Gay Marriage
The issue of gay marriage
has become one of the most talked about issues facing
Americans and is escalating the "culture wars" that
have been raging for years. This is obviously a very difficult
issue, and both sides have compelling arguments as to what is
a fair resolution of the issue.
There are no easy answers here, though many Americans seem
comfortable granting economic and other rights to gay couples
while stopping short of calling this "marriage." It
will take years to figure this out, and well-meaning
individuals on both sides will hopefully help find a solution
that works, probably on a state-by-state basis.
Given this context, it is very disappointing that President
Bush would decide to use this issue as a wedge issue in the
context of amending to Constitution, perhaps our most sacred
document along with the Declaration of Independence. This
decision might be brilliant politically, or it could blow up in the President's face if independents see it as a
political stunt, but in any event it's one of the most cynical
actions taken by a president in years.
Here's a great
cartoon on the subject. (Updated
2/26/04 by G. Orlando)
REACTIONS:
Not surprisingly, Andrew
Sullivan is deeply disappointed by Bush's decision:
"The president launched a war yesterday against the civil rights of gay citizens and their families. And just as importantly, he launched a war to defile the most sacred document in the land. Rather than allow the contentious and difficult issue of equal marriage rights to be fought over in the states, rather than let politics and the law take their course, rather than keep the Constitution out of the culture wars, this president wants to drag the very founding document into his re-election campaign. He is proposing to remove civil rights from one group of American citizens - and do so in the Constitution itself.
"The message could not be plainer: these citizens do not fully belong in America. Their relationships must be stigmatized in the very Constitution itself. The document that should be uniting the country will now be used to divide it, to single out a group of people for discrimination itself, and to do so for narrow electoral purposes. Not since the horrifying legacy of Constitutional racial discrimination in this country has such a goal been even thought of, let alone pursued. Those of us who supported this president in 2000, who have backed him whole-heartedly during the war, who have endured scorn from our peers as a result, who trusted that this president was indeed a uniter rather than a divider, now know the truth."
-Andrew Sullivan, 2/24/04
LATEST BUZZ:
10/14/04
ANDREW ON
MARY: Andrew Sullivan
weighs in on the Mary
Cheney debate. Andrew defends Kerry's reference to
Cheney's gay daughter in last night's debate. Kerry has issued
a statement saying we was trying to say something positive
about families with gay children. Meanwhile, in Ohio,
Republican Governor Bob Taft came out against the state ballot
initiative that would ban gay marriage along with civil
unions, arguing that the measure would encourage
lawsuits and make it more difficult to attract high-skilled
workers to the state.
NEWS:
Supreme
Court won't review Mass. gay marriage law (MSNBC)
The
politics of gay marriage (Newsday)
Senate
rejects constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage (CNN)
Bush
presses case against gay marriage (AP)
California
Supreme Court halts same-sex marriages (CNN)
Debate
over same-sex marriage spreads (CNN)
Bush
losing support of gay Republicans. (Newsweek)
MORE COMMENTARY:
Bill Kristol
offers a shrill
condemnation of Kerry's reference to Mary Cheney in the
final debate. William Buckley, on the other hand, doesn't
seem that excited about the matter.
Andrew Sullivan
explains the difference
between the Bush and Kerry positions on gay marriage.
William F. Buckley
offers an
alternative for Bush.
Ryan Lizza
of The
New Republic gives his take on the
political impact of Bush's proposed gay marriage amendment.
Gersh Kuntzman gets hate
mail after he writes a column in favor of gay marriage.
HUMOR:
"Governor Schwarzenegger has come out against gay marriage and then he went back to slathering body oil all over his muscles in front of other guys." —
Craig Kilborn
"President Bush said he was 'troubled' by gay people getting married in San Francisco. He said on important issues like this the people should make the decision, not judges. Unless of course we're choosing a president, then he prefers judges." —
Jay Leno
"Some see the move as an attempt to preserve traditional values, while others see it as a cynical ploy to ensure that Vice President Dick Cheney will never
have to pay for his gay daughter's wedding." —
Jon Stewart
See more humor at About.com.
Comments, questions and suggestions can be sent to Gerardo
Orlando at editor@orlandoreport.com.
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