Saturday, November 06, 2004
The tragedy of 2004
The tragedy of 2004 was that the election was won and lost on one issue: gay marriage. To many Americans the war in Iraq, terrorism and the economy were less important. (See Donna Britt. "Gay Unions Put Kerry Campaign Asunder." Washington Post, November 4, 2004.)
The Bush campaign and the Republicans understood how important gay marriage was as an issue. In February Bush proposed a consitutional amendment against gay marriages, knowing full well it couldn't pass. (Constitutional amendments require two thirds support in the two Houses of Congress and of the states.) In July House Republicans passed the Marriage Protection Act, restricting judges from ruling in gay marriage cases, knowing the legislation was unconstitutional and couldn't pass the Senate. (Kerry was against gay marriage but said this was a states' issue.)
Bush will likely not resurrect his gay marriage amendment, because it is a dead issue federally and the states are dealing with gay marriage through amendments and legislation. On election day eleven states passed referenda supporting gay marriage amendments. This was the one issue on the Ohio ballot which may have swayed the state to Bush over Kerry. In Oregon gay activists put $3 million into the election in an unsuccessful effort to defeat the referendum. (This process started in August in Missouri when voters supported a consitutional amendment banning gay marriage. The process will probably continue.)
Republican use of the gay marriage issue to get elected showed a number of things. First, they are better strategists than the Democrats. Also, they understand that what you say is more important than whether you follow through. Finally, they continue to be the party of segregation. Today, the United States is much more divided. And it is very unlikely that President Bush will do anything to bring the divergent parties together and heal the nation's wounds. In this case, talk may be louder than actions.
For a better understanding of the problems of the Marriage Protection Act, see Travis Reed. "Barr criticizes House gay marriage ban." Talahassee Democrat, July 22, 2004. Retrieved November 6, 2004 from http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/tallahassee/news/local/9219345.htm
The Bush campaign and the Republicans understood how important gay marriage was as an issue. In February Bush proposed a consitutional amendment against gay marriages, knowing full well it couldn't pass. (Constitutional amendments require two thirds support in the two Houses of Congress and of the states.) In July House Republicans passed the Marriage Protection Act, restricting judges from ruling in gay marriage cases, knowing the legislation was unconstitutional and couldn't pass the Senate. (Kerry was against gay marriage but said this was a states' issue.)
Bush will likely not resurrect his gay marriage amendment, because it is a dead issue federally and the states are dealing with gay marriage through amendments and legislation. On election day eleven states passed referenda supporting gay marriage amendments. This was the one issue on the Ohio ballot which may have swayed the state to Bush over Kerry. In Oregon gay activists put $3 million into the election in an unsuccessful effort to defeat the referendum. (This process started in August in Missouri when voters supported a consitutional amendment banning gay marriage. The process will probably continue.)
Republican use of the gay marriage issue to get elected showed a number of things. First, they are better strategists than the Democrats. Also, they understand that what you say is more important than whether you follow through. Finally, they continue to be the party of segregation. Today, the United States is much more divided. And it is very unlikely that President Bush will do anything to bring the divergent parties together and heal the nation's wounds. In this case, talk may be louder than actions.
For a better understanding of the problems of the Marriage Protection Act, see Travis Reed. "Barr criticizes House gay marriage ban." Talahassee Democrat, July 22, 2004. Retrieved November 6, 2004 from http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/tallahassee/news/local/9219345.htm
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