MSNBC - Politics: A Gay-Marriage Wedge
MSNBC - Politics: A Gay-Marriage Wedge: "Politics: A Gay-Marriage WedgeNewsweekJune 28 issue - He hadn't used the phrase 'sanctity of marriage' since March, but at the Southern Baptist conference last week, President Bush reiterated his call for a no-gay-marriage amendment. Then Senate GOP leaders said they'd bring the issue to a vote in July. Why the sudden heat? It's a wedge issue for Democrats, peeling off traditional constituencies like African-American clergy. It also boosts Bush with the right, which has grumbled that he's been too quiet on gay marriage. The Senate vote is set just weeks before John Kerry accepts the nomination in his home state of Massachusetts�the one state that currently allows gays to marry. Though Kerry doesn't support gay marriage, he's against a federal amendment. A vote means that senators 'won't be able to waffle back and forth,' says Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist. Few believe amendment backers have the two-thirds majority needed to change the Constitution�and probably not even the 60 votes needed to cut off a filibuster. Still, GOPers want to get Dems on the record�especially those such as South Dakotan Tom Daschle, who face tight re-election bids. One Hill Dem says: 'This is pure, raw, unadulterated politics.'
�Debra Rosenberg "
- posted by liz @ 6/22/2004 12:26:00 PM