[KantianBurke]

"A strong America must also value the institution of marriage. I believe we should respect individuals as we take a principled stand for one of the most fundamental, enduring institutions of our civilization. Congress has already taken a stand on this issue by passing the Defense of Marriage Act, signed in 1996 by President Clinton. That statute protects marriage under federal law as a union of a man and a woman, and declares that one state may not redefine marriage for other states. Activist judges, however, have begun redefining marriage by court order, without regard for the will of the people and their elected representatives. On an issue of such great consequence, the people's voice must be heard. If judges insist on forcing their arbitrary will upon the people, the only alternative left to the people would be the constitutional process. Our nation must defend the sanctity of marriage."

PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH'S ADDRESS BEFORE A JOINT SESSION OF THE CONGRESS ON THE STATE OF THE UNION

January 20, 2004

http://www.c-span.org/executive/transcript.asp?cat=current_event&code=bush_admin&year=2004

[tomahawk]

That's what Pres. Bush said. Now, will he back up his words?

[biblewonk]

Thanks but that doesn't answer my question. I was just wondering if you were doing the same thing I was doing a couple of weeks ago. I was expecting the president to stop gay marriage, or else.

[hchutch]

Well, Dubya can't say he didn't warn them...

[Wolfstar]

KantianBurke: Not a day goes by (perhaps not an hour) that finds you MIA on here sowing doubt about President Bush — no matter what the thread or topic. Well this time it can be proven in plain English that you don't know what the 'H' you are talking about. The ball is not in the President's court. The United States Constitution places authority to initiate Amendments to it in the Congress and the states. The best any president can do when it comes to Constitutional amendments is to express support or lack thereof, depending on the issue. GWB already has expressed support for an amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman.

Herewith, verbatim, is Article V of the Constitution:

"The Congress, whenever two thirds of both houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution, or, on the application of the legislatures of two thirds of the several states, shall call a convention for proposing amendments, which, in either case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of this Constitution, when ratified by the legislatures of three fourths of the several states, or by conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by the Congress; provided that no amendment which may be made prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any manner affect the first and fourth clauses in the ninth section of the first article; and that no state, without its consent, shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate."