Congrats gays and lesbians who serve our country! It looks like Mary Fallin is also a flip-flopper.
Last week, while you were engaged in traditional gluttony and consumerism, Mary Fallin quietly decided that our state will comply with federal law and begin to process benefit requests for same-sex spouses of national guardsmen
Because it was sheepishly announced on Thanksgiving Eve, the decision received hardly any local media attention or coverage. In fact, I think the New York Times is the only place to cover it, and even they only gave it a small paragraph:
3 States End Resistance to Spousal Benefits OrderBy RICHARD A. OPPEL Jr.
November 27, 2013
Texas, Oklahoma and West Virginia are now complying with an order from Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel requiring state National Guard units to process federal marriage benefits for same-sex spouses of guardsmen, according to the Department of Defense. Mr. Hagel issued the order — which also extended benefits to same-sex spouses of military service members — after the Supreme Court struck down a law this summer that had prevented federal recognition of same-sex marriages. At one point, nine states had objected to Mr. Hagel’s order, citing conflicts with state laws that do not recognize gay marriages. As a result, same-sex National Guard spouses in those states could sign up for benefits only by traveling to a federal military installation. As of Wednesday, only Georgia, Mississippi and Louisiana were still defying Mr. Hagel’s order, said a spokesman for the National Guard Bureau in Washington.
First of all, that's cool. Yes, it's a shame that we had to get to point that this is actually news, but I'll take it.
There are a couple of subplots to this story. One is that Mary Fallin waited until Thanksgiving week to make the announcement. That means she either a) suddenly realized while watching a performance during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade that homosexuals are totally normal people or b) she does not want her Derplahoman base to learn that our state is complying with the law and no longer openly discriminating against service members based on who they like to have sex with. I'd put my money on B.
Also, I get the feeling that Mary Fallin is eyeing some sort of cabinet position or federal post in 2016 and trying to make herself look a little more mainstream. Chris Christie is in town today for a Fallin fundraiser, so it would make sense. Just check out a statement her office made regarding his visit:
“Governor Fallin is focused on Oklahoma and is not pursuing any other office,” Alex Weintz, a spokesman for Fallin, said when asked about the possibility.
Knowing how strong her word is, I guess we can consider her good as gone. That works for me.
