Friday, August 13, 2010

Why Courtrooms are unkind to claims

In discussing the Walker decision on Proposition 8, I found this quote by Jason Rosenhouse.

It also occurred to me that there are a lot of similarities between this decision and the decision in the Dover evolution case. Hard-core right-wingers live in a fantasy world of their own creation. It is a world in which creationism and ID are legitimate science and evolution is not. It is also a world in which gay couples pose some sort of threat to heterosexual marriage, or are too morally suspect to raise children. When thundered from a stage or a pulpit to a generally supportive audience, such notions play very well. But put them in a forum with rules of evidence and a sober, nonemotional tone, and they crumble. Judge Walker in this case was absolutely scathing towards the defense, just as Judge Jones was in the Dover case. When forced to defend their ideas rationally, the right-wingers always come off looking like fools.

1 comment:

  1. And then even after the trial, Al Mohler can still say:
    "On page after page, Judge Walker ...declares the evidence and arguments put forth by the defenders of Proposition 8 as lacking in any rational basis"

    ...as though the trial never happened, or pretending that a rational basis was presented. I guess once it is back out of the judicial forum, he can go back to the same rules of his game.

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