Bush Plans $1.5 Billion Drive for Promotion of Marriage

[kskiska]

WASHINGTON, Jan. 13 — Administration officials say they are planning an extensive election-year initiative to promote marriage, especially among low-income couples, and they are weighing whether President Bush should promote the plan next week in his State of the Union address.

For months, administration officials have worked with conservative groups on the proposal, which would provide at least $1.5 billion for training to help couples develop interpersonal skills that sustain "healthy marriages."

The officials said they believed that the measure was especially timely because they were facing pressure from conservatives eager to see the federal government defend traditional marriage, after a decision by the highest court in Massachusetts. The court ruled in November that gay couples had a right to marry under the state's Constitution.

"This is a way for the president to address the concerns of conservatives and to solidify his conservative base," a presidential adviser said.

more…
http://nytimes.com/2004/01/14/politics/campaigns/14MARR.html?hp

[Lefta Dissenter]

1. This makes me sick

How bout spending some of that money on... oh, silly stuff like programs for inner city kids, education, health care, combating AIDS... KEEP YOUR IDEA OF MORALITY OUT OF MY FRICKIN LIFE!!!! I've managed to stay married for almost 25 years without the help of the Right Wing, thank you very much...

[Occulus]

30. Be ready.

Their next step will be state, and later, Federal laws relegating homosexuality to an illegal status.

Think not? Wait.

Just wait. If you think not- if you think I'm speaking 'tinfoil'.... you haven't been paying attention.

Their next step is declaring homosexuality illegal and all homosexuals anti patriotic, rendering us enemy combatants under the PATRIOT Act and thus non citizens.

In the end, homosexuals will be jailed and executed under this administration.

Did you think I was lying when I said innocents would be herded into a "first amendment zone" when they wanted to protest?

Who thought I/we were lying when we said this would happen?

Who?

Are you a patriot? You are a fucking i]traitor if you support First Amendment Zones.

Yes. I see people who support the First Amendment Zones as goddamn, motherfucking, cock sucking, asshole traitors who deserve to be HANGED for their crime against their country.

If you support the First Amendment Zones, you are a motherfucking traitor, and I for one am unapologetic. If you support First Amendment Zones, you deserve to be executed for treason.

FAZ's are NOT what this country is about, PERIOD. ANYONE who supports these 'zones' is a traitor who should be executed under those statutes.

Discuss. This is a serious issue. NONE of us should support this, in ANY incarnation. I've seen some threads on this issue.

This thread is dedicated to a declaration by the people that we WILL NOT be herded into 'zone' where we can express our views.

We are AMERICANS- we have the implicit and EXPLICIT *right* to say what we want to say, when we want to say it, where we want to say it, and barring physical injury to others, HOW we want to say it.

It's time we started- en masse- defying the fucking authorities.

It's time we started saying 'no' to police. FORCE them to jail 3000 people, all at once. FORCE them to book us. FORCE them into the paperwork, which by law they must do.

INUNDATE the police forces in the cities we protest in with one charge after another, after another, after another. Sickly suck their cities into dealing with thousands upon thousands of individual police brutality cases, whether brutality was incurred or not. Make their jobs and lives sheer HELL to deal with. Make us their worst fucking nightmare.

What would a local police department do with 300 disorderly conduct charges?

What about 3000?

What about 30,000?

What about 300,000?

Let's intentionally bankrupt every single police department that tries to suppress us. Let's make it fucking CLEAR to them that messing with the rights of the people is a bad, bad idea.

Let's inundate our police forces with useless charges, misdemeanors and such, that will not affect us in the long term.

Learn what the difference is between a misdemeanor and a felony. Learn that line well, and intentionally toe it. Clog the system so badly that justice cannot exist. Make the judges know, by private, postal mail, that this is our goal.

Threaten their jobs and their pensions via lawsuits, using any and all grounds we may have at our disposal. Sue individual judges and support impeachment of others.

Threaten judges personally with legal ramifications. Threaten them with civil suits which could strip them of their homes, their pensions, their retirements, their children's' college funds, and their very way of life. MAKE THEM PAY FOR THEIR DECISIONS.

These people deserve what they get, and if I'm not wrong, their decisions will soon get them plenty.

Also, from what I know/ have heard...... by the time it all becomes relevant, our Constitution will cease to exist.

[Gman]

32. Preach, brother preach!

Amen!

[Name removed]

33. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[MaineDem]

40. Whoa...

So single-parent kids are going to do drugs? Give me a break!

And children of unmarried parents (of either gender) are going to turn out bad? Oh please!

Keep spinning your right wing agenda but don't expect a warm reception for it here.

But welcome to DU just the same.

[Lefta Dissenter]

51. Welcome to DU

I have a sister who was married to a right-winger. By the time he was done demeaning her, beating her, and making her sleep outside if he was mad at her, there was little left of her self-esteem. This man was attending seminary at the time, by the way.

No, I don't want my government choosing who will be counseling couples. I don't think any more couples should be taught that the man is the 'head of the household no matter what.'

You said: But we've made it too easy, with sometimes even the smallest thing being enough to end the marriage. And if there are children involved, they will end up suffering. And not always, but usually, the child will have emotional problems that lead to drugs, crime, homosexuality, deviancy; or they'll just be a miserable person.

I'd be interested in seeing some evidence of your claim that divorce of the parents somehow can lead to homosexuality (???!?)

I think that couples should seek advice from those whom they choose, respect and admire. As I said, I don't want the government to be forcing their right wing agenda on me, my friends or my family. We can think for ourselves, thank you very much.

[Bridget Burke]

52. I would have preferred to have a father.....

Actually, I did. My parents had been legally married--for more than 9 months--when I was born. I'm one of those pampered "Boomers"--my parents met during the war. He was called back to active duty when I was 6 weeks old; four years later, my mother was a widow with three children. Hey, we got a flag out of the deal.

How many children will grow up without a parent because of the wars this idiot has started?

Sorry, I want my tax money going to health, education, and all those other bleeding-heart social programs.

Who's going to be in charge of the Deparment of Marriage? Poor Laura? ("Just stay drugged so you can ignore the idiot you married.") or maybe brother Neil?

[ursacorwin]

60. i'm not going to f*cking take that lying down!

just what do you mean "emotional problems that lead to...homosexuality, deviancy?"

news flash loser: we're approved now. by your very own beloved rethug controlled gov't. so go eat sh*t and die, ok? because whatever else you may "think" i'm not emotionally disturbed and i'm sick and tired of hearing that crap from idiots like you.

[BiggJawn]

64. Dude, can it with the Phillis Schlafly bullcrap, OK?

I'm a single parent, I raised my daughter from the time she was 12 years old. She's not a druggy, doesn't drink, and I'M NOT A GRANDFATHER.

BTW, that RW crap about being raised by a single parent causing emotional problems that "lead to" (GASP!) "Homosexuality" just earned an "Alert" cap getting busted on your ass.

[BiggJawn]

65. Wow! "Stoned" on the FIRST POST!

Thanks, Mods!

[lcordero]

2. another waste of money

[The Zanti Regent]

43. Gee, how much of that 1.5 billion would go to Brittney?

Now there's someone who NEEDS "Counseling"...

[tridim]

3. Primal scream time

I hate to admit this but I'm just about ready to give up.

[Eric J in MN]

4. I'm not against subsidies for marital counselling per se, but shouldn't

I'm not against subsidies for marital counselling per se, but shouldn't they start out with an inexpensive pilot program, before spending...

$1.5 billion?

[truth2power]

5. And no money for health care....

This country is run by people with the cognitive ability of five year olds.

[hlthe2b]

6. So what, single people are trash now?

Der Fuehrer has spoken. Quick, find thee a mate....:eyes:

[leesa]

7. More Fundie brainwashing. What a waste of money.

[cally]

8. And the reason for this--

"This is a way for the president to address the concerns of conservatives and to solidify his conservative base,"


:puke:

I'm not completely opposed to offering marriage and family counseling to all but creating a program of this magnitude for political purposes is obscene. This administration just throws money around like they have a never ending supply. Time for the party of fiscal discipline to takeover.

[Occulus]

19. WOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOW

That is exactly the truthful meme we need to propogate.

"It's time for the party of fiscal discipline to take over."

The rethug/sheeple question: "When did the Republican party stop being the party of fiscal discipline?

ANSWER: When the Republicans got in charge of the whole of Congress. Dems are the party of fiscal discipline.

[gate of the sun]

9. disgusting

waste of money and a ridiculous election platform....I can't believe this crap....I could start ranting..but alas we all know how lame this is.

[Demonaut]

10. And 5 billion for divorces

or more......................................we need to divorce ourselves of bush

[rocktivity]

11. It's easier to stay married if you don't have to worry about

• low wages
  
• unemployment
  
• underemployment
  
• health care
  
• indequate housing
  
• an indequate educational system
  
• discrimination (race/sexual preference/job/housing)
  
• domestic/abuse violence
  
• child care
  
• job security
  
• career advancement

Invest the $1.5 billion in solving the above problems, and Americans will definitely have more time to devote to being devoted!


rocknation

[burrowowl]

29. Right ON! eom

[MaineDem]

41. Absolutely!

This idea makes me ill. This is just way beyond belief!

[oldcoot]

63. Debt

Your list is a very good list and I would only add one thing: debt. I think that using the $1.5 billion to help Americans get out of debt might also help stabilize marriages.

[Sparky McGruff]

12. Britney Spears promoted marriage for free!

Give her a few drinks, and she'll do it again! Won't cost the taxpayers a dime!

[TrogL]

13. billion? BILLION????

I could see 1.5 million, print up a few pamphlets that say "wait until marriage" and leave them in a coupla homeless shelters, but 1.5 BILLION???

Of course, it makes perfect sense. He's gonna give it to fundy churches so they can put the public schools out of business.

[Scurrilous]

14. The official spokesman.....

...for the Promotion of Marriage initiative should be Presidential brother Neil Bush. He had a healthy marriage. Until the hookers showed up at his hotel room door and inflamed things.

[bluedeminredstate]

15. Liars!!!

"Administration officials say they are planning an extensive election-year initiative to promote marriage, especially among low-income couples, and they are weighing whether President Bush should promote the plan next week in his State of the Union address."

How many rich GOP couples can you think of that can't stay married? Anyone want to start a list? I'll start: Neil Bush, Joe Scarborough and Tim Hutchinson...

For months, administration officials have worked with conservative groups on the proposal, which would provide at least $1.5 billion for training to help couples develop interpersonal skills that sustain 'healthy marriages.'"

Wonder if El Chimpo and his policy directors on this wasteful nonsense would consider Poppy and Bar's marriage "healthy," considering he carried on an affair with Jennifer Fitzgerald for years and years (I have good scoop from a family member who worked in Poppy's WH and traveled with him, so I don't doubt that it happened). P'raps Poppy and Bar can be one of the couples to benefit from this training.

"The officials said they believed that the measure was especially timely because they were facing pressure from conservatives eager to see the federal government defend traditional marriage, after a decision by the highest court in Massachusetts. The court ruled in November that gay couples had a right to marry under the state's Constitution."

How is this "defending" "traditional marriage?" And this from the folks who hate social programs. Actually, they hate Gays and Lesbians even more which is what this is all about...

[shanti]

59. yes!

it's a class war, folks!

[Lorien]

16. Key phrase here:

"For months, administration officials have worked with conservative groups on the proposal, which would provide at least $1.5 billion for training to help couples develop interpersonal skills that sustain "healthy marriages."

no doubt those "interpersonal skills" will be of the Southern Baptist Promise Keepers variety, where women answer to their husbands and their husbands answer to the Church. It's all about power and money, as ever.

[Beaker]

17. unless you're gay.

It's sick...that's all there is to it.

what's really funny, and one of my favourite "stats" is the one that shows the so-called bible-belt states as also being the ones with the highest divorce rates.

but it's the gosh-durn queers what's gonna make a mockery out of marriage, not a mixed-up kid like brittany spears

[Triana]

18. forcing the poor into marriage...

...oh GRAND idea. What a friggin waste of $$!! This is what poor people get in the US - the gov't's nose up their butts and forced into bad marriages - on top of being poor.

Just like george. Take what is already a problem and make it WORSE. It's all he ever does. And, waste billions of taxpayer dollars on it while he's at it.

The gov't has NO business 'legislating' or 'promoting' marriage for anyone! Whatta load of crap.

[trapper914]

68. Can't help but think of...

...the scene in "Roger and Me" where the eviction sheriff questions why a poor woman would move in with a poor man...you just get two poor people together.

[unbrand]

20. The legislation of morality

Goddamnit. These fuckers are using our money and our system of government to legislate morality. The only thing I can think of as to why is that these Republi-freaks have no choice but to move even further in the direction of brainwashing the masses.

They're backed into a corner and are lashing out like a trapped rat with no hair and one leg.

(edited for grammar mistakes made while pissed off)

[alarimer]

44. big government

I thought this was the party that was supposed to be against big government. But they sure like to stick their noses into everyone's private business.

[Occulus]

21. WOWOWOWOWOW

That is exactly the truthful meme we need to propogate.

"It's time for the party of fiscal discipline to take over."

The rethug/sheeple question: "When did the republican Congress stop being the party of fiscal discipline?

ANSWER: When the Republicans got in charge. Dems are the party of fiscal discipline.

Republicans borrow against their kids.

[gauguin57]

24. ok, fine

OK, so couples get marriage-incentive money.

As a single person with no significant other in my life at this time, I want equal treatment from the government. I DEMAND vouchers ... for online dating services, cover charges & drinks at singles bars, maybe a salon/spa day, a shopping spree at Victoria's Secret, and a nice retail gift card for a new wardrobe to attract me a MAN ... so I can be married like all good 'muricans should be.

This takes the cake, you worthless sack-of-poop Bush administration. You have truly lost your friggin' minds.

[Virginian]

28. You go girl!!!!

Doesn't Bush know that some people want to fall in love before getting married? It isn't just about financial incentives.

Makes me wonder why he made the commitment if he isn't factoring love into it.

[jamesinca]

22. It is also part of his budget for '05

He will be taking the money from the HHS dept and putting it into marriage counseling. This is part of the faith based initiative drive that he is behind. Those that are not church going will not see this opportunity unless they start to go to church. Those that are already church going will be excited because it will put more money into their particular church. The federal government is now funding religion. Here comes the tin foil hat, there is currently a bill in the Texas state legislator, so I have been told, that states a church will lose its tax status unless they recognize Jesus Christ as God. There goes the Buddhist. Hold on people it is about to get bumpy, one more appointment to the supreme court, and appeals to overturn the TX bill should it become law will not be overturned.

[Norquist Nemesis]

27. Are you serious about TX?

there is currently a bill in the Texas state legislator, so I have been told, that states a church will lose its tax status unless they recognize Jesus Christ as God.
Are you serious??? Can you verify this?

[Khephra]

23. I could see this working for me

Give me a million dollars. I'm sure I'll find someone who will marry me then. That's what I call supporting marriage!

(Hey Britney? You doing anything this weekend?)

:evilgrin:

[Th1onein]

25. This is EXACTLY what I'm talking about: AGENDA SETTING

Yep, folks! Step right up. This is a topic that truly concerns the Uhmerican people today! Oh yeah, buddy boys! Now if this don't get yore minds off them damn coffens comin' back from Iraqi, then we got us a whole list o' thangs that might work. Like prayer in them thare schools, or how 'bout we go back to that flag burnin' thang? (Psssst! What you call them thangs, Dick? WEDGE issues?)

[gauguin57]

26. freepers criticize bush

You've just got to read some of the negative (and very funny) things the freepers are saying about BUSH (and RIDGE) on this topic!!!
Most of them don't like this waste of money any more than we do!

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1057433/posts

[jamesinca]

31. I read the comments

Can you actually believe what they are saying. Some of the post are actually calling for social programs like parent education and such. I bet most of those people don't even realize they are talking the Democratic party message. I think that the word "liberal" has been stigmatized so much by talk radio that they are afraid to admit that they are liberals. They are critical of Bush for spending to much of their money, they say he is acting like a liberal. I guess that they never looked at the fact that this country does better economically under a Dem then a Repug. I guess that they just don't understand that social programs like marriage counseling and such are done with tax dollars and a healthy country. They are all liberals, they just don't know it.

[emad]

34. Typical bigamists' flamebait

Hope it haunts him all the way to the gates of hell....

[Dogmudgeon]

35. Hey, maybe Shrub can get me a date

Just a thought.

--bkl

[SoCalDem]

36. For folks who preach "personal responsibility", they are sure

interested in the private goings on in our families, aren't they?? I wonder if they have ever thought about the fact that a lot of family strife is caused by >>>P O V E R T Y >>>..

Perhaps if families could count on adequate healthcare for their families, a decent wage,affordable child care, good schools for their kids, food on their table, and an affordable place to live, they might not be so stressed, and maybe they would have happier families..

The fundy guys who love to screw around on their families, will not benefit much from marriage counselling, since they look at this as their divine right, so why waste MY TAX DOLLARS for counselling on the likes of them..??

These freaks are so into control, I wonder how they have time to hang out with their own families.. They seem so preoccupied with keeping those sinful gay people in line, and checking for lipstick on every collar, snooping on teenagers to make sure they are not out there fornicatin' and abortin'..

They could start a little closer to home.. There's VD in the Bush family, courtesy of his brother.. home wrecking too.. Bill Bennett never met a slot machine he didn't want to fondle & drool over.. Newtie can't keep his hands off his staffers, and is on wife #3 (or is it 4)... Livingston sinned himself into oblivion..Youthful indiscretions abound among the 40yr+ gang in DC (the ones on the R side)..

The rest of us are muddling through just fine without the "sin police" checking up on us :)

[arwalden]

37. Never Mind That She Was Raped By Her Boyfriend... MARRY THE BASTARD

It's not important that she's likely to be BEATEN every day for the rest of her short life... MARRY THE ABUSER!!!

She and her child must have a "father" in order for their lives to be "complete" and "wholesome". Otherwise, the child is just a bastard and she's a "bad-mother", right?

WHAT NONSENSE! If the results of such misguided policies weren't so tragic, it would be laughable.

-- Allen

[Q]

38. Using our tax bucks for social engineering?

- This stinks of class warfare and bigotry. Should the government be in the business of promoting 'interpersonal skills'? And what makes the Bushies think that 'low-income couples' have less of these skills than high-income couples?

[lostnfound]

39. A way to reinforce Republicanism, by the way..

Single women with kids vote Democrat, married women are more likely to vote Republican. (Under the sway of manipulative and emotionally-abusive spouses, perhaps?)

Obviously there's a difference in economic perspectives driving it, too..but I know plenty of otherwise-sane women who cuddle up to their Bush-worshipping husbands.

[Ganja Ninja]

42. What a load of crap.

"This is a way for the president to address the concerns of conservatives and to solidify his conservative base,"

They forgot to mention "at tax payers expense." These assholes can always find money for pandering to their political base. To bad they can't find the money for providing proper medical care for America's vets.

[Ilsa]

45. Promotion of this sort needs to be out of the pockets

of private citizens, a voluntary activity. I see no reason for the govt to use my tax dollars out of my healthy marriage to promote their agenda, especially when kids are going without healthcare, etc

[Le Taz Hot]

46. B-B-B-BILLION???????

Sorry for the caps. I'm just stunned, though I shouldn't be.

[havocmom]

47. this is a $1.5 Billion campaign 'contribution' we all make to the shrub

and I am pissed as hell about it. Forcing municipal governments to pick up the tab for extra security when Chicken Dick comes to pick up cash is bad enough for forced contributions to the campaign. Letting them travel on the public dime for their trips is annoying as hell, but this is just plain, outright thievery, which is totally in keeping with the theme of the maladministration. We should make a huge ruckus about it.

I do not plan to live peacefully in a theocracy.

[CivilRightsNow]

48. Think about who is pulling the strings. Wake up America.

The Heritage Fundation suggested that Bush open up a “Office of Marriage Initiatives” to promote marriage, but instead Bush folded HF’s “pro-marriage” proposals into his welfare reform package, setting aside $300 million dollars for states and local communities to “promote marriage.”

http://www.heritage.org/Research/Features/Marriage/index.cfm
http://www.heritage.org/Research/Family/familybriefingroom.cfm

Just like the Priorities for the President that they wrote for Bush, just like the "bible" that Reagan used, enacting 60-65% of the policy measures suggested by HF:
http://www.heritage.org/research/features/mandate/priorities.CFM

And Mandate for Leadership
http://www.heritage.org/Research/Features/Mandate/index.cfm

And even Budget
http://www.heritage.org/Research/Features/Mandate/budget.cfm

.... The Heritage Foundation is the one carrying this ball. Bush hasnt had an original idea in decades.

So, let's bring that real world cost up to 1.8 billion dollars, not to mention the hundreds of millions that Heritage has used to spin this from the grants it gets from our govt, and thus, us.

[smirkymonkey]

49. Sickening!

What another MASSIVE wast of money. I suppose they figure if there is a Dad around to work (for minimum wage) then all those welfare moms can get off crack and welfare and start raising good little obedient soldiers.

What about "Faith Based Counseling?" - If this joke of an administration thinks that the Church does such a fine job at charity, why shouldn't they be responsible for "marriage counseling?"

There just can't be 4 more years of this shite - NO WAY! :puke:

[missile_bender]

50. Want to bet the money will be funneled to religious nuts?

[missile_bender]

53. I see the Times article is drooling all over this, citing quote after

quote supporting the measure. The only dissent cited was way down in the article and was limited to "Some women's groups like the NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund oppose government programs that promote marriage." It makes them sound like wackos.

[et in Arcadia ego...]

54. my lyrics to: "Government and Marriage..."

Government and marriage, Government and marriage
Go together like a dead horse pulling a carriage
This I tell you brother
You better have one without the other

Government and marriage, Government and marriage
It’s an institute the GOP can disparage
Ask the local gentry
And they will say it’s elementary

Try, try, try to integrate them
It’s an evil solution
Try, try, try, and you will only come
To this conclusion

Government and marriage, Government and marriage
Go together like a dead horse pulling a carriage
Dad was told by mother
You better like HELL have one without the other!

:nuke:

[Malva Zebrina]

55. This is a disguised attack on women

In this day, no man can, or expects to be the sole provider for the family. It is, actually impossible and we cannot go to that space again. This is what the conservatives who would run our lives, especially the women, but also the men on a smaller scale, want to do. They want to tell women what their place is, and naturally it is below that of a man, no matter how many pedestals they would place her on--all of them are lower than the height of the man's. So we will see the "responsibility" for keeping the marriage together fall on the woman's shoulders and we will see her counseled against abortion and against any sort of assertive behavior, I suspect. It will fall on her shoulders to keep the marriage together and put up with all sorts of abuse because--well because she has been counseled to do so. Meanwhile, she is contributing to the family income as well as running the house and the family--she will be exhausted very soon.

It is also running toward fascist--the government attempting to define family roles for the people under the thumb of a tyrant whose own wife is so obviously intimidated and turned vain and dull and who has not done that great a job on raising her own children who flaunt the law over and over because they feel entitled in this world.

--I notice these people want to counsel, most of them religious counseling, young pre-marrieds, but mention nothing of the old folks--and the repsonsibitlity to care for them also.

In past years, old folks were taken care of by their family--and it was a high form of family values. Some religious sects continue that old fashioned amusing tradition-like the Amish. Nothing said about that by our government, though--the family values, compassionate conservatism government even makes it harder for the old folks to care for themself. Too many of them own nursing homes probably.

[SeattleDem]

56. Marriage alone is supposed to solve all the problems?

"Wade F. Horn, the assistant secretary of health and human services for children and families, said: "Marriage programs do work. On average, children raised by their own parents in healthy, stable married families enjoy better physical and mental health and are less likely to be poor."

so, if two low-income people get married, suddenly they are no longer going to be poor?? As Barbara Ehrenreich has said, a poor woman would have to marry TWO low-income men to raise the family out of poverty. Wonder if they'll support that!

Did these morons ever stop to think about cause and effect? Is it marriage that creates these healthy families or is it that healthy families would be healthy no matter what and due to societal norms, they tend to have married parents?

Just because there is an association between marriage and healthy children does NOT mean that one causes the other. Basic fact in any statistical analysis.

[July]

57. A few questions come to mind:

Who among Bush cronies/campaign contributors will be funneled our tax dollars to provide this "training"?

What department/programs will be shortchanged in order to pay for this?

Why is this number so huge (bigger than proposed money for another moon shot, even)?

Will we be sold the "we gave up half of what we proposed" line later so that "only" three-quarters of a billion looks reasonable?

Is this plus the NASA money part of the looting of the treasury so that Social Security and Medicare money isn't there in the short term when baby boomers start collecting?

Can we come back through the looking glass, please?

[wabeewoman]

61. Excellent, July

The # 1 question with this group of goons is ALWAYS: who gets the money??? Obviously who it panders to is the RW base but I think they have forgotten the RW base is not all one-issue. Some of the RWers are true conservatives who do not want to spend 1.5 BILLION $$ on 'encouraging marrage' and actually believe the government should stay the hell out of people's private life. I think they are blowing it-the immigration deal, the marriage deal.... Pandering isn't working any more. And rule ONLY for political gain is a failure. To quote a great Kennedy: The election can't come too soon!

[Demeter]

58. $1.5 billion is a lot of jobs, and since jobs stabilize marriages

wouldn't it be nice to put money where mouth is?

We should all live so long!

[oldcoot]

62. Social engineering!

Conservatives should all oppose this program because it is social engineering and social engineering is bad. I wonder if their heads will explode from all of the hypocrisy.

[BiggJawn]

66. I'm Poor...I don't really want to get married again.

Shit, twice was enough for me. I don't know why those women had to cheat on me, guess I should be glad they kicked me to the curb instead of making me wear the Cuckold's Hat for longer than they did...

My child is raised. she's not a doper, not a drunk (unlike 2 well-known 2-parent raised twins we all know) I'm not a grandfather, she's not gay (not as that would make any difference), not on psychotropics, IOW, in pretty good shape for a young person starting out in Dumbya's Murka...

What's Chimpy's "Marriage Initive" gonna doe for me? Jack-shit, I'll bet....

[sam sarrha]

67. He will give it to the churches to suck up to the religious right VOTES!!

:grouphug:

[moondust]

69. Cheap, servile labor.

Married people are more likely to have kids and get mortgaged making it harder for them to stand up to tyrannical management or ditch a lousy job and move on.

[Zerex71]

70. Will they emphasize "traditional values"?

Such as: only the man can work and bring home the bread; abuse and alcoholism that the woman can't say anything about; 50% divorce rate; anesthetized kids who grow up hating their Man In The Gray Flannel Suit existences and turn to dope; philandering with the office tomato; and wife beatings. After all, that's what the unChristian Right is after - some return to a mythical time that never existed but which makes everyone miserable to contemplate.

Methinks they are getting quite desperate now that they realize their time is up and that they are in the minority. Racists and the like often panic when they die off, one by stinking one.

Mike

[Piperay]

71. 1.5 bbbbbbillion?!?!?

Where the f*ck is the money supposed to come from??? The idiot has been spending money hand over fist since he got in and now the country is in debt, what an ass! :freak: :argh: :grr: :mad: