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Senators Move Up Anti-Gay Amendment
Debate Expected To Begin Friday
by Paul Johnson
365Gay.com Newscenter
Washington Bureau Chief
Posted: July 8, 2004 8:04 pm ET
(Washington) Debate on the the Federal Marriage Amendment is expected to begin Friday in the Senate. Sources in the Republican Party say they want the debate to begin before the weekend to allow churches to drum up support and have their congregations begin a massive blitz Monday on senators prior to a vote that now could take place early in the week.
By beginning the debate Friday the issue would blanket the media over the weekend and reduce the amount of air time that Democratic presidential hopeful John Kerry would get. Since announcing John Edwards as his running mate earlier this week Kerry has monopolized much of the news coverage.
"It's all about politics, folks. Let's face it," said Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif). "We're going to go on to gay marriage before the Democratic convention so some people can cast a vote that might hurt them in their election. Shame on us."
Senators fighting for the constitutional amendment would have to secure a two-thirds vote — 67 of the Senate's 100 members — to approve it. Some supporters questioned Thursday whether they had even the 60 votes needed to overcome procedural hurdles.
"We're going to have to see how that vote comes out," said Sen. Wayne Allard, the Colorado Republican who drafted the proposed amendment.
In addition, House Republican leaders who were once unenthusiastic about President Bush's call for a constitutional amendment against recognizing gay marriages now say they plan to bring the idea to a vote just before next November's election.
"We feel like marriage is under attack. Marriage is a spiritual bond between one man and one woman," House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, said.
"I came to realize, in the end, we're going to have to do a constitutional amendment if we want to protect marriage."
Lobbyists on both sides of the gay marriage issue were busy Thursday on the Hill buttonholing senators, but it is still not clear if the GOP has the votes necessary to pass the proposed amendment that defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman.
The nation's largest LGBT civil rights group, the Human Rights Campaign, Thursday afternoon began moving its "marriage war room" to an office on Capitol Hill in preparation for the Senate debate.
"Spending time on a discriminatory amendment instead of pressing issues like homeland security is shameful," said HRC President Cheryl Jacques. "The American people want Congress focused on issues that would help Americans, not undermining the Constitution. All fair-minded voters should call their Senators' offices and tell them to get back to business."
President Bush announced his support for the amendment in February. Kerry and Edwards oppose same-sex marriage but support civil unions. Neither would support a constitutional amendment.
Wednesday, the Human Rights Campaign launched a massive ad campaign to defeat the amendment.
(\\__/) And if you don't believe The sun will rise
(='.'=) Stand alone and greet The coming night
(")_(") In the last remaining light. (C. Cornell)
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Playing Politics: Senate Moves Up Vote on Anti-Gay Amendment 
