War Is Declared (Li'l Andy Sullivan Hissy Alert)

AndrewSullivan.com -- The Daily Dish ^ | 2/24/04 | Andrew Sullivan

[kabar]

Well, I am with Sullivan on this: however desirable or undesirable gay marriage is, it is up to the states to decide. Conservatives who are in favor of the Marriage Amendment are as guilty of anti-federalism as Liberals would be if they proposed an amendment mandating gay marriage.

Sorry, but gay marriage is not just a states' right issue nor is it a matter of anti-federalism. Using your logic polagamy should be allowed in Utah, if that's what the state wants. Marriage is a federal issue when it comes to entitlement programs such as social security.

[onedoug]

The US government has the right and obligation to continue Western civilization, of which marriage forms the anchor.

[kabar]

I would also add that allowing gay marriage to be a decision has other implications. With over 2 million federal workers plus millions of other federal retirees, how would you handle survivor benefits, i.e., spouses? Would it depend on what state the federal employee worked in or would the federal government have to define marriage in order to determine who would receive these benefits?

[Prodigal Son]

Well, this is predictable enough from Sullivan. It's not like he is a non-interested spectator.

[Modernman]

Huh, I guess you are in favor for Mass. same sex marriage licenses to be valid in Idaho, where they are against same sex marriage.

There is a strong legal argument to be made that states can refuse to recognize gay marriages from other states on public policy grounds. For example, prostitution is legal in some parts of Nevada, but other states do not recognize debts arising from prostitution.

[Remole]

Supporters of the Amendment must realize that they need to convince a plurality of Americans in their states and in the Senate to vote IN FAVOR OF IT. But the problem is, as long as the issue is framed in terms of "Civil Rights," as AS does here, the Amendment will die on the vine at about 25-28 states. What is needed is for us to re-frame the debate, not about "Civil Rights" but about the Best Way to Raise Children. We have to be bold and upfront to say, yes, marriage is really about children and not simply about the spouses.

[NYCVirago]

Looks like you stopped the Andrew Sullivan ping list just in time!

[NYCVirago]

What Bush has done, regardless of whether or not one agrees with the necessity of an amendment, is put Kerry's feet to the fire. Kerry must take a firm stand and quickly.

According to today's New York Post, Kerry claimed to not even be aware of what was happening in San Francisco!

[GiveEmDubya]

Uh huh. His ideological partners, as in radical leftists, have been on the front lines of this since day 1.

He just issued a statement. I found it somewhat vague, but it is clear he is coming down on the minority side of this national issue.

[NYCVirago]

He just issued a statement. I found it somewhat vague, but it is clear he is coming down on the minority side of this national issue.

I think Kerry said that he doesn't support gay marriage, but thinks this should be left to states. But as he well knows, the problem is the "full faith and credit" clause -- once gay marriage is made legal in one state, it has to be treated as legal in all states.

[GiveEmDubya]

Ah yes, full faith and credit.

He knows that the FFC clause is what the left is going for on this one. I believe Willie Brown already said something to the effect.

[happygrl]

The children of homosexual parents were less likely to be involved with sports or other group activities. They were considered by their teachers to be introverts and loners, and were uncomfortable when having to work with students of a sex different from that of their co-habiting homosexual parent.

Just in case anyone missed this nugget buried in the middle of the article cited.

[happygrl]

A political realignment should occur around this. The degree of social discord will depend on the left, but we must be prepared for levels of struggle both legal and extra-legal.

I agree. I have felt, since the Election 2000 fiasco, that I am now living in a country with people who do not share enough of a common world view to constitute a polity.

I do not expect this to change, as the left has control of academia.

This country is at the same juncture that it was in the 1850s: a house divided against itself.

[MrB]

But as he well knows, the problem is the "full faith and credit" clause

These aholes need to be called on this too.
They are either ignorant of this clause (not likely) -
or they are trying to put one over on everyone - which is the case.

They (especially Kerry) need to be outed on this.

[verity]

Is Andy queer?

[FeliciaCat]

LOL! I feel for you...I work with a more then a few RAGING libs and they think that gay marriage should be a "right" and "who cares who marry's who"....sigh. I asked them if it it would be ok for two sisters to marry each, as long as they were adults and in a committed and loving relationship...after all who are we to pass judgement on their lifestyle? I recieved a frosty stare from one coworkers and the second ACTUALLY said, "well, if two sisters want to get married, who cares?"

Oh well.

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

I asked them if it it would be ok for two sisters to marry

Only if I get to watch. :)

[Peach]

Just read your post. ABC is promoting the gay lifestyle. The genie is out of the bottle and we probably can't put it back.

The radical left is SICK! They want to lower the age of consent and sexualize our children. And this from the party who says "it's all for the children" when really what it's all about is recruitment and fulfilling their own perverse goals.

[rintense]

Here's some advice, Andy: never write things out of anger. Your words will come back to haunt you.

[rintense]

This MUST become a federal issue. There is no way one state can say gay marriage is legal, and another say it isn't. That scenario will be fought all the way to the SCOTUS. In the meantime, the country gets further and further divided. So nip this in the bud and get it over with.

Hell, I'm all for letting the American people decide, whether through their representatives or by their individual vote- but never, NEVER will I accept an activist judge's ruling over the will of the people. Never.