Constitutional Amendment on Marriage Fails

Fox News ^

[andy58-in-nh]

Constitutional Amendment on Marriage Fails

Wednesday, June 07, 2006 WASHINGTON — A constitutional amendment to define marriage as a union between one man and one woman stalled Wednesday in a 49-48 vote, but conservative backers say they are pleased to have had the vote nonetheless.

"For thousands of years, marriage — the union between a man and a woman — has been recognized as an essential cornerstone of society. ... We must continue fighting to ensure the Constitution is amended by the will of the people rather than by judicial activism,” said Senate Majority leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., after the vote.

A constitutional amendment needs two-thirds votes to pass, but first had to get through the procedural cloture vote, which requires 60 senators to agree to end the debate and move toward final passage.

Shy 11 votes to go to a final debate, few crossed the political aisle to vote against their party's majority position. Republican Sens. John McCain, Susan Collins, Olympia Snowe, Judd Gregg, Arlen Specter, Lincoln Chafee and John Sununu voted against the cloture vote. Democratic Sens. Ben Nelson and Robert Byrd voted for it, as they did in 2004. Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel and Demcratic Sens. Chris Dodd and Jay Rockefeller were absent.

[cvq3842]

oh my

the very definition of RINO

[Siena Dreaming]

Well, I'm ready to move on to a topic we can all agree on, like killing terrorists.

Well, you may want to move on from the marriage amendment then.

[linda_22003]

That would be an interesting topic to research. :) Let us know what you find out!

[DesScorp]

" I agree with the previos poster; the states that want the ban will ban it themselves."

That's not good enough.

All it will take to nationalize gay marriage is some 9th circuit judge to declare that the non-gay marriage states HAVE to recognizes gay marriages from the states that allow it. That's unnacceptable

This is why liberatarians are useless. They're willing to let the country rot socially, refusing to recognize the problems that the social rot causes.

[conservative physics]

outlawing gay marriage is enshrining "discrimination" into the constitution..

it's simply stating that two mentally ill people shouldn't have the ability to dismantle western society to fulfill their sick perverts dementia's.

[b4its2late]

Kerry (D-MA), Nay

Mr. Swisshy himself.

[ofwaihhbtn]

I am glad you see it that way. But what would you say to the NAMBLA couple who accuses you of imposing your personal opinion of what is "natural" and "moral" on them? Why should they be ruled by what they consider to be your silly religous/philosophical beliefs?

I am sure you see where I am going with this. I want to know how you would answer the NAMBLA couple because I want to hear you explain the logical basis for your willingness to impose your morality on them in such a way that your argument doesn't also make clear the justification of the imposition of traditional ideas of what is "natural" and "moral" on gays who want the state to sanction their "marriages."

[davidosborne]

You have missed the ENTIRE point of this debate IMHO.

The COURTS have forced the issue to Federal Level NOT the PEOPLE. WE NEED a U.S. Constitutional ammendment defining marriage as a union of ONE man and ONE woman.. the STATES may choose to create whatever garbage they want "OTHER THAN MARRIAGE".... the problem is that CONGRESS has punted the issue back to the courts for litigation.. Homosexual activist have prevailed today, and now they can continue to push their agenda in the federal courts.... a SAD DAY for America indeed.

David

[maxter]

Hagel not voting. What a surprise.

[steveegg]

Instead of fixing the problem all it'd do is turn the constitution into a dictionary.

I know of 3 Supreme Court justices (and on occassion a fourth) that need the refresher course.

[maica]

It was the removal of a state's right to make and rescind laws regarding bedroom behavior. It is the ruling upon which the Mass Supreme Court based its ruling that Mass had to call same sex bedroom behavior a "marriage."

[Durus]

The bottom line for me in this debate is that while I do think gay marriage is wrong, giving the power to government (any branch at any level) to regulate marriage is far worse then having gays marry. Government has enough trouble fulfilling their constitutional duties as it is...no sense giving them any more power to abuse.

[Siena Dreaming]

than to allow them to go home and insist they "tried"

Well, they did try. Good for them.

In addition to showing they tried... because politicians often take many sides of an issue, it is an opportunity for constituents to actually see where their Senator comes down and the vote provided that.

Don't agree with you on McCain. He's been running after the religious right for some time now, even appearing at Jerry Falwell's place. If he was secure in the media's support (which lately has not been so strong with McCain's standing with Bush on the WOT) he wouldn't have the need to pander to the religious right which he has never done before.

His vote today hurt him. Good. I like to see the Senators on record on this issue.

[MarineBrat]

I agree that it would be good if we could let these issues stay with the states, but I also don't believe that the states can withstand the future onslaught of homosexual agenda supporters who will stop at nothing... and I mean nothing... to destroy the morality that our founding fathers recognized as necessary in a free society.

So basically I'm saying that I'd hold my nose and vote for it. :)

[andy58-in-nh]

Republican Sens. John McCain, Susan Collins, Olympia Snowe, Judd Gregg, Arlen Specter, Lincoln Chafee and John Sununu voted against the cloture vote. Anyone surprised?

I'm a little surprised at Sununu, but not very surprised. Too much time in D.C. has a strange effect on many people - they "grow" in office.

[Proverbs 3-5]

Whoever runs against McCain in the primaries in 2008 better use this against McCain. Stick a fork in ole RINO for he is done.

You mean McRino?

[Adams]

Now I'd like to see them take up a Constitutional Amendment getting rid of Birthright Citizenship.

I'd like to put them on record for that one too.