion, or ethnicity plays in their lives. Again, I think it is strange to accuse Mr. Jindal of not being Indian enough or of running away from his heritage etc. People are not always running away from something. Sometimes they are heading to something else. You have shown no specific facts to show Mr. Jindal is not what he honestly represents himself to be.

You think the opinions of people other than the man himself are better for factually describing the thinking of Mr. Jindal himself?

Oh, absolutely. That's why we check references for job applicants, and why agencies conduct background investigations before they grant clearances.

I found the reporting of Jindal's mangling of the name of his own brother to be quite telling. You might not consider that a specific fact, but it suffices for me.

comment was both about Mr. and Mrs. Jindal and you seem to be suggesting the only reason she was 'picked' to be his bride was because of her color.

I never said that color was the reason, but "kind." You appear not to know how marriage works in the Indian community. Bobby was and is a guy who rejected his name and his religion as he "headed for" a name and religion better suited to his personal aspirations and his adopted political views -- some of which are very anti-immigrant, which is ironic coming as they do from a son of immigrants.

Oh, absolutely. That's why we check references for job applicants, and why agencies conduct background investigations before they grant clearances.

Except, you did not do that. You went to an Indian newspaper that was complaining about an American who they said wasn't acting 'Indian' enough for them.

I found the reporting of Jindal's mangling of the name of his own brother to be quite telling. You might not consider that a specific fact, but it suffices for me.

Telling about what? He is an American citizen. There are lots of people who are born of immigrants and yet do not speak the language of their parents or speak the way their parents do. So what? He is not an Indian.

I never said that color was the reason, but "kind."

Yes, sorry. You said color when speaking of the man himself and said 'kind' when speaking of his wife. Yes, that is much better...not.

You appear not to know how marriage works in the Indian community.

You appear not to know how to read because Jindal converted religions when he was in high school. He was not a party to 'how marriage works in the Indian community'.

Bobby was and is a guy who rejected his name and his religion as he "headed for" a name and religion better suited to his personal aspirations and his adopted political views

So you say. However, I think it is just as it was written in the Indian newspaper you quoted, Mr. Jindal was too American for them and for you. You want him to dance the dance you think should be on his dance card merely because of who his parents are and where they come from. I maintain that you have no right to limit how someone can act or think just because of the background of their family. It is the kind of racism that Bardell seems to follow and I cannot agree with it.

some of which are very anti-immigrant, which is ironic coming as they do from a son of immigrants.

Well, I don't happen to agree with Mr. Jindal's views on most things as I have come to know them. However, I would never claim that he is 'Uncle Tomming' for votes as you have been claiming. You see, that would be racist.

BTW, you never managed to factually answer any of the questions about your previous posts. Might be better to think things through a bit more before slandering someone just because they don't act Indian enough for you.

Bardwell is an ass. Completely unfit for office. He should be sacked and fined. Additionally he should publicly ridiculed and humiliated, Just as he has humiliated so many happy couples.

I cannot believed that He has been in office for 34 years and no one has spoken up about it.