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| (AP) President Bush waves to reporters after attending the Diplomatic Corps Holiday Reception on... Full Image |
Posted on 12/17/2003 6:34:02 AM PST by Happy2BMe
Dec 16, 9:45 PM (ET)
By JENNIFER LOVEN
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WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush 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 of the Legislature."
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But on Tuesday, the president waded deeper into the topic, saying state rulings such as the one in Massachusetts and a couple of other states "undermine the sanctity of marriage" and could mean that "we may need a constitutional amendment."
"If necessary, I will support a constitutional amendment which would honor marriage between a man and a woman, codify that," he said. "The position of this administration is that whatever legal arrangements people want to make, they're allowed to make, so long as it's embraced by the state or at the state level."
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.
His remarks drew criticism from gay rights groups.
"It is never necessary to insert prejudice and discrimination into the U.S. Constitution - a document that has a proud history of being used to expand an individual's liberty and freedom, not to take them away," said Winnie Stachelberg, political director of the Human Rights Campaign.
The president also said that he - like any politician - could lose his next run for office, next year's bid for a second term in the White House.
"Everybody's beatable in a democracy," Bush said. "And that's the great thing about a democracy. People get to make that decision. I know how I'm voting."
Bush said he has not decided who would be in his Cabinet and other top administration posts - other than retaining Vice President Dick Cheney - if he is "fortunate enough" to win.
Bush reiterated that he doesn't read newspapers and prefers getting the news - without opinion, he said - from White House chief of staff Andrew Card and national security adviser Condoleezza Rice. First Lady Laura Bush, who appeared briefly during the interview, said she does read the papers and often discusses them with her husband.
The president also said he doesn't watch reality television, but the Bushes both watch lots of sports on television and are hoping to see the movies "Something's Gotta Give" and "Elf" over the holidays.
Now, even in the ranks of the "conservative" Republican party . .
Georgie wants to marry Stephan ping!
If the courts would do THEIR jobs and let the Legislature do THEIR job, this wouldn't be an issue. But, NOOOOooo ! The Liberal judges over reach and Legislate from the bench !Previously, though Bush has said he would support whatever is "legally necessary to defend the sanctity of marriage," he and his advisers have shied away from specifically endorsing a constitutional amendment asserting that definition.
But on Tuesday, the president waded deeper into the topic, saying state rulings such as the one in Massachusetts and a couple of other states "undermine the sanctity of marriage" and could mean that "we may need a constitutional amendment."
"If necessary, I will support a constitutional amendment which would honor marriage between a man and a woman, codify that," he said. "The position of this administration is that whatever legal arrangements people want to make, they're allowed to make, so long as it's embraced by the state or at the state level."
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.
His remarks drew criticism from gay rights groups.
That was easy.
I think there is a big difference between claiming to be willing to sign a bill and actually doing something about gay marriage. This is what I'm watching very closely.
To all Christians in the GOP: Come out of her my people!
Well, if the SCOTUS is going to sodomize the Constitution by finding the right to kill unborn babies, and now the right for homosexuals to sodomize each other in that august document, we need to fight fire with fire.
Bush is two-faced in saying he's a states rights fan on one hand while championing a federal constitutional change which would effect each and every state.
He is not two faced, he is fighting fire with fire. If you are in a street fight, and you opponent pulls a knife, and starts kicking you in the ba!!s, are you going to still follow the proper rules of no-contact sports?
There's no point in maintaining separate law for homosexuals to duplicate the rights, privileges, burdens and penalties of marriage law.
No need to. Any two people whoever they are can already make whatever legal arrangements suitable for them.
I find no rational justification for coming down opposed to any two legally responsible individuals being able to "marry" with all the good and bad of that legal status
There is a wealth of information right here on FR explaining exactly why homoseuxal behavior is:
1. Not normal, natural or beneficial for individuals
2. That homosexuals are not "born that way" but become that way due to childhood difficulty, often molestation or early seduction/molestation and
3. To promote homosexual behavior as equivalent to marital sex is to destroy the natural family; as is the stated objective of "gay" activists.
I think it's pretty clear we need to get over ourselves and allow and encourage homosexual Americans to court, marry, support one another and be faithful to their spouses..
I think it's pretty clear that you have bought the homosexual propaganda hook, line and sinker. There is mine of information here on FR you can read and educate yourself. I advise you to do so before you continue with your ignorance shilling for the homosexual activists.
There is so much evidence that homosexuals are wildly promiscuous even in "committed" relationships - you think some legal stamp is going to change the very nature of perverse and unnatural sexual desires?
People are afraid their children will experiment in ways they perhaps don't already, afraid their kids might "choose" to be gay simply because that kind of marriage would be an option.
What wise parents are afraid of is that their children will be recruited into homosexual acts by "gay" teachers, counselors, and older kids. This is the stated goal of homosexual activists, and this is why they are trying to (with a lot of success) getting clubs in schools, and getting pro-homosexual sex ed in schools, as well as seeping into many other areas of education.
There might well be a few more homosexuals who are comfortable enough not to become deceivers,,,
There is help for people who feel same sex attraction and want to change. They don't have to deceive themselves that they "are gay" forever. It isn't an unchangeable identity, like race or ethnicity. Many kinds of therapy and other means (such as prayer and spiritual help) have helped former homosexuals now become either normal sexually or at least celibate. Check scripter's profile page - he's got hundreds of links.
http:// www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.aspARTICLE_ID=35539
Bush is trying to please everyone at the expense of TRUTH.
He also said that muslims and Christians worship the same God - which is logically impossible. Our leaders must be held accountable for their words and actions.
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