GOP making gay marriage a hot-button election issue

[CShine]

WASHINGTON -- Seeking an edge in the close presidential election, Republicans increasingly are pushing a ban on gay marriage as a wedge to win votes, in some cases through legislative action in key states. In 25 states, lawmakers are considering state constitutional amendments banning gay marriage. In seven more, opponents of gay marriage are gathering signatures to place the issue on the November ballot that also will include the presidential election. Most of the same states already have laws against gay marriage, separate from language in their constitutions. Texas law bans gay marriage. Its lawmakers, however, have not moved to encode the ban into the state constitution or put the issue on the ballot. In the U.S. Senate, Republicans announced plans Friday to seek a vote on a federal constitutional marriage ban July 12, two weeks before the Democratic National Convention in Boston, where the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled this year that gays have a right to wed.

"I think when the American people get a chance to have their voice heard that they will overwhelmingly reaffirm their commitment to traditional marriage,"said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, a leading advocate for the amendment.

Making the marriage ban a high priority could help President Bush and other Republicans in close races come November by energizing voters who support the marriage restriction. In February, Bush called for a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage after the Massachusetts court ruled and San Francisco issued marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

Steven Fisher, communications director for the Human Rights Campaign, a national gay rights advocacy group, said the issue has become mired in the politics of the presidential contest. "The proponents of this started off claiming their objective was protecting marriage, but the timing of this shows it's just a political effort and the veil of protecting marriage is tattering," Fisher said. "This is about Republicans turning out their base, it's all about politics."

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/front/2635549

[Jabbery]

1. Won't work

Cat's out of the bag. Gay marriage WILL be legal in all states soon. The only thing the limpdick Repugs can do is declare a "War on Homosexuality," just like the other failed wars they lauched against concepts they don't like.

[Bowline]

2. Yep. n/t

[izzie]

3. That is because of this

We must take every minds off the fact that we have a President that claims to have been in the national guard yet did not find a plane hitting the WTC interesting enough to take hands on and left it to some one else. My son even came and got me to watch it on TV and wondered if I thought a little plane could do that?And I had not been in command of a fighter at one time or was head of the most powerful service in the world. So much for being interested in your job, George.Now lets get back to making laws for your bed room, something that is really important.

[Kinkistyle]

4. You think WRONG punk.

"I think when the American people get a chance to have their voice heard that they will overwhelmingly reaffirm their commitment to traditional marriage,"said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, a leading advocate for the amendment.

Boy will this dope be in for a surprise.

[struggle4progress]

5. Senate GOP speeds vote on marriage amendment

<snip>
In a CBS poll last month, nearly three-quarters of people surveyed, 70 percent, indicated they did not think gay marriage should play a role in this year's presidential race, even though a significant number of people, 60 percent, indicated they opposed gay marriage itself and would support a ban eventually.
<snip>
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2004/06/19/senate_gop_speeds_vote_on_marriage_amendment/

[uptown ruler]

6. its a civil rights issue...

bring the pain...


Spread the Word
CausePimpingThePeopleAin’tEasy

[jmowreader]

7. "Traditional Marriage" Is that "arranged" or "shotgun"?

When you consider that

(1) marriage was about property long before it was about religion...

and

(2) religious people who aren't Christians get married too...

this bullshit about "Christian Marriages" being the only authorized ones is slightly galling, to say the least.

[oscar111]

8. my gay friends, delay marriage

Just delay till December.

Why hand Republicans 5 percent more of the vote, when you can stay quietly on the sidelines and deny them this issue?

Just delay marriage till Dec.

Presently, we all are playing into their evil hands.

[Sapphocrat]

11. OSCAR! READ THIS.

1. I find it extremely insulting when a DUer begins a hit-and-run hot-button thread, and then disappears without so much as acknowledging a single reply. Irritation turns to anger when I find that same DUer popping up in a brand-new thread, singing the same old song.

If you haven't read this yet, read it now:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=113&topic_id=9951#9976

2. You are not my friend. I find your repeated use of the phrase "my gay friends" patronizing, condescending, and extremely irritating, and I wish you would stop addressing the LGBT DUers in this manner.

3. "Stay quietly on the sidelines"? I will refrain from responding to this condescending admonishment out of respect for DU rules.

[saigon68]

14. People should ALWAYS exercise their rights

Could you imagine if someone said don't criticize the president OR CALL HIM A LIAR it will only get him more votes.

To hell with those sick homophobes and their repuke leaders. They are scum. Do what you gotta do--- do it NOW ---stand up to those Assholes.

There are a lot of people HERE who recognize you have to fight the TYRANT wherever and whenever he APPEARS !!!!

[m-jean03]

15. I'm with you, Sapphocrat!!

Thanks for responding to this poster so eloquently and emphatically.

[ropi]

19. thanks sapphocrat

Sapphocrat...

If I may add...

To all other Du'ers....

If possible please refrain from framing your posts in this way: "As a heterosexual. . . " or "As a straight man or straight woman. . ."

After a while it just becomes tiresome and offensive to many GLBT members of DU.

Thanks,

RP

[foreigncorrespondent]

16. There is no WE here, mate!

Presently, we all are playing into their evil hands.

That is bloody well right, YOU are playing into their evil hands by coming here and tellings queers to wait!

They handed us this fight, we are NOT about to back down and let them win, and strip us of the rights we were born with AGAIN!

Get it yet?

[Waverley_Hills_Hiker]

22. GOP is going to push this no matter what the gays do...

The GOP is setting the agenda here, so its going to be an issue no matter what gays do or dont do.

[lazarus]

9. Good

This is hilarious, and will destroy them, if the Democrats respond properly.

Just make the face of the Republican party these extreme religious nuts who are driving this amendment.

And the question is, if the religious nuts want to change the Constitution for this, what next? Outlaw divorce?

[cmd]

10. Good idea, Laz

The left should adopt a no divorce amendment and drive the right crazy.

[Waverley_Hills_Hiker]

24. they should make this applicable to straight marriage too..

no crossing state lines for the sole purposes of a convenient marriage or divorce

[daa]

12. What about Drudge?? nt

[radfringe]

13. of course they will - so they can

jump on their high horse called "Family Values"

of course they never define family values, nor say who's family set the standard for values -- it's just "ear candy" spun out for the masses

part of family values is to VALUE the FAMILY -- you don't value the family by cutting programs that help the family - like health care, education, social assistance programs...

when is someone going to call GOPers on this? We've been slammed over the head with the FAMILY VALUES RHETORIC since 1980 -- isn't about time that GOPers start showing how they value the family instead of just talking about it?

[OHdem10]

17. When Bush goes on the Campaign Road trips this week

gues what his topics are--Gay Marriage Ammendment and Faith Based Initiatives.

The Hot Button Issues have already begun.--"Gotta try to bring those poll numbers up" I suppose.

[Dr Fate]

18. Didn't Rush just end his 3rd childless (sexless?) marriage?

Just WHO are the ones going against the tradition of marriage around here?....

We need to start calling for all Repubs. to disclose their divorces...

[opihimoimoi]

20. Its the DIVIDE and CONQUER Thingy...... Pubs always go for the divisive

issues to fragment us into defeat.

[Waverley_Hills_Hiker]

21. The GOP needs to really GOTV of the Religous Right

This is a key part of their consituency. And the GOP is usually pretty good at playing to people prejudices to win elections, since they dont have much else to offer (well, lower taxes)

[Demeter]

23. It Isn't Working

Americans are romantics at heart, at least most of us. And so, the thought of getting in the way of true love is perverse. There are so many lonely hearts that would kill for a chance to find a partner, we aren't going to stand in the way of someone else's happiness.

As far as the companion issue (Choice to Procreate at Will or not), the churches have so muddied the waters with lies and distortions, and the "threats" of excommunication, or other forms of ritual shunning, that their tax exempt status should definitely be history.