Gay couples queue to wed in San Francisco as Bush weighs in against them

YahooNews ^

[Happy2BMe]

Thursday February 19, 4:27 PM

Gay couples queue to wed in San Francisco as Bush weighs in against them

Scores of gay couples married in San Francisco as US President George W. Bush said he was "troubled" by the same-sex marriages, which have won a legal respite.

Bush said he was following the situation "very carefully," after more than 2,600 homosexual marriages were sanctioned by the city during the past six days.

The president, who has warned several times that he may seek or endorse a constitutional amendment making such unions illegal, told reporters at the White House that "these events are influencing my decision."

"I strongly believe that marriage should be defined as between a man and a woman. I am troubled by activist judges who are defining marriage," he said.

The attack came after two separate San Francisco judges Tuesday refused to grant restraining orders sought by conservatives who want to immediately halt the marriages that have become a political flashpoint in America.

More than 50 gay and lesbian couples mingled with heterosexual pairs under the grand dome of defiant San Francisco's city hall Wednesday as overwhelmed officials tried to cope with an avalanche of same-sex nuptials.

The city has issued at least 2,611 marriage licences to gay and lesbian partners since Mayor Gavin Newsom on Thursday launched a campaign of civil disobedience aimed at challenging what he says are discriminatory state laws that stipulate that only a man and a woman can marry.

City officials, who issued more than 170 new marriage licences to same sex couples Tuesday, vowed to keep presiding over the nuptials until they are forced to stop.

The two furious groups that requested injunctions -- the California Families' (CCF) and the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) -- said they were appealing the judges' decisions not to immediately halt the gay marriages.

One judge said the CCF had not followed proper procedure when filing its suit and told it to come back to court Friday, while another granted the ADF a toothless "cease and desist" order telling the city to either stop the marriages or return to court on March 29 to explain why it should not.

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger urged the city to halt the contested unions, saying they violated state law and the will of the state's people who in 2000 backed a measure banning gay marriage.

"I support that law and encourage San Francisco officials to obey that law. The courts should act quickly to resolve this matter," the Republican said.

And the conservative American Family Association in Mississippi said it had gathered more than one million signatures for a petition calling for a federal constitutional amendment barring gay marriage.

The group launched its charge after the Massachusetts Supreme Court ruled in November that an existing ban on gay marriage violated the state constitution and is stepping up its efforts following San Francisco's move.

"(People) are learning that because of the full faith and credit clause of the US Constitution, approval of same-sex marriage by Massachusetts may force every other state to recognize same-sex marriage," the group said.

Gay couples from across the United States meanwhile rushed to the freewheeling West Coast city, the first US authority to officially sanction same-sex marriage, to marry before the weddings can be stopped.

"This is marvellous," said newlywed Mexican-American Lupe Fernandez who married her lesbian partner of five years on Wednesday.

"We want to have a family and we need the legal support in order to do so," she said.

Hong Kong-born graphic designer Michael Choi, who married his girlfriend Ida Sun in city hall as scores of gay and lesbian couples took the same vows around them, said he thought gay marriages were a sign of American freedom.

"It's no problem for us, the only problem is it means that there are just too many people trying to get married at the same time," he said.

"My parents are very traditional Chinese and were kind of shocked because they had never seen gay people before. But America is a country of freedom, so this is great," he told AFP.

Officials said they expected to issue marriage licences to around 170 more couples Wednesday as they braced for a possible injunction to be handed down at Friday's court hearing.

[Happy2BMe]

So much for courting the gay vote.

[Cicero]

They usually manage to grant restraining orders against such things as the partial birth abortion ban at the drop of a hat, without worrying too much about semicolons.

A restraining order is usually considered an emergency procedure, holding things up until they can be properly sorted out after due consideration.

A restraining order would seem to be especially appropriate when an elected official is openly breaking the law.

[mattdono]

WARNING: Media-Bias Headline Alert. This crap is getting out of hand. The headline might has well been written like this:

Gay couples......Bush......against them

It would be hard to convince me that this isn't purposeful. It is sad. Not that the "gay crowd" is supporting the President, but it is ridiculous that the headlines are this blatantly biased.

[yoe]

"I strongly believe that marriage should be defined as between a man and a woman. I am troubled by activist judges who are defining marriage," he said."

So do I Mr. President, so do I. I also believe that elected officials who break the law, should be removed from that job - if they aren't, then anyone can break the law as it means nothing...

[Living Free in NH]

Gay couples queue to wed in San Francisco

Yeah, one behind the other...

[FormerLib]

Go lemmings, go!

[Sabertooth]

US President George W. Bush said he was "troubled" by the same-sex marriages, which have won a legal respite.

Bush said he was following the situation "very carefully," after more than 2,600 homosexual marriages were sanctioned by the city during the past six days.

The president, who has warned several times that he may seek or endorse a constitutional amendment making such unions illegal, told reporters at the White House that "these events are influencing my decision."

"I strongly believe that marriage should be defined as between a man and a woman. I am troubled by activist judges who are defining marriage," he said.

"Troubled?"

Who does Bush think he is, Tom Daschle?

The President has moved like a slug out of the blocks on same-sex marriage. It was obvious from the moment Lawrence v. Texas was handed down that a CMA would be necessary. President Bush is still figuring it out, still making his decision. He is eight months behind the curve on the most important issue of our times. If we fail to protect the institution of marriage, the War on Terror isn't worth winning and our borders aren't worth defending.

Marriage, the fundamental unit of civilization, is under seige from the radicals and perverts on the Left, and President Bush needs to get his act together and lead the fight to save it.

[Dane]

Ok, when are you guys going to start the bombing of San Francisco.

I guess that is the only thing that will make you all happy.

Sheesh this is a state issue and a Constitutional amendment has to be passed by 2/3rd's of both houses and then 3/4's of the states and the president has nothing to do with it.

You know that the mayor of San Francisco is not going to be arrested and this will be going through the courts and the 9th circus in San Francisco will side with the mayor, especially with all the Clinton and Carter appointees on that court.

Oh that's right you two show your anger at Bush, rather than the real culprit the mayor.

With "friends" like you two, who needs enemies.

[Sabertooth]

Ok, when are you guys going to start the bombing of San Francisco.

I guess that is the only thing that will make you all happy.

C'mon, Dane, you can come up with a better strawman in that fey, affectatious way of yours.

Sheesh this is a state issue and a Constitutional amendment has to be passed by 2/3rd's of both houses and then 3/4's of the states and the president has nothing to do with it.

Then why is he commenting at all on the matter?

While it's true that the President has no official role in the Amendment process, what he, and we, are discussing is his role as Head of State, and his occupation of the Bully Pulpit. The President, as slow as he's been in forumlating it, at least understands that he needs to respond to the attack on marriage, and that he has a role.

Oh that's right you two show your anger at Bush, rather than the real culprit the mayor.

With "friends" like you two, who needs enemies.

With friends like us, who needs yes-men and yes-posters?

The Mayor of San Francisco is one of many culprits who have been massing themselves for the assault on marriage for years. It was inevitable, once Lawrence v. Tesxas was handed down, that a life or death battle in the Culture Wars would be fought preserving the insitution of marriage.

So, no, the President doesn't get a pass; he needs to roll up his sleeves and fight.

[Dane]

Then why is he commenting at all on the matter?

Because he was asked. Also he gave his answer many times. What part of the answer that marriage should be between a man and a woman don't you understand.

Why don't you ask mayor newsom the same question.

So, no, the President doesn't get a pass..

JMO, it seems that you are giving mayor newsom the pass, with your vitriol towards Bush.

Could you show me Bush's Executive Order allowing same sex marriages.

You can't but you still blame him. What else is new.

[Dead Corpse]

Moot point. The Mayor is already in violation of California law. It was passed by the legislature and signed into law that Marriage in California would be defined along classical lines. The Mayor is in direct contravention of that and is violating the law under the official auspices of his office.

Isn't that a felony? Why hasn't he been arrested yet? McClintock was on O'Reilly last night. Stated quite clearly that if he hadn't lost to Arnie, then Mayor "Happypants" would be in jail right now. Sounds about right... If the 9th Circus comes down on the Mayors side, throw them in jail as well. The law is QUITE clear on this. If Arnie FAILS to do his duty, then a jail cell can be found for him as well.

[yoe]

President Bush is still figuring it out, still making his decision.

You must admit Saber, this is not an easy one - I think Bush has made it very clear that he believes as you/we do that Marriage, the fundamental unit of civilization is between man and woman. Give him a break - the press will side with the gays in any case. Same-sex unions for legal purposes should be the avenue to take. The majority of homosexuals feel as we do and wish this would just go away – not so with the activists who the media/press love to stir the pot with, selling more paper and creating more trouble for heterosexuals.

[Mike Darancette]

Some mayor will say that to deny concealed carry permits to any citizen that requests one is unconstitutional and issue them Carte Blanche. Let's see how long it will take to get an injunction and the mayor jailed.

[Sabertooth]

You must admit Saber, this is not an easy one - I think Bush has made it very clear that he believes as you/we do that Marriage, the fundamental unit of civilization is between man and woman.

It's easier than 9/11.

Clinton made it clear, in words, that he was troubled by terrorism. It wasn't enough.

The response of President bush to the threat of same-sex marriage, and the consequential floodgates of marital redefinitions that will ensue, has been lip service thus far.

Give him a break - the press will side with the gays in any case.

No, no breaks, and certainly no breaks because of hadnwringing over what the press might say. The press is wrong and most of the American people will disagree with them. We shouldn't fear when the press is out of step, we should seize those opportunities and put them on the defensive.

[biblewonk]

Gays don't realize it but they are starting to P*ss off a lot of their fellow democrats and are going to end up strengthening the Republican party. They will ultimately weaken the whole gay movement by going too far. Well, I'm hoping anyway.

[Sabertooth]

Moot point. The Mayor is already in violation of California law.

When the courts moot the law, the point is not moot.

Without a CMA, we'll be fighting these backwater battles endlessly, until we weary of it a decade or two hence and another generation becomes inured to meaningless redefinitions of marriage. Then, it will be too late to do anything about it short of civil war.

[Dead Corpse]

So go ahead and trash the First Amendment. Get government even further involved in an area that it has no business being in. IE; religion.

Just don't come cryin' to the rest of us when it backfires on crap like this.

[Sabertooth]

Because he was asked. Also he gave his answer many times. What part of the answer that marriage should be between a man and a woman don't you understand.

Another weak straw man. You're not even on what passes for your dishonest game, boy.

I fully understand the definition, as does President Bush. The problem now is that President Bush has been slow in understanding that marriage is being redefined whether he, you, or I like it or not, and that there is only one certain way to end this in favor of the tradiltional definition of marriage: a Constitutional Marriage Amendment.

Why don't you ask mayor newsom the same question.

Newsome has already answered.

Talking to him is like Madeline Albright talking to Kim Jong Il.

JMO, it seems that you are giving mayor newsom the pass, with your vitriol towards Bush.

See above.

Do you prefer the taste of brown, or black boot polish?

Could you show me Bush's Executive Order allowing same sex marriages.

You can't but you still blame him. What else is new.

Another straw man.

I'm not blaming the President for allowing same-sex marriages, I'm blaming him for being slow to recognize and respond to the threat of them. It's not enough that his heart's in the right place, he needs to get out in front on this issue and make up for eight months of lost time.

And you, Dane, ought to spend less time and energy being such a dishonest little delta-troll shill, hoping for some beta or alpha to come along and make an attempt at salvaging your weak, fallacious argumentation. < / futile belaboring of the obvious>

[Sabertooth]

So go ahead and trash the First Amendment. Get government even further involved in an area that it has no business being in. IE; religion.

A CMA doesn't trash the First Amendment.

It is also, to be sure, an imperfect solution, borne of necessity. Had we impeached a few dozen judges for unconstitutional overreach over the past century. we wouldn't be in this situation. Now, we have reached the point where "living document" theory threatens our civilization.

Just don't come cryin' to the rest of us when it backfires on crap like this.

The threat to our Constitution and way of life from the left comes through rogue judges, not Amendments.