Bush Backs Amendment Banning Gay Marriage

[Chicklet]

In case you didn't read this yet:

President Bush will promote a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage on Monday, the eve of a scheduled Senate vote on the cause that is dear to his conservative backers.

The amendment would prohibit states from recognizing same-sex marriages. To become law, the proposal would need two-thirds support in the Senate and House, and then be ratified by at least 38 state legislatures.

It stands little chance of passing the 100-member Senate, where proponents are struggling to get even 50 votes. Several Republicans oppose the measure, and so far only one Democrat Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska says he will vote for it.

The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the amendment on May 18 along party lines after a shouting match between a Democrat and the chairman, Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa. He bid Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., "good riddance" after Feingold declared his opposition to the amendment and his intention to leave the meeting.

Bush aides said he would be making his remarks on the subject Monday.

A slim majority of Americans oppose gay marriage, according to a poll by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press from March. But the poll also showed attitudes are changing: 63 percent opposed gay marriage in February 2004.

Those poll results don't reflect how people might feel about amending the Constitution to ban gay marriage.

The Massachusetts Supreme Court decided to legalize such marriages in 2003. A year later, San Francisco issued thousands of marriage licenses to gay couples.

This November, initiatives banning same-sex marriages are expected to be on the ballot in Idaho, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin. In 2004, 13 states approved initiatives prohibiting gay marriage or civil unions, with 11 states casting votes on Election Day.

Bush benefited as religious conservatives turned out to vote and helped him defeat Democratic Sen. John Kerry in 2004. In Ohio, an initiative rejecting the legality of civil unions won handily. The same state tipped the election to Bush.

"The president firmly believes that marriage is an enduring and sacred institution between men and women and has supported measures to protect the sanctity of marriage," White House spokesman Ken Lisaius said.

Bush has lost support among conservatives who blame the White House and Congress for runaway government spending, illegal immigration and lack of action on social issues such as the gay marriage amendment.

Opponents of the amendment objected to Bush promoting a measure they said amounts to discrimination.

"This is fundamentally both a civil rights and religious freedom issue and the president's position of supporting amending the constitution is just dead wrong," said Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. "This is simply to give ammunition to the so-called religious right just to show that the president is still with them."

from ABC News

 

[cathou79]

do you really think that thing can pass on ?

here in canada, our new PM decided to revote the same sex marriage bill again... it's never finished

 

[Nostalgy_Prince]

do you really think that thing can pass on ?

here in canada, our new PM decided to revote the same sex marriage bill again... it's never finished

Instead of being a social issue, it's a political one ... it will only get worse, I'm afraid

 

[cathou79]

i guess that since this thing only affect a very little portion of the population, the governement find it easy to play with that to gain political approval from a side or the other. After all, for the average people it's only something that they approve or disapprove, but that dont affect them, and they forget that it could play with the feelings of real people...

 

[ezervet]

In my measured opinion,

doooouuuuuuuuuuuchebag. One of the few things i respected about bush (even as a republican myself) was his unwillingness to endorse this BS amendment.

Thank god I live in Massachusetts, and thank god this bill has no chance of passing. Not yet anyway. It'll never get the 3/4 to pass the senate or the house, or the state legislatures. I hate it that social conservatives use this kind of crap to rustle up votes from bigoted assholes.

Man, this was one cuss-filled post, eh?

 

[Nostalgy_Prince]

i guess that since this thing only affect a very little portion of the population, the governement find it easy to play with that to gain political approval from a side or the other. After all, for the average people it's only something that they approve or disapprove, but that dont affect them, and they forget that it could play with the feelings of real people...

I don't think the "average people" even consider the "others" are relevant ..

Oh hll I don't want to start on that, been up since 7AM yesterday (damn insomnia.. )

And ezervet? NAh.. it was very ..mesured

Goodnight all, try yo to get worked up

 

[madmanmike]

this is what i think it should be.


no marriage is banned between two consenting adults. regardless of color religion ethnicity or sexuality.

congress shall not pass a law requireing a church or religion to allow a same sex marriage. EVER. if you want to get married in a catholic church by a preist they cannot force the church to allow it.

allow domestic partnerships.

let each state decide on the issue. it should be a state by state issue anyway.

if a state does not allow gay marriage it does not have to recognize your marriage. it will only apply in states that have allowed it.

if a state decides to repeal the ammendment to its state constitution it does not void your marriage if it was done before being apealed.



i beleive these are fair rules.

 

[cherries_on_snow]

In my measured opinion,

doooouuuuuuuuuuuchebag. One of the few things i respected about bush (even as a republican myself) was his unwillingness to endorse this BS amendment.

Thank god I live in Massachusetts, and thank god this bill has no chance of passing. Not yet anyway. It'll never get the 3/4 to pass the senate or the house, or the state legislatures. I hate it that social conservatives use this kind of crap to rustle up votes from bigoted assholes.

Man, this was one cuss-filled post, eh?

Not just votes, campaign contributions. I remember being in class and a professor commenting that in the day that Jesse Helms fillibustered in an attempt to halt the creation of a Martin Luther King holiday, Helms set a record for the campaign contributions he had received.

I guess some bigots have thick wallets.

 

[kbate]

Thank god I live in Massachusetts, and thank god this bill has no chance of passing. Not yet anyway. It'll never get the 3/4 to pass the senate or the house, or the state legislatures.

Don't be too sure it won't pass the House and Senate. Even in consistently democratic strong holds - Michigan, Ohio, etc.. Gay Marriage has been stomped by ballot issue - it is one issue in which the 80% of the nation who think we are evil seem willing to band together and forget partisan politics.

If you haven't emailed your Senators, or written a letter - now is the time, don't bitch later if you didn't make sure your voice was heard in D.C. during the debate.

http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/

 

[hugo_sam]

........

 

[Nostalgy_Prince]

if a state does not allow gay marriage it does not have to recognize your marriage. it will only apply in states that have allowed it.

You have very valid and fair points madmanmike... only the one I quoted is troublesome for me. In the extreme, it would mean a form of segregation, as people of the same sex would not live in states not recognizing their parterships.

Then again, I'm a straight canuck guy

Don't be too sure it won't pass the House and Senate. Even in consistently democratic strong holds - Michigan, Ohio, etc.. Gay Marriage has been stomped by ballot issue - it is one issue in which the 80% of the nation who think we are evil seem willing to band together and forget partisan politics.

If you haven't emailed your Senators, or written a letter - now is the time, don't bitch later if you didn't make sure your voice was heard in D.C. during the debate.

http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/

kbate is right ... make sure your voice can be heard. GL

 

[PredatorSmile]

It's an election year ploy to win conservative votes !

 

[silverwhisper]

hey, have you guys seen this rebuttal? i think it'll make you smile--i know i did. :>

ed

 

[ezervet]

Don't be too sure it won't pass the House and Senate. Even in consistently democratic strong holds - Michigan, Ohio, etc.. Gay Marriage has been stomped by ballot issue - it is one issue in which the 80% of the nation who think we are evil seem willing to band together and forget partisan politics.

If you haven't emailed your Senators, or written a letter - now is the time, don't bitch later if you didn't make sure your voice was heard in D.C. during the debate.

http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/

There is, however a huge difference between not being for gay marriage (bigoted/ignorant) and being for a constitutional amendment banning it(proactively ultra-bigoted). The Dems have made it clear that they are for state-by-state decisions on the matter, and they still have more than enough senate seats to stop this. That said, it probably is smarter to be proactive about it now than wait ten years and (possibly) get caught with our proverbial pants down.

SilverWhisper - great link, thanks a lot.

 

[silverwhisper]

ezervet: always happy to spread the love. :>

ed

 

[Samandiriel]

"The president firmly believes that marriage is an enduring and sacred institution between men and women and has supported measures to protect the sanctity of marriage," White House spokesman Ken Lisaius said.

Isn't it nice that he is so concerned over whom you are allowed to fall in love with?

 

[Nirvanadragones]

"The president firmly believes that marriage is an enduring and sacred institution between men and women and has supported measures to protect the sanctity of marriage," White House spokesman Ken Lisaius said.

Isn't it nice that he is so concerned over whom you are allowed to fall in love with?

Have I told you that I am in love with you? Will you marry me please?

We'll show them what real meaning of the sanctity of marriage is...

 

[Samandiriel]

Have I told you that I am in love with you? Will you marry me please?

We'll show them what real meaning of the sanctity of marriage is...

Can we get married on the White House lawn?

 

[Nirvanadragones]

Can we get married on the White House lawn?

If you promise to kiss me F+3

 

[Samandiriel]

If you promise to kiss me F+3

Swear to God...oops, that was very religious of me....Swear to the Goddess...no wait, that's still religion......um.....Cross my heart. Forever and always.

 

[Nirvanadragones]

Swear to God...oops, that was very religious of me....Swear to the Goddess...no wait, that's still religion......um.....Cross my heart. Forever and always.

Will you take out the garbage and do the dishes? I dislike those very much. I'll do the laundry.

And we'll cook together.

And play golf.

Golf is good.

 

[Samandiriel]

Will you take out the garbage and do the dishes? I dislike those very much. I'll do the laundry.

And we'll cook together.

And play golf.

Golf is good.

sigh...okay, but only for you.

I want to go bowling too, lots of fingering there.

We'll need a rainbow flag for in front of the house.

 

[Nirvanadragones]

sigh...okay, but only for you.

I want to go bowling too, lots of fingering there.

We'll need a rainbow flag for in front of the house.

I see a rainbow shower curtain.

 

[Samandiriel]

I see a rainbow shower curtain.

I'm making pink triangle flagstones for in the garden. Then I'm going to wash and dry all our flannel shirts.

 

[Nirvanadragones]

I'm making pink triangle flagstones for in the garden. Then I'm going to wash and dry all our flannel shirts.

Ja... I need some more tank tops. And a haircut.