Bush to promote gay marriage amendment

[Phlegm]

From Associated Press:

WASHINGTON (AP) -- 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-Pennsylvania. He bid Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wisconsin, "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."

[Donnel]

Ugh...

While I am opposed to gay marriage a constitutional amendment is not the way to do it. Let the states decide.

[Gidan]

Regardless of my feelings on gay marriage, this is not something that belongs in the Constitution. I would be amazed and would lose alot of respect for our gov't if this actually passed.

[Agrajag]

While I am opposed to gay marriage a constitutional amendment is not the way to do it. Let the states decide.

Also, make a state law that lets you kill on sight anyone (gay or staright) that protests the decision.

[Gidan]

While I am opposed to gay marriage a constitutional amendment is not the way to do it. Let the states decide.

Also, make a state law that lets you kill on sight anyone (gay or staright) that protests the decision.

Is this just going to start all over again in this thread?

[Narrock]

[Donnel]

Constitutional amendments are bad mmkay?

[Narrock]

Yeah, except in this case.

[Gidan]

Religious issue dont belong in our gov't especially not in the constitution.

[Narrock]

I predict Bush's ratings to surge upwards again now.

[Gidan]

Well they cant go any other way

Thanks like saying a team that went 0 - 40 will do better next year

[araby]

Well they cant go any other way

Thanks like saying a team that went 0 - 40 will do better next year

hahaha! nice...actually it's so easy to already know that this won't be voted for, and it's a waste of time but we'll see. At least you get to see who votes which way, right?

[Narrock]

Why not? They could go down... it's possible, but not likely. I think Bush supporters are going to look at this and say, "It's about time he did something right again." Therefore, I predict that his approval ratings will surge upward for the next few weeks.

[araby]

Yes it is so easy to pick on the gay people while we let the illegal people sit on the back burner for a while. oh yah, they did send the national guard. It's a sure thing-focusing on another extreme...ratings will definitely go up. will be interesting to see.

[Gidan]

His ratings will go up from this because people just won’t see it as just another political move. I can’t imagine he actually expects it to go through. I bet he will see a lot of opposition where he expects it to fly past. Many people are against gay marriage, but amending the constitution with what amounts to religious doctrine isn't going to fly.

[Narrock]

Hillary Clinton said that the Constitution needs to be amended.

[Gidan]

Hillary Clinton is an idiot

If we insist on having gov't controle over marriage (bad in itself) it should be an issue for the states and not the constitution.

[Narrock]

Janet is going to vote for Hillary if she runs in '08.

[Donnel]

Non Sequitor from Senor Bozo.

[Narrock]

Non Sequitor from Senor Bozo.

But it was so appropriate at the time

[leah]

i don't believe that this is a matter that belongs in the constitution.

[Yamori]

It would be shameful to sully the constitution with such a trite issue.

[Darcler]

I dont think this belongs in the Constitution either. It's a "religious" matter and should be nowhere near.

I would never vote for a woman president. Even if she had all the same beliefs and stances I took. Women are so catty and quick to move, I'd rather keept Bush another couple years than have a woman up there.

[Snero]

I would never vote for a woman president. Even if she had all the same beliefs and stances I took. Women are so catty and quick to move, I'd rather keept Bush another couple years than have a woman up there.

wow, just wow...

[Darcler]

Just how I feel.