Radio Address by the President to the Nation, 06-03-06

WhiteHouse.gov ^ | 06-03-06 | George W. Bush

[Salvation]

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
June 3, 2006

President's Radio Address

      Audio
     

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. Next week, the United States Senate will begin debate on a constitutional amendment that defines marriage in the United States as the union of a man and woman. On Monday, I will meet with a coalition of community leaders, constitutional scholars, family and civic organizations, and religious leaders. They're Republicans, Democrats, and independents who've come together to support this amendment. Today, I want to explain why I support the Marriage Protection Amendment, and why I'm urging Congress to pass it and send it to the states for ratification.

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Marriage is the most enduring and important human institution, honored and encouraged in all cultures and by every religious faith. Ages of experience have taught us that the commitment of a husband and a wife to love and to serve one another promotes the welfare of children and the stability of society. Marriage cannot be cut off from its cultural, religious, and natural roots without weakening this good influence on society. Government, by recognizing and protecting marriage, serves the interests of all.

In our free society, people have the right to choose how they live their lives. And in a free society, decisions about such a fundamental social institution as marriage should be made by the people -- not by the courts. The American people have spoken clearly on this issue, both through their representatives and at the ballot box. In 1996, Congress approved the Defense of Marriage Act by overwhelming bipartisan majorities in both the House and Senate, and President Clinton signed it into law. And since then, voters in 19 states have approved amendments to their state constitutions that protect the traditional definition of marriage. And today, 45 of the 50 states have either a state constitutional amendment or statute defining marriage as the union of a man and a woman. These amendments and laws express a broad consensus in our country for protecting the institution of marriage.

Unfortunately, activist judges and some local officials have made an aggressive attempt to redefine marriage in recent years. Since 2004, state courts in Washington, California, Maryland, and New York have overturned laws protecting marriage in those states. And in Nebraska, a federal judge overturned a state constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.

These court decisions could have an impact on our whole Nation. The Defense of Marriage Act declares that no state is required to accept another state's definition of marriage. If that act is overturned by activist courts, then marriages recognized in one city or state might have to be recognized as marriages everywhere else. That would mean that every state would have to recognize marriages redefined by judges in Massachusetts or local officials in San Francisco, no matter what their own laws or state constitutions say. This national question requires a national solution, and on an issue of such profound importance, that solution should come from the people, not the courts.

An amendment to the Constitution is necessary because activist courts have left our Nation with no other choice. The constitutional amendment that the Senate will consider next week would fully protect marriage from being redefined, while leaving state legislatures free to make their own choices in defining legal arrangements other than marriage. A constitutional amendment is the most democratic solution to this issue, because it must be approved by two-thirds of the House and Senate and then ratified by three-fourths of the 50 state legislatures.

As this debate goes forward, we must remember that every American deserves to be treated with tolerance, respect, and dignity. All of us have a duty to conduct this discussion with civility and decency toward one another, and all people deserve to have their voices heard. A constitutional amendment will put a decision that is critical to American families and American society in the hands of the American people, which is exactly where it belongs. Democracy, not court orders, should decide the future of marriage in America.

Thank you for listening.

 

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Support marriage between a man and a woman!

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Bush backs federal marriage amendment in weekly radio address

[ohioWfan]

Amen, Salvation!

Thank you, Mr. President for standing up for marriage as God intended it to be.

[Salvation]

**Thank you, Mr. President for standing up for marriage as God intended it to be.**

Bump that thought!

[George W. Bush]

The Senate won't pass it. I look for Specter to lead the charge against it. Probably Goober Graham and McStain will be jostling to out-idiot each other by heaping scorn on the usual suspects: the conservative base of the GOP.

[DBeers]

FYI:

President Bush will hold a press conference in the Rose Garden of the White House to reiterate his support of the FMA Federal Marriage Amendment. The Rose Garden press conference is scheduled for Monday, June 5, a day before the Senate is expected to vote on the Constitutional Amendment.

The Senate votes on the Federal Marriage Amendment is only days away, there is no longer enough time to mail your Senators. However, You can contact your senators by e-mail by clicking here: E-Mail Your U.S. Senators.

You may use this sample text in your message:

---

Dear Senator [name]:

I strongly support Senate Joint Resolution 1 , the Marriage Protection Amendment, which will be brought up for consideration soon. It would amend the U.S. Constitution to state that “Marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman.”

Marriage is more than a lifestyle choice. It makes a unique contribution to the common good of society by providing a way for a man and a woman to bring children into the world and to care for them in the context of a loving, committed, lifetime relationship. I ask you to vote in favor of S.J. Res. 1, in order to permanently protect the institution of marriage.

Sincerely,

[Your name] [Your address]

---

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An amendment to the Constitution is necessary because activist courts have left our Nation with no other choice. The constitutional amendment that the Senate will consider next week would fully protect marriage from being redefined, while leaving state legislatures free to make their own choices in defining legal arrangements other than marriage. A constitutional amendment is the most democratic solution to this issue, because it must be approved by two-thirds of the House and Senate and then ratified by three-fourths of the 50 state legislatures.

[Salvation]

Don't the Senators who are up for re-election realize where their base is? They just don't make sense to me.

[Salvation]

Thanks for those links DBeers.

[DBeers]

:-)

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[La Enchiladita]

I wish he would have spoken in defense of our troops, specifically our Marines, instead of ... marriage?

[guitarist]

All presidents do some bad things and some good things. This--along with his court appointments--is such a good thing President Bush has done, that, in my opinion, it greatly outweighs the bad things he has done and the other good things he has failed to do.

Don't you think so?

[Earthdweller]

Amen.

[LarryMohr]

I don't see how You can support this Marriage Amendment when it takes away rights of the People and Freedoms we are supposed to be "Spreading" around the world. If We believe in Freedom as we CLAIM that we do. How can we as a Nation forbid people from getting married simply because of their sexual orientation. To me that screams Hypocrisy.

Sincerely
Larry

[DBeers]

I don't see how You can support this Marriage Amendment when it takes away rights of the People and Freedoms we are supposed to be "Spreading" around the world. If We believe in Freedom as we CLAIM that we do. How can we as a Nation forbid people from getting married simply because of their sexual orientation. To me that screams Hypocrisy.

I suggest you read the proposed Amendment.

Based upon my interpretation which hinges principally on one word, "construe", which I assume was chosen specifically and intentionally I would disagree with your assessment regarding the freedom of a legislature.

ARTICLE

SECTION 1. This article may be cited as the ‘Marriage Protection Amendment’.

SECTION 2. Marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman. Neither this Constitution, nor the constitution of any State, shall be construed to require that marriage or the legal incidents thereof be conferred upon any union other than the union of a man and a woman.’’.

CONSTRUE: To adduce or explain the meaning of; interpret...

The Amendment simply removes a judicial ability to construe a marital construct and leaves open the question legislatively at both federal and state levels...