Some Tories questioning another gay marriage vote

[tuvor]

Canadian Press
Published: Wednesday, May 31, 2006

OTTAWA -- A growing number of Conservative cabinet ministers and MPs are questioning the wisdom of reopening the divisive debate on same-sex marriage -- a development that could close the book on the issue for good.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has promised to hold a vote some time before the next election on the issue, most likely this fall.

The motion is expected to ask MPs if they want to reopen discussion of same-sex marriage, rather than asking flatly if they approve of the unions or not.

More and more Tories are wondering aloud whether they shouldn't just let the matter die.

(Then, about a half-dozen Conservative quotes illustrating the above.)

Perhaps one cabinet minister, speaking on condition of anonymity, summed it up best: "I wish it would just go away.''

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2006/05/31/1608474-cp.html

[Spazito]

1. They only want it to go away because it is no longer a wedge

issue to gain votes over and above the tiny minority of their constituents who are rabid homophobes. They are gambling they can lose fewer votes by breaking a campaign promise than if they hold to it and lose the moderate voter.

Political expediency on display yet again.