Bush rallies backong for gay marriage ban
President George Bush rallied support today for a ban on gay marriage.
His move came as the United States Senate opened a volatile, election-year debate on a constitutional amendment to prohibit same-sex weddings that has little chance of passing Congress but is popular with Bush’s conservative base.
“Changing the definition of marriage would undermine the structure of the family,” said Bush, who raised the issue’s profile with an event at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington.
As the president spoke for the amendment, the Senate opened three days of debate. As an amendment to the Constitution, the proposal requires for passage a two-thirds yes votes in each chamber of Congress, then approval by three-fourths of the 50 states.
Neither chamber is likely to pass the amendment. The 217-year-old document has been amended only 27 times.
All but one of the Senate Democrats – the exception is Ben Nelson of Nebraska - oppose the measure and, with moderate Republicans, are expected to block an up-or-down vote, killing the measure for the year.
Bush, during his appearance, criticised judges who have overturned state laws similar in intent to the proposed legislation.
“Marriage is the most fundamental institution of civilisation, and it should not be redefined by activist judges,” he said.
Traditional marriage, Bush said, is the cornerstone of a healthy society.
The issue should be put “back where it belongs: in the hands of the American people”, he added.
Democrats say the amendment is a divisive bow to religious conservatives and point out that it conflicts with the Republicans’ opposition to big government interference.
“A vote for this amendment is a vote for bigotry pure and simple,” said Democratic Senator Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts, where the state Supreme Court legalised marriages between homosexuals in 2003.
White House press secretary Tony Snow said there was a political dimension to Bush’s remarks, but the president was not calling senators to persuade them to pass the amendment.
“I’m not sure this is a big driver among voters,” Snow said.
Bush’s views on the federal marriage amendment differ from those held by Vice President Dick Cheney, whose daughter, Mary, is a lesbian.
Cheney said he thinks Americans should do everything they can to tolerate and accommodate whatever kind of relationships people want to enter. He said he does not think there should necessarily be a federal policy in this area.
