Bush Says He Could Back Gay Marriage Ban

[Snellius]

WASHINGTON - President Bush (news - web sites) said Tuesday that he could support a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.

The Massachusetts Supreme Court last month struck down that state's ban on same-sex marriage, saying it is unconstitutional and giving state lawmakers six months to craft a way for gay couples to wed.

Bush has condemned the ruling before, citing his support for a federal definition of marriage as a solely man-woman union. On Tuesday, he criticized it as "a very activist court in making the decision it made."

"The court, I thought, overreached its bounds as a court," Bush said. It did the job (news - web sites) of the Legislature."
...
Bush said he believes his view on the topic does not make him intolerant.

"I do believe in the sanctity of marriage ... but I don't see that as conflict with being a tolerant person or an understanding person," he said

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=544&u=/ap/20031217/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_interview_2&printer=1

[Racenut20]

1. Here we go !!!! Rove's number one diversion issue from what is important.

[saigon68]

26. MORE HATEFUL RHETORIC FROM THE WAR CRIMINAL

This issue is devisive and generally better left to the states.

It is designed to appeal to the purient interests of various rednecks, homophobes and religious whackjobs. These are the Sheep people who voted for the CHIMPANZEE, love the CHIMPANZEE and will always genuflect at the foot of the CHIMPANZEE.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

2. So could a lot of Democrats on this site if they think it will help them

win. We are no longer the party of EQUAL RIGHTS...we are the TRY NOT TO LOSE party and wonder why we can't out repub republicans.


It would be SO EASY to rip this off from under them and remind people we are FOR EQUAL TREATMENT UNDER THE LAW for everybody and FOR civil rights...but NO...let's let the diversionary tactic work.

[Liberal Veteran]

5. Thank you. I love being told that I deserve less than equal rights...

...by my fellow democrats.

You hit the nail on the head pointing out how hypocritical some of our people can be when comes.

[kainah]

6. Are you having a bad day, nsma?

You sound a little more frazzled than normal. Just thought I'd offer you a :toast: to hopefully improve your day. ;-)

I say bring this fight on. And, yes, let's speak out boldly about it! Confront the average, nonpartisan with this and their reaction will be: "I've got no job, no health insurance, my older kid's in Iraq, my younger kid's getting a ripped-off learn-the-test education, the local park is falling apart, my local taxes are going up while you gave me $600 & you want me to spend my energy discriminating against my gay neighbors?" :eyes: :eyes: :eyes:

[Sapphocrat]

13. Well put, NSMA...

I promise to credit you every time I repeat that pithy epithet: The Try-Not-to-Lose Party.

(And I promise to keep deflecting accusations that us dang homos are creating a "wedge issue." I'm bloody sick of our being made scapegoats, by both sides of the aisle.)

[TankLV]

17. Thank you for being so eloquent.

Simply and beautifully said.

How long before those amongst us will tell us to "shut up and sit at the back of the bus" "for the good of the party" or some such crap?

[Voltaire99]

20. Sad to say, but you're right

It's not merely that many Democratic politicians are like their Republican counterparts....

Of late I wonder if Gaius Publius, who penned that bitter yet unforgettable CounterPunch essay last summer about the soul of the American voter, will be proven right:

http://www.counterpunch.org/publius07152003.html

[soothsayer]

3. i could back a ban on *

in fact, I do!

[The Zanti Regent]

7. but what if *'s DAUGHTERS come OUT OF THE CLOSET???????

Hmmmmmmmmmm Daddy * got BIG PROBLEM!

[kainah]

8. Cheney's daughter IS out of the closet

He has a very good record on gay rights, considering this is still Dick Cheney we're discussing. He won't want this to be part of the debate.

[Paschall]

11. Cheny has a good record on gay rights? Really?

Gotta link? AFAIK, he and Lynne have made no public statements about Mary since the sElection--except to say their daughter's life is private. Hardly a daring stance in today's America.

[shanti]

14. so, why doesn't chimpy

address MARY CHENEY????? somebody should force him to confront this! ask him what he would say if MARY CHENEY wanted to "marry" her partner!

[snippy]

25. You are right that somebody should force him to confront this.

This causes lots of problems for Bush with the republican base. If the Reich wing fundamentalists thought Bush was showing tolerance they would turn on him with a venomous hatred. They would not vote for a democrat, but some of them would stay home.

[bhairava]

15. And still in denial sometimes

I saw Lynne Cheney on CNN a few years ago and she denied her daughter was a lesbian. This despite being photographed sitting with her and her partner only 2 weeks before! Dick Cheney was vehemently anti-gay and anti-civil rights period. He also was in favor of banning gays from the military altogether. The telling fact of even Democrats not mentioning this shameful and frankly racist aspect of his Congressional voting record (even during the 2000 campaign) reveals where this party really is now.

[SlavesandBulldozers]

4. funny thing

W preaches unity, but is divisive in every instance imaginable. He may be the most perfect conservative ever conceived, a competitor waging war at every turn.

[salinen]

9. Bible fornicates with government

It's everywhere. Marriage, stem cell, sodomy, faith based, good vs. evil, god wouldn't allow global warming, christianity vs. Islam garbage. Church + state = totalitarianism

[Voltaire99]

19. "Unity" isn't "inclusiveness"

W and the US right wing mean submission when they use the word "unity" -- social, cultural, economic, legal, political and religious submission.

If you're willing to shed your values for the goal of total conformity, then, why, yes, you can be part of this brave new "unity." Bring your flag, Bible, gun and heterosexual Christian mores, and you're in. Instant unity!

Norman Mailer's thoughts on this from an interview last year (with conservatives, no less) are worth reading:

http://www.amconmag.com/12_2/mailer.html

[Democat]

10. Less government, more state rights

Unless it's something Republicans don't like.

[Paschall]

12. What will the Log Cabin Republicans do?

Oh my!

November 26, 2003
(Washington) Log Cabin Republicans denounce the introduction of the Federal Marriage Amendment in the United States Senate on Tuesday. ...

"The Constitution is a masterpiece of liberty and freedom. Corrupting this precious document to score cheap political points is frankly obscene. Writing discrimination into the Constitution is an affront to everything our founding fathers stood for," continued {Log Cabin Republican executive director Patrick} Guerriero. ... The American public wants our elected representatives to work with President Bush to win the war on terror, not to wage a culture war..." said Guerriero.

http://www.lcr.org/press/20031126.asp

[donco6]

16. You don't suppose they'll finally wake up . . .

. . . and realize no one really wants them around anyway.

That the Repugs will gladly take their money and do whatever they want with it.

That the Repugs will provide lip service to secure that shoe leather when it comes time to walking precincts, but nothing will ever come of it.

That despite the fact that the Repugs will occasionally meet with you, it will never be a public meeting, and you will never secure any real benefit from your association with them.

That the Repugs will NEVER allow them to distribute literature at their OWN CONVENTION.

That the Repugs have no intention of EVER supporting positive gay legislation.

. . . uh, NAH. They're still blind.

[Sapphocrat]

18. I know what I WISH they would do...

...but that kind of language isn't allowed anywhere on DU.

The LCRs are hopeless. Perhaps, when Bushonomics finally takes its toll on their livelihoods, they will be left with no excuse to lick the boots of their masters.

Log Cabin Republicans: Proof that gay people can be morans too.

[dusty64]

21. I hope the 1-2 MILLION

gay people who voted for this moron look at the facts and reconsider. Regardless of their possible self motivations for voting rightwing, no one ought to support being demonized and thats exactly what is going on here. Wake up!

[arwalden]

22. If This Is Sooooo Important To Him... Why Not Start By BANNING DIVORCE?

That would be the #1 solution to "preserving the sanctity of marriage". Eh?

I've never despised a single human being (and I use that term loosely) more that I despise George Dubya Bush. He is vile and loathsome.

-- Allen

[Lars39]

23. He's catering to his base to get the votes for re-selection.

Gotta throw the fundies a bone every once in a while, but since support was waning, got to throw them a very big bone this time.
And make no mistake, this will reafirm to the fundies that he is god's chosen one.

Slightly OT, but here's an example of how their minds work: Had a conversation this past weekend with my fundy missionary SIL about hermaphrodites. She had never heard the term, didn't know what it meant, called them "freaks of nature", said that God didn't make mistakes(you could see her head about to explode with cognitive dissonance, trying to reconcile the info)....just refused to acknowledge that it ever occurs. My MIL said, "they choose to be that way". And we were talking about hermaphrodites!!! :wow: So basically anyone that isn't a clear cut straight man or woman is a "freak of nature" to them. I can feel my IQ drop anytime I am within distance of the fundy family members. :(

[0007]

24. Does junior have a plan that will make very man & women happy?

junior's plan for peace was a gasser, 'eh?