Republicans in political trouble, enter anti-gay marriage amendment - again

I am struck by the relation between two recent news stories.

In yesterday's (Sunday) issue the NYT reports that

"Despite polls showing rising support for Democrats and scorn for Republicans, analysts have said Democrats hopes for big gains remain remote,because so few seats are in contention.

That appears to be changing."

The article quotes Andrew Kohut Pew Research Center director:

"Everything is pointing to a pretty big Democratic victory if attitudes toward Congress remain as negative as they are and attitudes toward President Bush remain as negative as they are" ... "It's hard to imagine any way that wouldn't happen."

Unless. And that's where the second story comes in.

Illustration: Mirko Ilic
from Village Voice
"Colorado Sen. Wayne Allard said he hopes this is the year the U.S. Senate will vote for his proposed constitutional ban on gay marriage, which cleared a key committee Thursday and is headed to the full Senate in June.

"'Now is the time to send to the states a constitutional amendment that protects traditional marriage and prevents judges from rewriting traditional marriage laws,' said Allard, a Republican.

"Allard and Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, R-Colo., sponsored the amendment in 2004, but it failed in both the House and Senate.

"Thursday's party-line vote was a small victory. The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the measure which states, 'Marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman.'

"But its chances of passing the full Senate are slim. Democrats and opponents of the measure accused Republican leaders of pushing the amendment in an election year, purely for political reasons." (for complete article see The Denver Channel)

Or as the American Agenda blog asserts:

"Senators [Bill] Frist and [Rick] Santorum are feeling threatened. With only six months before the November election, the two Republicans are ready to pull out all the stops to try to save their own asses.

"Play one in the book: marginalize the gays!"


Much needs to be done before the totally opportunistic Republicans try to slip by the first constitutional amendment designed to specifically discriminate against a group of U.S. citizens. And the American Agenda blog gives you much useful information

Also see the Human Rights Campaign against the amendment.