The Gay Marriage Amendment

[ThomWV]

The Republican Senators are on the floor now speaking in favor of a Constititional Amendment to recognize, and only recognize, hetrosexual marriage.

I am a straight man, married for 27 years, father, and vetran from a rural area and living in a rural area. I have no more interest in same-sex marriage than I do in the Wal Mart Bass Pro Tournament.

With those two things in background I have to tell you, I have never seen such a disgraceful display from our Government in all of my 57 years as is going on right at this moment, Monday, July 12, 2004 in the late afternoon in the Senate of the United States of America.

Unamerican is the only word for it. These men have no business being in Government.

[patrice]

1. I just made my calls to Washington.

Unfortunately Senator Brownback is one of my senators. I said that it is profoundly shocking and disappointing that my country would try to institutional discrimination.

I don't imagine it will do much good as Brownback (Rep. Kansas) is one of the co-sponsors on this legislation. He has done absolutely nothing in Congress except participate in phoney "christian" crusades.

[Bluzmann57]

2. 46 year old real straight male here

married twice, a few lady friends in between, and I agree with you sir. Discrimination has no place whatsoever in a "free" society like ours. I have contacted the offices of my two Senators and suggest you, and everybody else, do the same. This really chaps my rumsfeld. Cheney 'em!

[Cyrano]

3. The amendment isn't going anywhere. They're just trying to

embarass the dems by putting their votes on the record. Then during the campaign, they can accuse them of being for gay marriage.

The reason it's not going anywhere is because it takes 67 votes in the senate and it ain't gonna happen.

Given all the critical issues that need attention, these rethugs are among the most disgusting creatures that ever took up space on the face of this planet. These people breathing is such a waste of perfectly good air.

[CO Liberal]

4. This Would Be The First Time....

...The Constitution was ammended to TAK AWAY rights.

These assholes deserve to be deported. Especially Colorado's sorry excuse for a human being, Wayne Dullard.

[UrbScotty]

8. Perhaps the second time, actually

What about prohibition?

But look what happened to that?

[CO Liberal]

16. I Sit Corrected

You don't think I STAND while using my computer, do you?

:-)

[calico1]

35. It will backfire.

If they want to put Kerry and Edwards on record of voting against it, fine. They will be seen as tolerent, while Bush/Cheney will be seen as the hateful bigots they are. The only people that get fired up over this is his far right, wacko base. He needs swing voters and he's not going to win many of them with a hateful wedge issue like this.

[Frodo]

5. That just BAFFLES me. I don't understand it at all.

Why does Wal-Mart have a Bass tournament?

[radfringe]

6. Leadership means setting priorities

bush*'s latest Kerry-slam commercial questions Kerry's priorities

with a terra-threat hanging over our heads, Iraq (at best) bogged down, Bin-Laden still running around, economy sputtering, education system messed up and millions without healthcare

meanwhile, bush* ties up the congress on a gay marriage amendment that repugs (behind closed closet doors) say won't pass -- while there are more pressing and urgent matters to attend to

and gay marriage is bush*'s PRIORITY -- is this how he demonstrates his leadership?

p.s. there's a flash animation in this for all of you flashers! :wink: :wink:

[Not Me]

7. Thom

I am a gay man, and with my partner, raising two sons. Thank you for standing up for our family.

[NMDemDist2]

11. you are so welcome

this is just bullshit

:hug:

[radfringe]

12. Seconding that thank-you!

I was with my first partner for 17 years. She died of ovarian cancer.

Before she started on chemo, and to make sure her wishes were followed regarding treatment, we had a lawyer draw up a health proxy which enabled me to make medical decisions

Whenever I went to the hospital during her stays and wanted some info on her condition and also during her admitting process - we had to provide a copy of the health proxy. I made a gazillion copies of it, and made sure that EVERY TIME she was admitted, or when I went to visit that I had several copies with me -- just in case.

For the most part, after the 4th and 5th chemo treatments and other emergency visits the hospital staff no longer asked to see a copy of the proxy, but other times there was reluctance to give me the medical info EVEN WITH THE PROXY.

[patrice]

13. This is one of the most upsetting things about it!

It really hurts people who are trying to do right by one another.

It doesn't protect marriage. There's probably something like a 50:50 chance that any given marriage is a farce anyway, without homosexuality having anything to do with it. Maybe married gays will change that ratio in the long run.

The absolute political cynicism of using this VERY HOT button issue to override all of the negatives resulting from this administration is beyond anything I can think of. Bush is guaranteeing support from some people who are completely blind and insensitive to any other human issue. Their basic desire is to punish and cause pain. We will be ruled by the lowest level of human evolution if they succeed.

[Bluebear]

25. Protect marriage for who? Britney Spears?

So she can have another drunken 4 hour Vegas "marriage"? Or so Trista can find her bachelor on a TV show? Yeah, how sacred.

[NMDemDist2]

9. i signed the moveon.org petition and called both senators

one of which was Kyle, :-(

but McCain's office says he's voting against

[Thrill]

10. Gay bashing at its finest

Orin Hatch is a disgrace. ANyone hear the garbage he was spewing. I could careless about Gay Marriage but its pretty sad that the Senate has nothing more to do than Gay Bash in public like this.

[Bluebear]

14. Complete with glossy visual poster boards

I am glad they have put so much thought, effort and expense into this. What a disgrace.

[Malva Zebrina]

15. This is what happens in a tyranny.

where one party seizes power and in the hands of evil people has complete power over them.

It is shameful that this type of thing must take place to alter the constituion that would work to REMOVE rights from citizens rather than support them.

This is the most evil regime ever. This is an unconsionable debate and should never have made it this far.

That it has, is purely political. It is an attempt to sway votes on a single issue that is based on religious beliefs of a majority, rather than protecting the rights of all citizens as defined in our Constitution.

The system is broken,and has been invaded by the religious stupid right on issues against women wanting to control their own families and lives, who still believe that the world was created six thousand ago and that the writings of Jewish scribes,influenced or told to write these things, by the hierarchy of a tribal faction,(god) declared these things the "word" passed down to them from a god, is absolutely ridiculous. I have no solution because I am only a common man who finds it hard if not impossible to believe in this human type god who get jealous and who gets angry and who blames the misfortunes of life on women.

I do know that I cannot accept that a god in the sky, a vengeful and jealous god,who looks strangely human instead of divine, who favored a certain Arab tribe and decided one day to klll the enemies of them alll-- pregnant women, babies dashed against the rocks, old men and women and others, by drowning them in a flood , after he had created them. says something very sick to me.

And this is the reassoning that so many rely upon to kill others.

[patrice]

20. I maintain that it isn't the authentic religious belief

"of a majority," but the product of manipulation pushed by a rabid minority.

If you ask the people who think they are for this ammendment similar questions in a more open format, you'll find that their thinking on the subject is much more complicated and contradictory than Brownback and these other phoney "christians" want you to believe.

[Bluebear]

17. [phone]

Call Senator Brownback and tell him you don't approve.

[radfringe]

18. Just fired this one off to Lou Dobbs

Dear Lou,
With a terror alert hanging over our heads, a war in Iraq, Bin-Laden still running loose, would you tell me why President Bush and the Congress feel the need to debate gay marriage now?

I think President Bush has misplaced his priorities.

================

http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/lou.dobbs.tonight/

[dave29]

19. Everyone knows marriage is between a

Government and the business/special interests that support it. Defining it otherwise is sanctimonious hogwash.

[Thrill]

21. Funny the Repukes ar e usually

the ones bitchin about big government and leaving things to states. Yet when it comes to their evil agenda that motto goes out the window. Who is the real flip-flopper?

[radfringe]

37. want to talk about flip-floppers

THEN 2000 VP debate - Cheney said he thought this issue would be best handled by individual states

NOW Cheney wants constitutional amendment and that means federal interference/regulations

[Bluebear]

22. Since when do FOX news polls dictate law?

Orrin is quoting all these polls which supposedly say how people feel about this issue. Since when do polls spur constitutional amendments? Does majority rule apply to constitutional law now? If we polled people as to the desirablility of interracial marriages and 51% of the people feel it should be outlawed, should it be? What an outrageous spectacle.

[Freya]

23. Is Daschle invoking cloture now?

[MadHound]

24. This amendment is just farcical bullshit

Being trotted out to put Democrats on the spot during an election year. It isn't going to get passed, but is still a big stinking pile nonetheless.

That said, wtf are these fools thinking anyway? It isn't like a bunch of us breeders are going to go out and become gay, just because a couple down the street get married:eyes: I just don't get why these fundie fools feel so threatened. I mean, first they condemn gays for being promiscous(ie for having sex while unmarried). Yet when gays try to settle down and get married, ooooh noooo, that is threatening the sanctity of an institution, whatever. Don't you fundies get it? Marriage is BOTH a civil contranct and a religious ceremony. A couple can get married without the sanctity of the church, or with it, if the church agrees. It is between the couple and their church. ARRRRGGGHHH!

And it isn't like marriage is really having it's sanctity protected by the straight populace anyway. Case in point 1: Britney Spears, she of the fifty hour marriage. Case in point 2: Liz Taylor, how many husbands has she had now, six, seven. Hell, I've known gay folks who have had fewer partners than that, much less marriages.

I'm sorry that our GLBT brothers and sisters are still having to put up with this homophobic shit. I honestly think that American society as a whole is making progress, but it is the mouthbreathers still in our midst that are holding us back. Sad to say, quite a few amongst them hold positions of real power.

[Connie_Corleone]

26. I just got finished listening to

one republican senator spouting out all these statistics about poor unwed mothers and their children living in poverty, how divorce affects children, how 33% of children who live in single parent homes where the mother has a live-in boyfriend abusing the children is the product of mothers and fathers not getting married.

What the hell do any of those statistics have to do with gay couples raising kids??

:shrug:

[prolesunited]

28. Who knows?

But why pass up an opportunity to trash single mothers while you're at it? :shrug:

[spanone]

27. Dianne Feinstein was the only democrat who stood up and asked

if this senate didn't have more important things to discuss. No SHIT.

[LiberalManiacfromOC]

29. Go here

http://www.hrcactioncenter.org/actioncenter/advocacy/notheidi63-137732

[LiberalManiacfromOC]

30. Go here

http://www.hrcactioncenter.org/actioncenter/advocacy/notheidi63-137732

[LiberalManiacfromOC]

Go here

http://www.hrcactioncenter.org/actioncenter/advocacy/notheidi63-137732

[LiberalManiacfromOC]

Go here

http://www.hrcactioncenter.org/actioncenter/advocacy/notheidi63-137732

[LiberalManiacfromOC]

31. Go here

http://www.hrcactioncenter.org/actioncenter/advocacy/notheidi63-137732

[LiberalManiacfromOC]

32. Go here

http://www.hrcactioncenter.org/actioncenter/advocacy/notheidi63-137732

[LiberalManiacfromOC]

33. That was weird!

Why did it post 6 times?

[Bluebear]

34. It kicked itself 6 times for a good cause =)

nt

[mcar]

36. You are so right, this is disgusting

Pure polarizing politics.

45-year-old straight married woman here. One of my best friends from childhood is a gay man in a long-term relationship that is as stable as my near-20-year marriage (which is pretty darn stable :))

Please don't let this be a real issue in this campaign!

[Swamp Rat]

38. HANDS OFF OUR CONSTITUTION!!!

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:mad:

[terrya]

39. Thank you, Thom. One thing I despise is the patronizing attitude....

among these amendment supporters. Orrin Hatch was on "Hardball" last night...with that sanctimonious tone of his, informing us that they know best about us pesky homosexuals. Hatch actually said at one point "We don't care what they do in the privacy of their own homes" bit, completely and utterly missing the point, as usual. The sky is not going to fall if gay people are allowed to legally marry. Hatch and company will be surprised at how ordinary and uneventful gay marriage will turn out to be. And I think Hatch will be pleasantly surprised as to how marriage will be strengthened by gay couples allowed to marry.

You don't arbitrarily decide to amend the United States Constitution solely on the basis of something you hate or are uncomfortable about. And that's what the Federal Marriage Amendment is all about.

[Kong]

40. Thank You For Speaking Up

As another straight man up in his years I have to agree with you. I watched it as well and I was disgusted.

[Blue-Jay]

41. Congratulations, Gay People!

You have become the new COMMIES!

Woo. Fucking. Hoo.

This is just disgusting. Not only the blatant bigotry of the Pukes to the GLBT community, which has always been apparent. But also, the fact that this whole big deal is nothing but a cheap diversionary tactic to further divide the nation along the lines of hate. Scumbags, every one of them. They know goddamn good & well that this bullshit has ZERO chance of passing.

What the hell? Let's demonize us some queers! Hell, we got nothin' better to do. Maybe we can make some queer-haters happy.

ugh. Fuck those idiots.

[Bluebear]

42. kickeroo