Fox News Legal Panel: Kim Davis’ Lawyer Mat Staver Is “Ridiculously Stupid”

Now, when even Fox News’ legal analysts say anti-gay County Clerk Kim Davis has no leg to stand on, you know you’re in trouble.

Unless you’re Davis and her equally anti-gay lawyer Mat Staver.

Via Raw Story:

“She can still practice her faith,” Fox News host Gregg Jarrett noted. “Just not on the job in a way that interferes with the legal rights of the citizens she serves. And in fact, the U.S. Supreme Court said so nine years ago.”

“She’s a hypocrite,” criminal defense attorney Sharon Liko agreed. “She’s applying for the job of a martyr. She wants to practice her faith by not issuing marriage licenses. Yet, she will not agree to let the deputy county clerks issue marriage licenses even if it’s okay with their faith.”

“When she took the job she swore to uphold the law,” Jarrett explained. “We rely on government officials to do that. They can’t just pick and choose what laws they like, which ones they don’t. If they were allowed to do that, wouldn’t that lead to chaos, anarchy and so forth?”

Jarrett also called out Davis’s attorney, who said it was “questionable” if the Supreme Court had the “constitutional authority” to rule on same-sex marriage.

“Whether the Supreme Court has constitutional authority?” the Fox News host said. “Article III Section 2 of the Constitution gives the Supreme Court constitutional authority to decide constitutional issues!”

Jarrett added that Staver’s statement appeared to be “stunningly obtuse.”

“That’s a very polite way of putting it,” Liko replied. “I would say it’s just a ridiculously stupid statement. The Supreme Court does just that, and they determine constitutionality issues, they resolve these kinds of disputes.”

“This woman has a choice, she can either follow the law — she can do her job — or she can get out.”

Jarrett also pointed out during the segment that Davis is still free to exercise her freedom of religion, just not in a way that interferes in the legal rights of others.

To underline the point, Jarrett quoted the 2006 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Garcetti v. Ceballos: “When a citizen enters government service, the citizen by necessity must accept certain limitations on his or her freedom.”

News Round-Up: August 31, 2015

Some news stories you may have missed:

• It’s time for Monday Men At Work (see above)

• The gay couple in Rowan County, Kentucky, who have been denied a marriage license three times have filed a lawsuit in federal court against the county government and County Clerk Kim Davis.

• A man with a 19″ penis says it makes working and having a social dating life impossible.

• Fox and Friends host Elizabeth Hasselbeck doesn’t understand why the #BlackLivesMatter movement hasn’t been named a “hate group.” Seriously.

• Five HIV+ men offer advice to their younger selves about surviving and thriving post-diagnosis.

• Kentucky County Clerk Kim Davis is running out of time and options in her fight to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Time to do your job, Ms. Davis.

• Ellen DeGeneres announces GapKids x ED, a new collection for Gap Kids that is for every girl no matter “whether they skateboard or dance, wear dresses or jeans, build forts or paint rainbows, or everything in between.”

Donald Trump Continues Feud With Fox News

After Donald Trump attacked Megyn Kelly on Twitter last night, Fox News chief Roger Ailes fired off this statement (via Politico reporter Hadas Gold):

But you know The Donald ain’t gonna let someone else have the last word. So, the Trumpster responded thusly:

And on it goes…

Fox News Personalities Call Out Donald Trump For Trolling Megyn Kelly

Donald Trump clearly couldn’t resist renewing his attacks on Fox News channel primetime host Megyn Kelly as she returned from her sudden vacation, which happened on the heels of her GOP debate dustup a couple of weeks ago.

Trump even retweeted a supporter’s tweet calling Kelly a bimbo.

After all that, Kelly’s co-workers at Fox News are done with the classless and childish attacks. Check out just a few of the heavy-hitters from Fox complaining about the Donald.

Donald Trump Calls Fox News After Swearing Off Any More Appearances

Just days after swearing to not appear on Fox News again after what he called “unfair” treatment during last week’s GOP presidential debate, Donald Trump called in to Fox & Friends this morning.

In a phone interview with host Steve Doocy, Trump would not rule out an independent run should he not secure the Republican nomination.

From the AP:

In a phone interview with “Fox & Friends” host Steve Doocy, Trump made only passing reference to his brouhaha with the network, saying that they’d “always been friends.”

He also refused once again to rule out a third-party run.

“We’re going to keep the door open, we’re going to see what happens,” he said. “I want to run as a Republican, but I do want to keep that door open in case I don’t get treated fairly.”

Much of the love loss between Trump and Fox News stemmed from what Trump called “unfair” questions from Megyn Kelly during the debate last Thursday. That was followed by a comment from Trump on Sunday saying Kelly went after him with such vigor she had blood coming out of her “wherever” – which many interpreted as a reference to Kelly’s menstrual cycle.

Trump has demanded an apology from Kelly, but she stated last night on her show that no apology would be forthcoming from her:

“Trump, who is the front-runner, will not apologize. And I certainly will not apologize for doing good journalism. So I’ll continue doing my job without fear or favor. And Mr. Trump, I expect, will continue with what has been a successful campaign thus far.”

Donald Trump: The Other GOP Candidates Are In Trouble, But I’d Be Great President

In a lengthy soft-ball interview with Fox News’ Eric Bolling, Donald Trump takes the opportunity to repeat his details-free campaign speech.

Jeb Bush is terrible; Scott Walker is horrible, Wisconsin is in trouble; Chris Christie has New Jersey in trouble; Marco Rubio is bad on immigration…

All the while throwing out random “I’ll be a great president” statements.

Rolling asks Trump specifically HOW he plans to make Mexico pay for a huge wall between the U.S. and Mexico. After swinging wide and far over lots of points, he never answers exactly HOW he will make Mexico pay for “the wall.”

Fox News’ Elisabeth Hasselbeck: Sandra Bland Could Have Used Cigarette As A Weapon

I kid you not. Hasselbeck actually said this in all seriousness. This is not The Onion.

Speaking to former New York Police Department officer John Raffery, Fox News personality Elisabeth Hasselbeck suggested that the police officer caught on dash cam video asked Sandra Bland to exit her car because he was afraid Bland would wield her cigarette as a weapon.

Via Raw Story:

Rafferty said that Trooper Brian Encinia was placed on administrative duty by his department. They acknowledged that the officer stepped over the line in his violent arrest of Bland, who had merely changed lanes without using a signal.

“It appears, looking at this, because she didn’t put out the cigarette next thing he knows, he’s asking the person to step out of the vehicle,” Rafferty said about Encinia. “You can’t take it personal. It’s the job.”

“But, what if, I mean, there are times, I’m sure, someone has, in the history of this land, used a cigarette against a police officer,” said Hasselbeck, “maybe chucked it at him, pushed it at him.”

Video: “Fox News Is Not Real News”

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This elected official has an appropriate response to Fox News' chicanery…Posted by Media Matters for America on Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Fox News Hosts Almost Come To Blows Over Who Exploits “Misery” More

In-fighting is fun 🙂

From Mediaite:

As Fox’s The Five discussed Trump today, Jesse Watters credited Trump for his outspokenness and called President Obama a “skinny community organizer.” Geraldo Rivera scolded him for being “disrespectful” and things went downhill from there.

Rivera insisted Trump and others are making wrong conclusions about immigrants over Steinle’s death and shouted, “You’re exploiting the misery of that family!” Watters shot back, “You’re exploring it by downplaying it!”

Eric Bolling got into the mix and told Rivera he “exploits and sensationalizes everything.” This one really set Rivera off.

“You’re lucky that you’re my friend,” he said, “I’d knock you out right now. That’s absolute BS!… What do you do? Where do you get your stuff from?”

“You exploit people more!”

“No – YOU exploit people more!”

Delicious.