Chad Clanton?!
Posted on 06/04/2006 6:34:19 PM PDT by JulieRNR21
Both sides chide Nelson for his same-sex stance
Both sides of the gay marriage ban issue have criticized Sen. Bill Nelson for his moderate approach to the issue.
WASHINGTON - Sen. Bill Nelson, a moderate often panned for sidestepping controversial issues, has become a target in the red-meat debate over a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages.
Nelson, a Florida Democrat up for reelection, opposes gay marriage but disapproves of federal intervention and says he is inclined to vote against the likely-to-fail measure, which the Senate is to take up this week.
''He cannot support an amendment that basically puts the courts in a position to intrude on all sorts of relationships,'' Nelson spokesman Dan McLaughlin said, adding the proposal could affect domestic partnerships or other relationships, along with gay marriages.
ELUSIVE VOTERS
Nelson's stance is like that of many Democrats who seek to navigate a path of reaching voters in the middle without alienating those who support letting gays and lesbians marry.
And his stance has already drawn fire from the right, which attacked him in a Focus on the Family newspaper ad last week and singled him out in an e-mail from the Florida Family Association.
''Every child understands how important a mom and a dad are,'' the ad reads. ``But apparently Sen. Nelson needs a reminder.''
McLaughlin called the ad ``typical of the work of polarizing extremists who think they have a monopoly on faith and family values. It's an attempt to smear the senator by making you think he supports gay marriage, which, of course, is not true.''
In contrast, Nelson's likely reelection opponent is an enthusiastic supporter of the federal ban.
On the campaign trail last year, Republican Rep. Katherine Harris told The Miami Herald she expected that a similar measure on the state ballot could boost Republican turnout at the polls -- as it was believed to do in 2004 when it appeared on ballots in several states including Ohio.
''I believe the majority of Americans strongly support the preservation of traditional marriage,'' said the Sarasota Republican, who faces three challengers in the GOP primary. ``We must never undermine the uniqueness of an institution that continues to serve as an essential thread in the fabric of our society.''
Democrats have complained that the GOP -- smarting from the president's declining popularity -- is bringing up the amendment as a political move to mollify its base.
''Welcome to Wedge Month,'' read an e-mail from a Democratic group called the Senate Majority Project.
But Nelson's position on the gay marriage amendment is also drawing heat from some in his Democratic base who say that the senator -- comfortably besting Harris in early polls -- could take a stronger stance.
GUTSY MOVE
One gay and lesbian group said it applauds Nelson for suggesting he will vote against the measure, but is looking at him to denounce it.
''He's running so far ahead of Katherine Harris and the unknowns, he could be much more outspoken in his opposition rather than playing it safe,'' said Stephen Gaskill, spokesman for the Florida Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Democratic Caucus, which boasts 15 chapters across the state. ``There are more than one million gays and lesbians in Florida and most of us are Democrats and it would be nice to have a reason to vote for somebody.''
Nelson's spokesman, McLaughlin, said the Democrat ''firmly believes marriage should be between one man and one woman'' but that the states should regulate marriage.
He notes that Florida already has a law that bans same-sex marriage.
The criticism from the gay and lesbian caucus has been voiced before by other elements of the Democratic base, but Chad Clanton, Nelson's campaign manager, said Nelson isn't about to act otherwise.
''Bill Nelson is someone who approaches his job seriously. He's not that loud; it's just not really his style,'' Clanton said.
Nelson is just another political hack K.Harris is the real deal
BTTT
BTTT
Nelson Sucks, Nuff said
Why does everyone on these Florida Senate threads say that Floridians don't know Nelson's true record? Isn't he the incumbent? If residents don't know his record by now, how will Harris make sure they know? Haven't his previous opponents brought up Nelson's record?
This is a Constitutional Amendment being discussed.
Thanks for the ping.
Sen. Bill Nelson, a moderate often panned for sidestepping controversial issues, has become a target in the red-meat debate over a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages.
Banning? There seems to be quite of bit of misinformation coming from the MSM on this issue -I wonder why?
It may be true that Florida is the only State in the Union successfully banning practicing homosexuals from adopting children; however, this very necessary Constitutional Amendment does not ban ANY flavor of marriage from being considered and enacted in any State or on the Federal level...
The Amendment ONLY bans activist judges...
A legitimate understanding of the Amendment hinges principally on one word, "construe", which one should assume was chosen specifically and intentionally I would disagree with any assessment suggesting a banning when the freedom of the legislature is maintained.
ARTICLESECTION 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...
The hyperbole and propaganda coming from the enraged leftists opposed to this amendment is becoming frenzied and tin foil hatted -no doubt, WHEN it passes, be it now or later, leftist heads will explode scattering tin foil everywhere authentic freedom reins over social engineering leftists.
My wife and I was extremely impressed by Kathrine Harris' friendly and humble personality in our church environment which is NOT typically for politicians visiting our church.
Please ping me when the Alabama primary results are in!
Reading this just makes me even more angry with the jerks in the beltway that did everything this could to destroy Katherine Harris.
It's political junkies like us....who know his voting record....but the general population believes he's a moderate because the biased FL print media has always described him as such. They write only positive articles about him while they ATTACK Harris 24/7.
It's no secret that, with one or two exceptions, the FL newspapers are controlled by liberals who want their Dem cohorts back in power.
Chad Clanton?!
Chad Clanton, recently hired by presidential candidate John Kerry, "worked for Al Gore as well as for consultant James Carville. He also worked on Alex Sanders's failed 2002 Senate campaign in South Carolina."
http://www.wonkette.com/images/come%20back%20now%20yall.jpg
Will do ... and for the record, from this morning's Birmingham news:
"On the Republican side, 69 percent of the surveyed voters said they would vote for Riley, 26 percent preferred Moore and the rest were undecided."
A 43% margin. Margin of error 5%.
We shall see.
Nelson never met a side of an issue he didn't like. So he lays low so as not to piss anybody off. It's working too.
Shame on the GOP for not whacking this guy on a daily basis to expose his wimpishness.
No, the effect is whatever Congress determines by the general laws...
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Got Lithium?
I do not indulge in your habits.
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Humor aside, your argument, if valid, would mean that a person carrying under say the laws of Florida could carry in New York City.
If Congress so determined, then New York would have no other choice...
I think the latest figures show a 30 point loss for Judge Moore. This is about 13 points better than the polls were showing ... but much worse than I was expecting.
So the polls were indeed off by a good bit. The 40+ spread was always ludicrous. But I don't mind admitting I was wrong in expecting a closer race ... something in the 15% or lower neighborhood.
Sometimes the whole poll-driven, money-centered political system depresses me. How many people didn't work like they would have ... or perhaps even didn't vote ... because of what the polls were saying?
At least in Florida, Katherine Harris should have some money to fight back with.
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