Posted on 04/30/2006 4:25:57 PM PDT by DBeers
WASHINGTON Former Sen. John Danforth says a conservative push to ban gay marriage through a constitutional amendment is silly, calling it the latest example of how the political influence of evangelical Christians is hurting the GOP.
Danforth, a Missouri Republican and an Episcopal priest, made the comments in a speech Saturday night to the Log Cabin Republicans, which support gay rights. He said history has shown that attempts to regulate human behavior with constitutional amendments are misguided.
"Once before, the Constitution was amended to try to deal with matters of human behavior; that was prohibition. That was such a flop that that was repealed 13 years later," Danforth said.
Referring to the marriage amendment, he added that perhaps at some point in history there was a constitutional amendment proposed that was "sillier than this one, but I don't know of one."
The Senate is scheduled to vote in June on a constitutional amendment that its supporters hope will head off any decision in the federal courts that could legalize gay marriage. The measure would need to be approved by two-thirds of those voting in the House and Senate and then be ratified by at least 38 state legislatures.
But Danforth said he is opposed. "The basic concept of the Republican Party is to interpret the Constitution narrowly, not expansively, so that legislatures, and especially state legislatures, can work out over a period of time the social issues in our country," he said.
Danforth was always wishy-washy on some things but he's become a full-fledged liberal, it seems.
Do the majority of Episcopals even believe in the Bible anymore!?
Anyways, Danforth is a RINO, he was a RINO in the senate, and he hasn't worked a day in his life, he is spoiled, he comes from a rich family, and was rarely a practicing pastor, he was in elected office almost all of his life. I resent everyone like him.
Ah yes. Christians who support traditional marriage are hurting the GOP, but butt-packers disguised as Republicans aren't.
Opposition to "homosexual marriage" wins over more Democrats and Independents to the Republican cause that any other issue.
If we lose a few enemies from within as a result, that's a good thing.
I have to agree here, this is a state issue and should not be molested by the federal government like abortion was.
####Former Sen. John Danforth says a conservative push to ban gay marriage through a constitutional amendment is silly, calling it the latest example of how the political influence of evangelical Christians is hurting the GOP.####
Oh sure! It's political suicide for the GOP to back a proposal that has won every time it's been placed on a referendum ballot, always by at least a comfortable margin and usually by a huge margin. GOP support for traditional marriage must be the cause of the current low polling numbers for President Bush and the Republican congress. It surely has nothing to do with their embrace of amnesty for illegal aliens, an idea Danforth would not doubt endorse.
I've never heard of them, but is there a list of members of the Log Cabin Republicans?
not doubt = no doubt. TYPO!
Danforth is why I left Missouri
Hello...rouge judges have legislated from the bench and miraculously discovered a clause that gays and lesbians can be married. That is why a constitutional amendment banning gay marriages is being discussed in the first place.
Danforth doesn't know what he's talking about. Anyone who gives a speech to the LCR is not a conservative.
More mushy RINO crap.
What fire?
Where's Waco?
What's a few burned up women and children when someone has violated ATF regs?
If he is a real priest the Pope is Protestant. He is a politician first and foremost. You can tell by the B/S he spews.
They're not Republicans, they're a bunch of liberal infiltrators trying to water down the GOP, just like the Soros-funded Main Street Republicans and Republicans for Choice are doing.
I bet I know which mountain the log cabin is on.
John Danforth is practicing heresy when he says that. He must be pandering to the homosexuals because he has got to know better. Why would he want to mock marriage? Or does he not know what is going on here in this attempt to dissolve traditional marriage? He is playing into the Marxist playbook and our country slips into socialism.
It wasn't easy building that log cabin. They forced the logs into the wrong openings.
Danforth also supports embryonic stem cell research. His is an odd theology.
Danforth: Ban on Gay Marriage a Silly Idea
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