Kerry says he supports constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.

[Sean Reynolds]

http://www.npr.org/features/feature.php?wfId=1667397

Broadcaster: Would you support a constitutional amendment that would define marriage as a heterosexual union.

Kerry: Well it depends entirely on the language, whether it permits civil unions in partnership or not. I’m for civil unions - I’m for partnership rights. I think what ought to condition this debate is not the term marriage as much as the rights that people are afforded. Obviously under the constitution of the United States you need equal protection under the law. And I think equal protection means the rights that go with it. I think the word marriage gets in the way in the whole debate to be honest with you. Because marriage to many people is obviously sanctified by a church it’s sacramental…clearly there is a separation of church and state here.
---

Clearly what I get from this is that Kerry would support a constitutional amendment that defines marriage as between a man and a woman - IF gays are included in civil unions. Which IMO is exactly like the separate but equal laws of the 1950s. I might add, Kerry should have said NO right off the bat.

Hm...

[Constitution]

1. That's not what he said. It looks like he's being diplomatic

He doesn't want to offend a lot of people and this is a good stance for him before the election.

[Sean Reynolds]

9. Diplomatic?

How? Because he's stating that he'd accept a ban on gay marriage if gays were allowed civil unions?

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

2. I'm gay. I have no problem with that statement.

If I want the church out of my state then it follows that I want the state out of my church. It's a valid assessment of the constitution tp frame it in this manner.

[Sean Reynolds]

4. I don't have a problem with letting a church define it.

But he said basically that he'd favor a ban on gay marriage if gays were given civil unions.

THAT is wrong. It can't be a church issue if the government wont recognize gay marriage.

[Cuban_Liberal]

7. I don't like it at ALL.

If I can't marry, then neither should heterosexuals be allowed to marry. NO MORE DOUBLE STANDARDS!

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

12. If all the inherent contractual benefits of marriage are conferred upon

you...then what is the difference...the name?

[mondo joe]

23. If Blacks Schools and White Schools are Equal...

If Blacks Schools and White Schools are Equal...

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

29. See my post 14

The gay community SUPPORTS a separate but equal public school in NYC on the basis that it protects gay teens from being bashed.

[mondo joe]

33. Damned if I'll work for Kerry's Campaign

1. On the issue of equal rights for gays...

2. On the issue of separation of church and state...

3. On the willingness to support any amendment that takes away the rights of Americans...

... he lost my support.

I'm probably stuck voting for him. But he doesn't need this homosexual's time, energy or effort.

[Cuban_Liberal]

34. The DIGNITY of public recognition

NO MORE TWO-TIERED SETS OF 'RIGHTS'!

[cprise]

10. Yet, it's a problem:

Seperate-but-Equal is unconstitutional.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

14. What is separate but equal about having the same rights

BTW...you are aware that the gay community speaks out of both sides of their mouth when convenient...they don't want separate but equal contractual rights on marriage but they are happy with separate but equal publicly funded schools when they want to claim that gay kids get a better education if they don't have to deal with the ostracism of being gay in a public school.

[Democrats unite]

17. Heres a wake up call for your

Read between the lines, if that ammendment passes, there won't be any civil unions!

[cprise]

3. Holy crap

(and I'm not kidding)

I'm going right over to Dean's website and donating to his campaign!

http://www.deanforamerica.com

[Dookus]

8. the same Dean

who could've supported gay marriage but instead chose Civil Unions?

[Sean Reynolds]

13. But Dean isn't opposed to gay marriage.

Dean has never come out against gay marriage. Has never once stated he thought the Mass. Supreme Court ruiling was wrong; Kerry did. But this isn't about Dean - it's about Kerry.

[Dookus]

25. yes, but despite what people here pretend

None of the major candidates has come out in favor of gay marriage on the national level. Kerry, Clark and Dean all have pretty much the same position.

[Sean Reynolds]

30. But it seems Kerry and Edwards are the only two

That have come out AGAINST gay marriage.

[mondo joe]

15. There's a difference

There's a difference between going for civil union rather than marriage and actually supporting a constitutional amendment to deny it.

[Sean Reynolds]

18. Thank you mondo joe.

[SadEagle]

20. There is a huge difference...

...between not supporting gay marriage and passing a constitutional amendment banning it.

[cprise]

21. The same Dean

...that wouldn't amend the U.S. Constitution to make straight people feel 'sanctified'.

[killbotfactory]

22. Dean isn't proposing to AMEND the constitution

And he praised the Mass court ruling.

Kerry is saying the Mass court is wrong, and he'd favor AMENDING the goddamn constitution to prevent "gay marriage"

[Dookus]

31. Kerry is not proposing to amend the constitution, either

Nothing in the quote says he is.

And btw, for you constitutional scholars, can you tell me what role a President plays in amending the constitution?

(hint: it's a homonym of "nun")

[killbotfactory]

35. He said he would support an amendment banning Gay Marriage

If it allowed for civil unions.

And this is a guy who voted against the Defense of Marriage Act.

[Sean Reynolds]

39. But Kerry said he'd support it...did he not?

So lets say congress decides to ban gay marriage. If Kerry were president, he'd support such an act - just as long as gays are allowed civil unions.

[blm]

24. Dean chose civil unions over gay marriage because he didn't believe in gay

marriage.

He was even PRESENTED the opportunity with the legislation and court ruling for gay marriage and chose civil unions instead.

[quinnox]

5. I agree!

Go Kerry!

[bryant69]

6. How so?

I mean the irony of seperate but equal is that they were inherently not equal. Are you saying that civil unions are inherently not equal to marriages? If so, how so?

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Sean Reynolds]

16. How so?

Legally they may be - but if they're so equal, why can't they marry like the REST OF AMERICANS?

[bryant69]

36. Well, the answer is that

Some feel that Marriage is between a man and a woman. And many Americans (including myself) belong to religions that teach that homosexuality is a sin. I mean I might be comfortable if we used the term Civil Marriage vs. Church Marriage, but I certainly don't want any doors opened that down the road will force religions to accept gay marriages. So it strikes me that civil unions are the best compromise; gay partners get the benefits of marriage which they are currently wrongfully denied, without opening that door.

[blm]

11. He supports separation of church and state. Until that issue is cleared up

this gay marriage issue ain't goin' NOWHERE.

[eileen_d]

19. And the right-wing rejoices at the triumph of their favorite wedge issue.

n/t

[killbotfactory]

27. It must be nice to have a democrat cede ground to them on ANOTHER issue

First taxes, then the Iraq war, now gay marriage.

Thanks a lot, Kerry!

[Democrats unite]

28. A wedge issue to some who don't care

But since it my rights, I care allot!

[eileen_d]

38. I care about gay rights

But ultimately I do not think Kerry would support an amendment banning gay marriage. I think he's evading the issue in this interview like a politician who knows that this is a trap being set for him by the media. Kerry is a career politician, and I am not going to fault him for that fact.

He does speak clearly in favor of civil unions. And he does not say "I would support an amendment banning gay marriage." Basically, he's just declining to give a "final answer" - which again, is being a typical politician, but that's how the game is played.

I'm not asking you to support him; just clarifying my view.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

26. i am gay

and i think he has a good pt. marriage should be a religious affair and civil unions w. equal benefits would make me perfectly happy

[Sean Reynolds]

32. But you're missing the big picture.

If they ban gay marriage - church's wont be able to decide whether or not a gay couple CAN marry, it'll all be called civil unions.

[mitchum]

37. Shouldn't your post read: "I think that Kerry supports constitutional...

amendment banning gay marriage"?
And I'm being charitable with the "think"

Kinda sorta nice try, though...

9 for 11
Kerry 2004

[Feanorcurufinwe]

40. The title of your thread is a false statement.

As is evidenced by your own post. :eyes:

[Moderator]

41. Locking.....

2. The subject line of a discussion thread must accurately reflect the actual content of the message.



DU Moderator

[goodhue]

42. you misrepresent the statement

I heard it on NPR while driving home from work. It was a shame he did not speak out against an amendment but he did not state support.