On December 16th, The Human Rights Campaign cautioned President Bush
not to join attacks on American families by supporting a discriminatory
anti-gay amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The measure currently
pending in Congress would bar any state from granting marriage rights
and could permanently deny any legal protections to same-sex couples –
including civil unions, even if they were granted by state legislatures.
In tonight's ABCNEWS Primetime interview, Bush said "if necessary" he
would "support a constitutional amendment which would honor marriage
between a man and a woman."
"It's never necessary – in fact it would be shameful – to insert
prejudice and discrimination into the U.S. Constitution," warned HRC
Political Director Winnie Stachelberg. "To use this country's most
cherished document to strip away individual liberty and freedom would be
nothing short of a disgrace – with which the vast majority of the
American people disagree."
"The president also said tonight that it is his job to do everything he
can 'to protect America and Americans.' This amendment would strip away
any legal protection for millions of hard-working, tax-paying Americans.
For instance, after spending a lifetime together, when one partner dies,
the surviving partner could lose their home because of they are denied
Social Security protections and are heavily taxed where spouses are
exempt – this amendment would codify that kind of injustice," added
Stachelberg. "The American people will see through attempts to use this
constitutional amendment for political purposes – a strategy sure to
backfire and cost any elected official at the ballot box."
According to a November 2003 survey by the Pew Research Center, only 10
percent of Americans favor a constitutional amendment to ban marriage
rights for same-sex couples.
Many leading conservatives have also announced their opposition to
amending the Constitution for this purpose, including Sen. Chuck Hagel,
R-Neb., former Rep. Bob Barr, R-Ga., former Sen. Alan Simpson, R-N.Y.,
Morton M. Kondracke, William Safire, David Brooks, Chuck Muth, George
Will, Ward Connerly, Jonah Goldberg and David Horowitz who said, "To do
this in peacetime would be unwise; to prosecute it in the midst of war
is reckless."
For a complete listing of quotes from conservative leaders and pundits
opposed to this, visit:
NetSys Interactive Inc. owners & employees who generously contribute their time to maintenance & editing, web design, custom programming, & website hosting for Enviroshop.