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Bush Says He Could Back Gay Marriage Ban
MyWay News ^

Posted on 12/17/2003 6:34:02 AM PST by Happy2BMe

Dec 16, 9:45 PM (ET)

By JENNIFER LOVEN

(AP) President Bush waves to reporters after attending the Diplomatic Corps Holiday Reception on...
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WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush said Tuesday that he could support a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.

The Massachusetts Supreme Court last month struck down that state's ban on same-sex marriage, saying it is unconstitutional and giving state lawmakers six months to craft a way for gay couples to wed.

Bush has condemned the ruling before, citing his support for a federal definition of marriage as a solely man-woman union. On Tuesday, he criticized it as "a very activist court in making the decision it made."

"The court, I thought, overreached its bounds as a court," Bush said. "It did the job of the Legislature."

(AP) President Bush talks to ABC News host Diane Sawyer, not shown, in this image made from television...
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Previously, though Bush has said he would support whatever is "legally necessary to defend the sanctity of marriage," he and his advisers have shied away from specifically endorsing a constitutional amendment asserting that definition.

But on Tuesday, the president waded deeper into the topic, saying state rulings such as the one in Massachusetts and a couple of other states "undermine the sanctity of marriage" and could mean that "we may need a constitutional amendment."

"If necessary, I will support a constitutional amendment which would honor marriage between a man and a woman, codify that," he said. "The position of this administration is that whatever legal arrangements people want to make, they're allowed to make, so long as it's embraced by the state or at the state level."

Bush said he believes his view on the topic does not make him intolerant.

"I do believe in the sanctity of marriage ... but I don't see that as conflict with being a tolerant person or an understanding person," he said.

His remarks drew criticism from gay rights groups.

"It is never necessary to insert prejudice and discrimination into the U.S. Constitution - a document that has a proud history of being used to expand an individual's liberty and freedom, not to take them away," said Winnie Stachelberg, political director of the Human Rights Campaign.

The president also said that he - like any politician - could lose his next run for office, next year's bid for a second term in the White House.

"Everybody's beatable in a democracy," Bush said. "And that's the great thing about a democracy. People get to make that decision. I know how I'm voting."

Bush said he has not decided who would be in his Cabinet and other top administration posts - other than retaining Vice President Dick Cheney - if he is "fortunate enough" to win.

Bush reiterated that he doesn't read newspapers and prefers getting the news - without opinion, he said - from White House chief of staff Andrew Card and national security adviser Condoleezza Rice. First Lady Laura Bush, who appeared briefly during the interview, said she does read the papers and often discusses them with her husband.

The president also said he doesn't watch reality television, but the Bushes both watch lots of sports on television and are hoping to see the movies "Something's Gotta Give" and "Elf" over the holidays.


TOPICS: Extended News
KEYWORDS: bush; culturewars; gaymarriage; homosexualagenda; homosexualvice; legilatingsin; marriage; marriageamendment; prisoners; protectmarriage; romans1; sin; vicenotvirtue; westerncivilization
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In the not to distant past, a man marrying another man and having it codified by the USSC was unthinkable.

Now, even in the ranks of the "conservative" Republican party . .

1 posted on 12/17/2003 6:34:03 AM PST by Happy2BMe
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To: Happy2BMe; Viking2002; Willie Green; JCEccles; WOSG; little jeremiah; pyx; 185JHP; SJSAMPLE; ...
Bush Says He Could Back Gay Marriage Ban ping!
2 posted on 12/17/2003 6:40:14 AM PST by Happy2BMe (2004 - Who WILL the TERRORISTS vote for? - - Not George W. Bush, THAT'S for sure!)
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To: Happy2BMe
You've got my vote Mr. president!!!!!!!!!!!
3 posted on 12/17/2003 7:02:16 AM PST by sarge4
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To: Happy2BMe
Anybody backing Gay Marriage is certainly not a conservative or a true Christian. Wsy to go Mr. President.
4 posted on 12/17/2003 7:03:07 AM PST by ohioman
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To: Happy2BMe
This *is* a bad idea. The purpose of the Constitution was to *limit* federal power in the face of protecting liberty. Bush is two-faced in saying he's a states rights fan on one hand while championing a federal constitutional change which would effect each and every state.

"Sanctity of marriage" is a laughable cliche. The sacramental tradition of marriage in some faiths, of some Americans, is *not* the domain of the federal government. Sorry, W.

A government's business in marriage records is all about inheritance, property and other issues. There's no point in maintaining separate law for homosexuals to duplicate the rights, privileges, burdens and penalties of marriage law. I find no rational justification for coming down opposed to any two legally responsible individuals being able to "marry" with all the good and bad of that legal status.

You can't argue "it will destroy the family" since marriage is a legally binding status accepted by publicly witnessed choice. Persons already pro-create outside of marriage and there's no forcing the mother to identify the father let alone forcing them to marry. Where is your right to prevent two random adults from marriage be they gay or living in sin or what have you? Separate contracts can and have been fought in courts by "disapproving" family members at times when their loved one is unable to speak for himself or herself. If that's not an assault on that individual's liberty, I'm not sure I know what is.

I think it's pretty clear we need to get over ourselves and allow and encourage homosexual Americans to court, marry, support one another and be faithful to their spouses. This societal acceptance and support of monogamous lives among gays can and would have a tremendous positive impact on the spread of STDs including HIV. It would be *good* for the society at large.

I think there's an irrational fear about a sudden increase in homosexuals "coming out" if they were allowed to marry. People are afraid their children will experiment in ways they perhaps don't already, afraid their kids might "choose" to be gay simply because that kind of marriage would be an option. There might well be a few more homosexuals who are comfortable enough not to become deceivers and live depressed and loveless lives in phony heterosexual marriages. Better than the heterosexual spouse be able to find someone who can love him or her fully than be lulled into a lie whether it would be a union which produced children or not.

Bush is wrong on this issue: a ban of this kind has no purpose in the US Constitution.
5 posted on 12/17/2003 7:18:10 AM PST by newzjunkey
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To: ohioman
Conservatives hate liberty? I thought conservatism was about how *you* live, not how you tell everyone else to live using government edict.

American is a nation ruled by Christianity? Which denomination?

What about Jews, Muslims, et al.? Have you banned them from your America?

Who are *you* to get between someone else's moral choices, a gift given by God, and their relationship with God? Hmm?
6 posted on 12/17/2003 7:22:29 AM PST by newzjunkey
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To: sarge4
Mine too but not because of this issue.

BTW, I believe churches should be allowed to refuse to conduct homosexual marriages or unions should they ever be legal since I believe it is not the roll of government to tell any church how to conduct its affairs of faith.
7 posted on 12/17/2003 7:25:11 AM PST by newzjunkey
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To: newzjunkey; MeeknMing
"BTW, I believe churches should be allowed to refuse to conduct homosexual marriages or unions should they ever be legal since I believe it is not the roll of government to tell any church how to conduct its affairs of faith."

Georgie wants to marry Stephan ping!

8 posted on 12/17/2003 7:33:39 AM PST by Happy2BMe (2004 - Who WILL the TERRORISTS vote for? - - Not George W. Bush, THAT'S for sure!)
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To: Happy2BMe
If the courts would do THEIR jobs and let the Legislature do THEIR job, this wouldn't be an issue. But, NOOOOooo ! The Liberal judges over reach and Legislate from the bench !

Previously, though Bush has said he would support whatever is "legally necessary to defend the sanctity of marriage," he and his advisers have shied away from specifically endorsing a constitutional amendment asserting that definition.

But on Tuesday, the president waded deeper into the topic, saying state rulings such as the one in Massachusetts and a couple of other states "undermine the sanctity of marriage" and could mean that "we may need a constitutional amendment."

"If necessary, I will support a constitutional amendment which would honor marriage between a man and a woman, codify that," he said. "The position of this administration is that whatever legal arrangements people want to make, they're allowed to make, so long as it's embraced by the state or at the state level."

Bush said he believes his view on the topic does not make him intolerant.

"I do believe in the sanctity of marriage ... but I don't see that as conflict with being a tolerant person or an understanding person," he said.

His remarks drew criticism from gay rights groups.


9 posted on 12/17/2003 9:03:30 AM PST by MeekOneGOP (Hillary is a TRAITOR !!: http://Richard.Meek.home.comcast.net/HitlerTraitor6.JPG)
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To: sarge4
You've got my vote Mr. president!!!!!!!!!!!

That was easy.

10 posted on 12/17/2003 9:10:09 AM PST by Protagoras (Vote Republican, we're not as bad as the other guys.)
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To: Protagoras
You got that right!
11 posted on 12/17/2003 9:13:44 AM PST by PSYCHO-FREEP (Libertarians are LOOOOOOSERS!)
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To: PSYCHO-FREEP
If it wasn't right, I wouldn't have said it.
12 posted on 12/17/2003 9:25:59 AM PST by Protagoras (Demented and obsessed people are loooooooooooooooosers)
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To: ohioman
Anybody backing Gay Marriage is certainly not a conservative or a true Christian. Wsy to go Mr. President.

I think there is a big difference between claiming to be willing to sign a bill and actually doing something about gay marriage. This is what I'm watching very closely.

13 posted on 12/17/2003 9:28:27 AM PST by biblewonk (I must try to answer all bible questions.)
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To: Happy2BMe
He "could" back it? It's a huge pity that he won't UNEQUIVOCALLY back it! This is just more evidence of the moral slippage in the GOP. Very disappointing.

To all Christians in the GOP: Come out of her my people!

14 posted on 12/17/2003 9:28:57 AM PST by exmarine ( sic semper tyrannis)
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To: Happy2BMe
Let us not forget that Bush recently praised teh Metropolitan church (gay church) in Los Angeles. This man speaks out of both sides of his mouth.
15 posted on 12/17/2003 9:30:39 AM PST by exmarine ( sic semper tyrannis)
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To: exmarine
He did not use the word "could". that's the reporter's word, not a quote. I saw the interview and he did not equivocate in his defense of the sanctity of marriage. If there was any reticence it could be due to the fact that until the recent court decisions many Christian leaders were arguing against the Federal Marriage amendment on the basis that it was not necessary. I think that Lawrence and the Massachusetts case has changed that.
16 posted on 12/17/2003 9:49:01 AM PST by almcbean
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To: newzjunkey
This *is* a bad idea. The purpose of the Constitution was to *limit* federal power in the face of protecting liberty.

Well, if the SCOTUS is going to sodomize the Constitution by finding the right to kill unborn babies, and now the right for homosexuals to sodomize each other in that august document, we need to fight fire with fire.

Bush is two-faced in saying he's a states rights fan on one hand while championing a federal constitutional change which would effect each and every state.

He is not two faced, he is fighting fire with fire. If you are in a street fight, and you opponent pulls a knife, and starts kicking you in the ba!!s, are you going to still follow the proper rules of no-contact sports?

There's no point in maintaining separate law for homosexuals to duplicate the rights, privileges, burdens and penalties of marriage law.

No need to. Any two people whoever they are can already make whatever legal arrangements suitable for them.

I find no rational justification for coming down opposed to any two legally responsible individuals being able to "marry" with all the good and bad of that legal status

There is a wealth of information right here on FR explaining exactly why homoseuxal behavior is:

1. Not normal, natural or beneficial for individuals

2. That homosexuals are not "born that way" but become that way due to childhood difficulty, often molestation or early seduction/molestation and

3. To promote homosexual behavior as equivalent to marital sex is to destroy the natural family; as is the stated objective of "gay" activists.

I think it's pretty clear we need to get over ourselves and allow and encourage homosexual Americans to court, marry, support one another and be faithful to their spouses..

I think it's pretty clear that you have bought the homosexual propaganda hook, line and sinker. There is mine of information here on FR you can read and educate yourself. I advise you to do so before you continue with your ignorance shilling for the homosexual activists.

There is so much evidence that homosexuals are wildly promiscuous even in "committed" relationships - you think some legal stamp is going to change the very nature of perverse and unnatural sexual desires?

People are afraid their children will experiment in ways they perhaps don't already, afraid their kids might "choose" to be gay simply because that kind of marriage would be an option.

What wise parents are afraid of is that their children will be recruited into homosexual acts by "gay" teachers, counselors, and older kids. This is the stated goal of homosexual activists, and this is why they are trying to (with a lot of success) getting clubs in schools, and getting pro-homosexual sex ed in schools, as well as seeping into many other areas of education.

There might well be a few more homosexuals who are comfortable enough not to become deceivers,,,

There is help for people who feel same sex attraction and want to change. They don't have to deceive themselves that they "are gay" forever. It isn't an unchangeable identity, like race or ethnicity. Many kinds of therapy and other means (such as prayer and spiritual help) have helped former homosexuals now become either normal sexually or at least celibate. Check scripter's profile page - he's got hundreds of links.

17 posted on 12/17/2003 9:58:05 AM PST by little jeremiah
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To: exmarine
Bush praised the Metropolitan Church???? Gackk!! When was that?

Those whackjobs have sex-ed classes in their"churches" explaining how to use electricity, bondage and torture during their "romantic" encounters!
18 posted on 12/17/2003 10:01:43 AM PST by little jeremiah
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To: newzjunkey
Go to hades bud. I said none of the things you stated. You are the personification of the new-age wussified man.
19 posted on 12/17/2003 10:08:35 AM PST by ohioman
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To: little jeremiah
You can find the article here:

http:// www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.aspARTICLE_ID=35539

Bush is trying to please everyone at the expense of TRUTH.

He also said that muslims and Christians worship the same God - which is logically impossible. Our leaders must be held accountable for their words and actions.

20 posted on 12/17/2003 10:27:33 AM PST by exmarine ( sic semper tyrannis)
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