Congress to consider banning gay unions

[Newsjock]

Long article on front page of Wednesday's SF Chronicle
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2003/08/13/GAYS.TMP

Washington -- Religious conservatives pledge an all-out drive to enshrine a ban on same-sex marriage in the U.S. Constitution, calling it the last line of defense against an inevitable court-led destruction of a fundamental social institution.

Their Federal Marriage Amendment, after dying with no action in the last Congress, has been reintroduced, this time with 75 House co-sponsors. Senate hearings are scheduled for September, and the proposed amendment has the blessing of Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn.

... "I think you've got this panic on both sides," said an activist who talks to religious conservatives and gay rights groups. "The groups concerned about the gay agenda need to come up with a line in the sand that works, and gay marriage might. The gay groups don't mind politicians being against gay marriage, as long as it's not written into the Constitution. They figure they can come back in 10 years when things have calmed down and revisit it."

The Senate Republican Policy Committee, pressing for the amendment, has argued that "no statutory solution appears to be available" against what it describes as a legal onslaught on heterosexual marriage.

As the Rev. Lou Sheldon, head of the Traditional Values Coalition, put it, "You can't rule a constitutional amendment unconstitutional."

lots more

[Oilwellian]

1. There's no way....

they'll get the 2/3 majority vote for a Constitutional Amendment. This is pure pandering to the fundies.

[cherryperry]

7. Ain't that the f-ing truth!!! n/t

[Paschall]

27. Right

The amendment process is so cumbersome we haven't even been able to get good amendments--like the ERA--through the pipeline despite years of effort.

[Fenris]

2. Dear Congress

DO SOME REAL FUCKING WORK FOR A CHANGE.

[Cha]

3. I read somewhere on DU that rove is making Gays the issue

for 2004 trying to hide the real issues. Made sense!

[bluestateguy]

9. Fine by Me

30% of gays voted for * in 2000. A gay bashing campaign in 2004 would knock that down to 10%, the equivalent of about 600-700 thousand new votes for the Democrats.

[Cha]

14. 30%!? What were they thinking?

[Paschall]

25. 30 percent? Really?

Where did you get that figure? Andrew Sullivan? I don't buy it.

[cherryperry]

4. Will those A-Holes ever pay attention

to their so-called Christianity and leave the rest of us alone? Why are they in such a homosexual panic that they are so attached to this issue? I'll say this, it's because if they tried an all-assault on Blacks or Jews or any other group; their asses would be kicked to Hell in this country. However, there are SO many like them who are WILLING to admit to this last bastion of approved prejudice that they just run with this one. I don't think Jesus likes them . . .

[bluestateguy]

5. So much for states rights

"Let the states decide" the conservatives say. OK fine. Vermont (and soon maybe Massachusetts) decide to have gay marriage.

"Well! That's not what we meant! The constitution must ban all gay marriages."

The same scenario would play out if Roe v. Wade was overturned. Conservatives would start by saying that abortion should be a state decision, until states like New York, California etc, decided to keep abortion legal. Then the Amend the Constitution Crowd would come out of the woodworks.

[AnnabelLee]

6. How will more people getting married

destroy the "fundamental social institution" of marriage? I don't get it.:shrug:

[cherryperry]

12. Oh, silly,

the "fundamental social institution" of marriage is that of one between one man and one woman, doncha know? Plus, do not question, do not question, do not question (Big Brother knows all), do not question.

[The Zanti Regent]

16. If Marriage is between ONE Man AND ONE Woman FOR LIFE?

Well, that sort of throws a monkey wrench into the Divorce thing, doesn't it?

Are the Republicans going to add a clause to their Marriage Amendment to ban divorce? Will they also forbid remarriage to widow(er)s, too, after all, God's Book says you marry for life, doesn't it?

Won't that throw a curve to Newt, De Lay, Armey, Peterson, Livingston, Barr, Lindsay Graham, Ronnie Reagan, JC Watts, Canady, Killer Joe, Mary Bono, Hyde, Chenoweth, Dan Burton, Ken Calvert, Armstrong Williams, Matt Drudge, Andrew Sullivan, Dr Laura, Rush and all those other purveyors of Christian Statesmenship?

[BiggJawn]

8. I don't have to look, I KNOW Steve Buyer's on board...

Pardon me while I hang my head in Shame....

[The Magistrate]

10. These Reptiles Let Slip An Interesting Admission

The reason no "statutory solution" is possible is that such a statute would be clearly unconstitutional, even under the present retrograde Court. Their only hope is to enshrine their bigoted religiousity in the basic law of the nation. They will likely be unable to do so. Just as a handful of legislatures in small and unrepresentative states can block progressive amendments, the small number of large and metropolitan states can block reactionary ones.

[Newsjock]

11. The press conference question nobody will ask

"Senator Frist, why should any gay person want to stay in America in light of your drive to outlaw same-sex marriage or even any of its rights and responsibilities?"

Please, media whores, someone ask it, live on camera. I've got $20 cash for you right here if you do.

[The Zanti Regent]

19. $20 isn't enough

Most Presstitutes are dumb, right down there with single celled protozoa in the IQ sweepstakes.

Too many Presstitutes can't count past 10 without taking off their socks and shoes

The have no clue what "Gay" is except they MAY have heard it in the Flinstones theme once...

[Cronus Protagonist]

13. It's all over The Gay Agenda

http://cronus.com/agenda (not for the faint-hearted)


Fair & Balanced Buttons — The Cronus Connection

[mefoolonhill]

15. gay issue

Gee, and I thought conservatives were all for leaving the Constitution alone....

[mumon]

20. You know, our Founding Fathes were OBVIOUSLY Gay!

Just look at their outrageous clothes

(link is not for everyone... if you're offended by 1/2 Jewish gay demi-deities, please don't go there...)

But do notice how the seated guys' eyes are all on the standing guys' asses...

[Booberdawg]

17. LOL!

Very funny. ;-)

[mumon]

18. First it was PATCO.

Now they want to get Local 25, Amalgamated Gays?

How anti-union can they get?

[bluestateguy]

21. Barney Frank should out every closet gay Republican who votes yes

He threatened to do so many years ago when Lee Atwater and his goons were prepared to go public with a claim that Speaker Tom Foley was gay.

The Goopers backed down.

[ninkasi]

22. I am trying...

with great difficultity, I might add, to avoid using extreme profanity. Now, as a 60 year old granny, you wouldn't think this would be difficult, would you? With the arrival of the Chimpministration, and the RW loonies and so-called religeous right, you would be wrong.

I have never seen this country so bitterly divided. I have never seen Christianity palmed off as hatred, and self-righteous condemnation such as I am seeing now. I have never seen nationalism touted as patriotism, and flag waving, as I see now. Never, never, have I seen such self congratulating, naked greed passed off as good citizinship, or compassion reduced to crumbs, and patronizing, or religon mingled with government in the name of the flag, or the president, or the Attorney General, or whatever delusional fantasy the right wing is currently in the grip of.

I am ashamed and embarrased by all of this. We MUST win back our country in 2004. Thank god that Bev Harris, and the rest of ya'll, have at least brought the issue of the voting machines into the public arena.

[LearnedHand]

24. Well-put, Gram...

...this post was MUCH more powerful than any f***ing profanity! :evilgrin:

[dansolo]

23. How many of the 75 co-sponsers

Have gotten divorced or committed adultery?

[IndianaGreen]

26. Since many of us will probably be Canadians by this time in 2005

we will watch our former country sink further into religious insanity!

[Zhade]

28. Um.

As the Rev. Lou Sheldon, head of the Traditional Values Coalition, put it, "You can't rule a constitutional amendment unconstitutional."

Prohibition? Hello?

[alaine]

29. Um...#18: prohibition, #21 prohibiton repealed..

I wish Lou Sheldon had the same view on Roe v. Wade.