anti-same-sex marriage constitutional amendment and 2004 election....

[Sephirstein]

If the Repukes use it in 2004 as part of their platform, don't attack it directly.

Most Americans oppose same-sex marriage, but it's extremely easy to explain why an amendment prohibiting it would violate the spirit of the Constitution.

Thus, to beat the Repukes on the issue, we must attack indirectly.

[Jim Sagle]

1. Call it a "states' rights" issue.

[roughsatori]

2. Could you give an example to read of what you mean?

I agree with you, but tend to get angry over this issue--so I would really appreciate it if you (or someone else) could give examples of ways to approach this issue in a way that sticks to Constitutional law, and avoids the foolishness of debating morality.

[Sephirstein]

3. Easy...

Compare the purpose and meaning of the U.S. Constitution to the direction that same-sex marriage would send it in.

Who the Hell wants a constitution that deprives people of liberty?

[Democrats unite]

4. I will attack it head on as will many of my breathern

And screw anybody that gets in our way! the time is now, I will not and cannot see this injustice anymore. I hate to use the famous words but "BRING IT ON".

[Andy_Stephenson]

10. AMEN

We've been silent and shut out far to fucking long.

[Toucano]

5. Another suggestion

I don't think the people who will be swayed by this scare tactic will understand the spirit of the Constitution. Until somebody paints the Constitution on a NASCAR racing car, it's too abstract. I don't mean to be condescending, but my experience in the "real world" bears this out.

If the first poster's suggestion doesn't work, I intend to divert attention to an issue the person can relate to. For example:

"Oh, yeah! They've got nothing better to do than worry about the gays! While little old ladies are having to eat dog food because they can't afford their pills, that bozo wants you to worry about the gays! We've lost X Million jobs in the last Y years and they don't want you to notice that! Nooo. They want you to worry about the gays! They can't fix anything that matters, so they want you to focus on something that doesn't even matter to you. It's the oldest magician's trick in the book! Do they think you were born yesterday?"

It's the truth anyway! Don't let gays and lesbians be used as the new "Willie Horton".

[fabius]

6. The Federalism approach should work.

Also, we need to say,

"Marriage is a sacrament of a RELIGION. Nobody is going to tell you how to run your religion. Civil unions are a function of the STATES and they can each decide how to handle same-sex partnerships."

The federal government should keep its nose out of it.

As a long-run strategy for the Repugs I think it will hurt them more than help, as it boosts the mean-spirited image that they richly deserve.

[fabius]

7. Amendment X

"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people."


There is nothing in the Constitution or existing Amendments about marriage. Let's keep it that way.

[tishaLA]

8. That's really a fallacy, though

because marriage is simultaneously secular and sacred--at least as the US has contrued it. That is why there are federal benefits for marriage vis-a-vis taxes, immigration, property rights, etc. Whatever the federal gov't SHOULD do has become immaterial because of the numerous instances of it putting its nose in the marriage debate.

[Toucano]

9. You get none of those benefits if you are married in a corn field

without a license from the State. It is secular. It is only sacred if the citizen chooses it to be sacred.

Just another view...

[gottaB]

11. Is this like what you mean?

This is old, but apropos. Carol Moseley Braun's speech against DOMA.

[arwalden]

12. Sorry... You're A Great DUer... I Understand Where You're Coming From...

BUT THIS DIRECT ATTACK IS SOMETHING THAT I WILL NEVER FUCKING BACK DOWN FROM. It's an outrage and can only be countered with a full-fledged HEAD ON relentless defense. I will NOT be polite, or genteel, or courteous.