Facing a threat that could have resulted in the extermination of her Jewish people, Queen Esther received a challenge to stand firm from her cousin Mordecai: “who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” Those inspiring words find new meaning today as the fate of the Indiana Marriage Amendment continues to hang in the balance and very much in the hands of Representative Ron Herrell. As yet he has been unwilling to challenge the leaders of his Democratic Party by publicly demanding they allow the Indiana Marriage Amendment to come to the floor for a vote.
What we are seeing in Indianapolis is the height of arrogance exhibited by the leadership of the Democratic Party. Despite the fact that the marriage amendment passed the previous Statehouse with over 75% approval, despite the fact that it has bipartisan support in the current Statehouse, and despite the fact that over 80% of Hoosiers are in favor of it, Democratic Rules Chairman Pelath (with the support of Democratic Speaker Pat Bauer) has refused to allow it to come to a vote. Why? The answer is too simple to need explanation: because it would pass…overwhelmingly.
In other words, one or two Democrat lawmakers are single-handedly thwarting the will of the people of Indiana and refusing them the opportunity to amend their Constitution. What arrogance. After all, it is not the Indiana Democratic Party’s Constitution. It is not Representative Pelath’s Constitution. It’s the people’s Constitution, and if they wish to amend it, they should have that right—whether Pelath or Bauer like it or not.
When I challenged Representative Herrell to publicly call for an end to that arrogance, Herrell amazingly came to the defense of both Bauer and Pelath stating, “I do not feel they are being arrogant, they just have a different opinion than I do.” No one is demanding they not have an opinion, Mr. Herrell. It is more than appropriate for them to share their opinion by voting “No” on the amendment while you vote “Yes.” What is not appropriate is for them to prevent a vote altogether.
That this reality escapes Herrell is maddening since one of his major campaign issues was how the Republican Party prevented the people from getting a voice in the Daylight Savings Time decision. Herrell was indignant that the people had not been allowed to vote and sought to reopen the issue to allow a public referendum. And yet now, he seems all to willing to allow the people’s voice to be silenced by power hungry politicians paying off political favors to the homosexual lobby. Is this passivity indicative of a man who truly supports traditional marriage?
Herrell has boasted that he signed the House petition that supported the amendment. But ultimately he knows that petition is meaningless if his leaders don’t call for a vote. The truth is that Herrell bears more responsibility for the outcome of this amendment than he may be willing to acknowledge. Had Herrell lost to Representative John Smith in 2006, the Republican Party would have controlled the legislature and the Indiana Marriage Amendment would not have been obstructed as it is now. It would have passed by a wide margin and the people of Indiana would be voting on it this November. Instead, Ron Herrell won and consequently we get the arrogance and foolishness of Pat Bauer and his anti-traditional marriage cronies.
If Ron Herrell does not count himself among their number, he has no choice: he must publicly call for an end to the political games being employed by Democrats and demand his Party leadership allow a vote. If he fails to publicly make such a demand he has proven one of two things. One, he never truly supported the amendment despite his assurances to the contrary. Or two, he is a political coward unable to stand up to his Party leaders for the convictions he claims to hold. Either of those conclusions speaks poorly of his leadership, and citizens of Howard County would do well to remember it come November.
After Mordecai’s words, Queen Esther chose to risk her own life by standing for truth and right. Here’s hoping Ron Herrell will have the courage of Queen Esther, even if it means risking his political position for what he too knows to be right. Who knows, Mr. Herrell, but that you have come to this position for such a time as this?
Peter W. Heck 
