Bush Backs Amendment Banning Gay Marriage [Live Thread 10:45 Statement]

Fox News ^ | 02.24.04

[Dr. Marten]

Bush Backs Amendment Banning Gay Marriage

Breaking news...no details yet..

[Celtjew Libertarian]

The challenge for the supporters of this amendment is to change the terms of the debate from "Civil Rights" to the Greater Good of our Children, etc.

And if it passes on that basis, you'll see the left trying to get a Constitutional Amendment against homeschooling for "the Greater Good of our Children." This opens a whole can of worms for social engineering by Constitutional amendment. That's dangerous ground.

[hocndoc]

I understand. I was just wishing.


The Bat Lady pointed out that there are lots of definitions that could be changed if we appealed to the right judge.

How would the judges like it if we redefined "judge"? Or, better yet, why shouldn't anyone be able to declare herself or himself a "teacher," and demand that the courts and then the various States recognize his or "right" to teach (with salary and perks) in the public schools?

I'll bet my fellow physicians would just shut up and go home if the courts declared our ability to regulate who is and who is not a doctor in each State unconstitutional.

You wouldn't believe the uproar in Austin this summer, when some of the State Representatives introduced a bill to allow any of their number to sit for the Bar, without formal study.

Of course, I'd rather go after the lawyers first.

[Peach]

Sorry to burst your bubble. In my group, every single one of those people had children. AND every single one left their spouse for a gay person. AND I just remembered another case - my neighbor's father.

This is in my relatively small group of acquaintances and among the people who actually DISCUSS and admit to such matters.

[hocndoc]

The President gave us his reason for giving his endorsement at this time: because activist judges have forced our hand.

[section9]

Well, politically we can tell that it was a good move because Richardson is bitching about it, calling it "divisive".

Excellent.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[deport]

President Bush from the 2000 campaign on the issue........

---

• Q: What is your position on gay marriage?

  BUSH: I’m not for gay marriage. I think marriage is a sacred institution between a man and a woman. I appreciated the way the administration signed the Defense of Marriage Act. I presume the vice president supported it.

  GORE: I agree with that, and I did support that law. But I think that we should find a way to allow some kind of civic unions. And I basically agree with Dick Cheney and Joe Lieberman, and I think the three of us have one view and the governor has another view.

  BUSH: I’m not sure what kind of view he’s ascribing to me. One day he says he agrees with me, then he says he doesn’t. I will be a tolerant person. I’ve been a tolerant person all my life. I just happen to believe strongly that marriage is between a man and a woman. I don’t really think it’s any of my concern how you conduct your sex life. That’s a private matter. I support equal rights but not special rights for people.

  Source: Presidential Debate at Wake Forest University Oct 11, 2000

  ---

• Bush invited us, a dozen gay Republicans, after he’d refused to meet with a gay Republican group that criticized him. Bush didn’t like everything we had to say. I was struck with his lack of familiarity with the issues, as well as by his desire to learn.

  Bush admitted that, growing up in Texas, he had not been as open to elements of America’s diverse culture. He had a narrow set of friends and a firm set of traditions. But he was surprised and dismayed to hear that people saw him as intolerant. “What have I said that sent that signal?“ he asked repeatedly.

  He assured us he would hire gays who both were qualified and shared his political views. When one of us talked about his lesbian sister and her partner adopting children, he acknowledged his often-stated belief that gays should not adopt.

  Though Bush was attentive--and does show a willingness to hear all sides--I don’t think we changed his positions. He still opposes gay marriage and opposes classifying crimes against gays as hate crimes.

  Source: Former Congressman Steve Gunderson, Newsweek, p. 43 Apr 24, 2000

  ---

• Q: So if you have gays working for you, that’s fine and you don’t have a problem-you’d appoint gays in the Cabinet and so forth.
  A: Well, I’m not going to ask what their sexual orientation is. I’m going to put conservative people in the cabinet. It’s none of my business what somebody’s [orientation is]. Now, when somebody makes it my business, like on gay marriage, I’m going to stand up and say I don’t support gay marriage. I support marriage between men and women.
  Q: So therefore if a state were voting on gay marriage, you would suggest to that state not to approve it.
  A: The state can do what they want to do. Don’t try to trap me in this state’s issue. Source: GOP Debate on the Larry King Show Feb 15, 2000

  ---

[OldFriend]

Breaking the law and ignoring the constitution are both in the demrat party agenda.

[CA Conservative]

Would it have been more courageous and shown more leadership to have embraced this last May?

No. The issue was not ripe at that time, and the media would have just painted him as an intolerant bigot creating a problem that didn't exist just for political gain. That would have done more harm than good to the cause. As I said in a previous post, in politics, timing is everything. Newsom and the Massachussets SCOJ changed the political dynamic.

I know you don't like Bush, but his timing on this is just about perfect.

[Celtjew Libertarian]

Bravo.

[cyncooper]

This clause does not, and has never required, any state to accept as legal that which it specifically prohibits by law, disingenuous contentions notwithstanding. To interpret it otherwise is to effectively grant any state the ability to override the laws of any other state, which is absurd.

Of course it's absurd. That's the point! That's what these activists have taken upon themselves to do.

[Coop]

That's funny. It's required to believe that Bush hung the moon in order to not be viewed as a Bush basher?

No, but it might help if you answer my question. When was the last time you said something nice, something complimentary about President Bush? I darn sure can't recall a time in recent memory.

[DollyCali]

WWKS (What will Kerry say)??

"Those of us who fought in the jungles of Vietnam know how divisive a ban on gay marriage is. In all my years of public service I've never seen anything so brazen, so immoral, as what Bush is proposing. This is the most horrible thing ever done by the most horrible administration in human history. And no one better dare to criticize my various positions on this matter unless they themselves have war medals."

Toooooo funny... thanks

[TigersEye]

The Founders gave us a way to stop judicial activism.

And just look at all the people flocking to make use of the Constitutional means already at our disposal.

Let me know if you get tired of treading water here.

[Mo1]

Now we just need to devise a method to efficiently impeach these activist judges. They constantly step WAY over the bounds of their authority with no real repercussions.

One of the best ways to deal with these Judges is to educate the american people on what they are doing.

Remember .. not every one is a freeper and gets all the lastest news like we do ..

[altura]

1) I really loathe Kerry

2) I really want him to win the nomination

[justshutupandtakeit]

Slavery was removed by the 13th amendment. Stop embarassing yourself.

[Imal]

Which amendment is it, then, nitpicker?

It is not in an amendment. See my Post #147 for details.

You know what I mean. But, I guess you've got to win on something, since you're getting your butt kicked on opposing an amendment.

Getting my "butt kicked"? If upholding and defending the Constitution requires my butt being kicked, then so be it.

Those doing so, however, may want to consider why they are kicking, and the wisdom of doing so.

[finnman69]

Nearly a year after Musgrave stuck her neck out? A year!

If you are trying to imply that it's equivalent for an obscure Congressional Representative and the President of the United States to make public proposals to ban gay marriage with a constitutional amendment you are politically naive or intentionally ignoring the truth of the situation.

[Recovering_Democrat]

BILL RICHARDSON, 'rat Governor of New Mexico, is on Fox right now saying the President is playing politics...this faux moderate says he "agrees with the President on the substance" but that a Constitutional amendment goes too far; we haven't taken care of prescription drugs yet.

Richardson also says John Kerry has a great record on national security, because he was a war hero in Vietnam.

[Imal]

I am familiar with the clause. See my Post #147 for details.