Kerry dodges constitutional ban question (Gay Marriage)

Boston Herald ^ | 02.05.04 | Steve Marantz

[kcvl]

Kerry dodges constitutional ban question

By Steve Marantz Thursday, February 5, 2004

With Massachusetts poised to allow gay marriage, the GOP attack on Sen. John F. Kerry as just another far-out Bay State liberal may gain new energy as he refuses to take a stand on a constitutional amendment to ban it.

Kerry, dogged by home-state politics as he runs for president, wasted no time yesterday in publicly opposing the Supreme Judicial Court decision against so-called civil unions as an alternative to gay marriage.

Instead, he reaffirmed his opposition to gay marriage - but declined to take a position on a proposed constitutional amendment that would ban it in Massachusetts.

``I believe and have fought for the principle that we should protect the fundamental rights of gay and lesbian couples - from inheritance to health benefits,'' Kerry said, in a written statement.

``I believe the answer is civil unions. I oppose gay marriage and disagree with the Massachusetts Court's decision.''

Kerry's statement made no mention of the constitutional convention next Wednesday at which lawmakers may vote to put the anti-gay marriage amendment on the 2006 ballot.

The White House jumped into the act, criticizing the SJC opinion.

``Activist judges continue to seek to redefine marriage by court order without regard for the will of the people,'' said spokesman Scott McClellan.

Rob Gray, an adviser to Gov. Mitt Romney, said, ``Clearly it's a hot potato that Kerry would rather not deal with. Let's see if he weighs in between now and Wednesday when the Legislature votes. If he's not trying to have it both ways he'll weigh in strongly in favor of the amendment.''

Kerry probably can't avoid taking a position on the amendment, said Tufts political science professor Jeffrey Berry.

``He's going to be forced to take a position - my guess is he will say the court has ruled and we have to respect its opinion,'' said Berry.

``But you can expect the White House to try to portray John Kerry as a Massachusetts liberal, which will be a code word for gay marriage.''

[mewzilla]

You can run, but you can't hide, Ketchup Boy...

[counterpunch]

No dodging here.

[cripplecreek]

Im just wondering if anyone has given any thought to the expense of spousal benifits combined with the exceedingly high HIV rate among homosexuals.

[demlosers]

Whaaaat Kerry, you haven't come up with an equivocating response yet? You’re a little slooow on the draw.

[MasterCommander2]

hilarious! i fell of the couch laughing at that. loved your other pics too! keep it up!

[goldstategop]

Jean F. Cheri is a French bred liberal from Massachusetts.

[yoe]

Kerry will dodge all constitutional questions, especially this one. The abolishment of the electoral college is another this liberal will not answer but what the libs want. This is the very reason Mrs. Clinton (wife of the rapist who wants back in the WH) is running her Stealth Campaign - she doesn't want to be asked hard questions and doesn't want to answer hard questions.

President Bush is a man who will answer hard questions; can make decisions and stands by those decisions. A man of Honor and Character, a man who BELONGS in the White House - he leads!

PUSH BUSH! 2004!

[Van Jenerette]

"...I believe and have fought for the principle that we should protect the fundamental rights of gay and lesbian couples - from inheritance to health benefits,'' Kerry said, in a written statement..."

GAY MARRIAGE is a WEAPON of MASS DESTRUCTION
(for any society stupid enough to adopt it)

�

[little jeremiah]

Homosexual Agenda Ping - let me know if you want on or off this ping list.

Kerry should know what can happen when you sit on a fence - especially a barb wire fence...

[I got the rope]

The abolishment of the electoral college...

Sounds good to me...then we wouldn't need Senators anymore. The two are historically tied together IIRC.

[Salvation]

BTTT!

Kerry is in trouble! Hahahaha!

[I got the rope]

Im just wondering if anyone has given any thought to the expense of spousal benifits combined with the exceedingly high HIV rate among homosexuals.

Better yet...why can't we have a right to marry multiple women? Could you imagine what spousal benefits would cost for all four of your wives?

[Aetius]

All the Dem candidates who claim to favor leaving it up to the states, including Kerry, are being very disingenuous.

They claim to favor letting each state decide, yet they know very well that the type of judges they will nominate to the federal courts will not let states decide. Sooner or later their federal judges would either order the nation to adopt gay marriage, like Mass's court, or they would declare that one state's gay marriage (or civil union) must be recognized by the other states and federal govt. Either way, the result would be the same.

Add that to the fact that Kerry voted against the Defense of Marriage Act which does the very thing Kerry claims to support; letting states decide.

Sadly, I just can't see President Bush busting Kerry for this during a debate, nor can I see the new diversity-worshipping GOP doing it either.

[Keyes2000mt]

Kerry will vote for the Amendment and then criticize the way that Bush/the Republicans push for its passage nationally.

[backhoe]

-John Kerry- some selected, informative links...--