Will the Mass. supreme court decision hurt Kerry if he gets the nom?

[ringmastery]

They didn't rule for civil unions. They ruled for gay marriage, which 70% or something of the country opposes. Kills us in the south?

[ProfessorPlum]

1. only if he starts apologizing for it

and going into one of his long-winded explanations.

However, if he defends it as basic fairness, which it is, he won't lose any more homophobes (who aren't likely to vote for him anyway) and he might pick up a few people who at least appreciate fairness and people who stick to their guns. (figuratively)

[RUexperienced]

2. Only in the South and Mid West

But who cares. We can win with California, Washington, New York and New England.

[ringmastery]

3. now dubya can push

for his constitutional amendement against gay marriage and he will get it.

I don't think the decision is necessarily a victory. You may have won the battle, but lost the war. Too much too soon, methinks. Mass. would be better served with civil unions. baby steps.

[David__77]

4. If 146 House Democrats or 34 Senate Democrats don't vote "no."

Then this party really is worthless to me. That's what it would take to defeat an amendment. That's all. I KNOW we have at least 146 SAFE! Democratic House seats. If they don't vote "NO!" then there will certainly be consequences.

[nickinSTL]

5. Amendment

I guess I don't see what the Mass. court ruling on gay marriage has to do with Sen. Kerry. After all, I live in Missouri, and John Ashcroft is from Missouri. Does that mean the country in general would see any decision made by Ashcroft as being in line with my views?

On an amendment. If it passes, doesn't it also need some significant number of states to support it to go into effect? If there aren't enough votes in Congress to stop it, and enough states support it, the day it goes into effect may be the day I pick up and move to a saner country. Canada, perhaps?

[David__77]

6. Kerry may have to vote on the amendment.

That's his relation to it. Also, I think the best chances of stopping it are in congress. If we don't, it will drag out for years with advocates searching for ratification as with the ERA. It would be a difficult fight and would mark a main issue on the political landscape.

[isbister]

7. I support equal rights for all Americans

and I agree with Dick Cheney that the states should decide what they do and do not call marriage. Do you believe in equal rights for all Americans, George, or do you believe in discriminating against Americans?

[LoneStarLiberal]

8. It Only Hurts If We Let It

The right way for Kerry or any other American who is nominated for the Democratic Party's Presidential slot to address this question is to say the Constitution doesn't specify certain rights for certain groups and not for others. Marriage is squarely within the realm of the right to pursue happiness which is a right that ALL Americans enjoy.

We ought to start saying this now because regardless of who gets the nomination (unless it's Edwards who has a more legalistic argument regarding the constitutionality of gay marriage) the Republicans are going to run on this issue.