This is what Kathleen Kane has wrought.
A couple of weeks ago, the aspiring Democratic political star decided to make a stand on the contentious issue of gay marriage.
Standing before an adoring crowd at the Constitution Center, she decided to raise a little Kane, announcing she would not defend the state's gay marriage ban in a legal challenge from the ACLU.
Kane deemed the law 'wholly unconstitutional' and morally indefensible.
Which is fine and dandy for Citizen Kane. But it's a problem for Attorney General Kane. The first woman elected to the post apparently is of the belief that she can pick and choose which laws she will enforce.
That flies in the face of the traditional separation of powers. To review, the attorney general's job is to enforce the laws, not interpret them. That's why we have judges. Our esteemed Legislature actually writes them, as they did the same-sex marriage ban.
Those who disagree with the ban (which by the way includes this newspaper editor) should take that path in changing them. Pressure legislators to reverse the ban. I believe Sen. Daylin Leach, D-17, of the Main Line is working to do just that.
Instead, Kane did an end-around, deciding apparently to let her own personal beliefs be judge and jury in deciding to bail on enforcing the law.
Now others are following her lead.
Yesterday the Montgomery County Register of Wills started issuing marriage licenses to gay couples. The line formed early. Five couples got licenses, including a Pottstown couple who decided to marry right away. I wish them the best.
But I wish the Montco official had not done what he did. Pennsylvania law does not recognize gay marriage. That's something else I believe needs to be changed. But the fact is that it has not been changed, it still recognizes marriage in this state as a civil contract between a man and a woman.
Of course there is a flavor of politics hanging over this whole issue.
Kane is a Democrat. Montgomery County is increasingly leaning Democratic. Register of Wills D. Bruce Hanes is a Democrat. Stuck in the middle now is Gov. Tom Corbett, who opposes same-sex marriage.
Yesterday a Corbett spokesman remiinded Kane of her duty, that office holds are "constitutionally required to administer and enforce the laws." That would include the attorney general, although you wouldn't think she would have to be reminded of that.
Yesterday Hanes said he wanted to come down "on the right side of history and the law."
History is still to be decided. But there's no question he's on the wrong side of the law.
Until the law is changed, the licenses he issued yesterday are invalid.
I guess that doesn't really matter any more.
And that is what Kathleen Kane has wrought.
Kane Mutiny, indeed.
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