February 24, 2004
Bush Backs Marriage Amendment
Unsurprising, but Bush will back a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages. This is wrong for so many reasons. Do we really want to enshrine intolerance in the constitution? Shouldn't this remain a state-decided issue? What happened to the conservative belief in federalism? And why do Christians obsess about homosexuality when the Bible pays so little attention to it compared to other problems and sins? What effect will the complete loss of the gay vote have on the election? Will Bush's attempt to energize his right wing base with this issue result in a net gain or loss in votes?
UPDATE: Andrew Sullivan writes 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.
Left-wing conspiracists are speculating that Newsome's antics in San Fransisco helped set the stage for this. Certainly I don't believe Newsome is trying to help the Republicans, but he has certainly provided the GOP with some ammo.
Gay bashing may help Republican turn-out (especially in key swing states like West Virginia, Missouri, etc.) but it could of course backfire.
At least there is hope that urban Bush apologists like Sullivan will finally join the ABB coalition and further undermine the GOP's credibility among yuppies, bohos and Southpark Republicans.
I think Sullivan has made it pretty clear that if he doesn't actually vote against Bush, he won't be voting for him.
holy crap - sully's seen the light!
and i think he's still a brit citizen - he can't vote.
Oh yeah... Well, at least he can serve as a highly visible critic and a good example to other potentially disillusioned Bush supporters.
Well we'll see--Sullivan has a long history of whining about Bush's anti-gay agenda. And besides, there's not really any difference between Bush and Kerry on this issue ;)
Yes, but that was before Bush actively came out in support of an amendment. His fiscal irresponsibility was already getting to Sullivan, but balanced by his hawkishness. The gay marriage issue seems to have tipped the scale into the anti-Bush camp. But, as you say, we'll see. As for Kerry's position:
Kerry opposes gay marriage but does not support a constitutional amendment
From this article in the WaPo.
I was just kidding :)
I see. I thought so, but wasn't sure. :) They're both against gay marriage, though I think Bush's opposition stems from actual moral beliefs whereas Kerry's is from political calculation. Still, a constitutional amendment?! Gah.