Bush Pushes Constitutional Amendment Against Gays

Either desperate (as he sees his conservative base eroding) or cynical (no! not him!), or maybe both, El Presidente has come out strong now for a Constitutional Amendment that would mandate keeping gay people on leashes, or bar them from getting married, because all the rest of our lawful marriages would be rendered empty shams if gay people got married, or we would begin to be bitten on the ankles by impeccably dressed but rabid gays. Something like that.

So the Senate Republicans will launch a full-scale debate this week on the amendment and force a floor vote on Wednesday in an apparent effort to embarrass senators Kerry and Edwards, who have for their part promised to be there to vote no. Not that the thing has any chance of getting the 67 votes it needs to pass. This is all just theater, political grandstanding by the Rovians to get their so-called "Christians" all revved up to vote for Bush/Cheney and condemn Kerry/Edwards to the deepest pits of hell. Where they obviously belong with the rest of us. (Who's bringing the beer?)

Nagourney and Kirkpatrick explain in this morning's NYTimes that Bush's move to push for the amendment comes out of seriously conflicting advice. Moderates feel that the gay marriage issue will be toxic for Bush, that pushing for an amendment to the Constitution of the United States that would mandate taking away rights from citizens, which is exactly what this amendment would do, will (further) turn off "swing" voters.

But Bush has been cornered by his own fair-haired base: "...conservative leaders said they had complained to the White House that the campaign was blocking opponents of gay marriage from prime-time speaking slots at the Republican National Convention. 'The Republicans have got some explaining to do,' said Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, a conservative Christian lobbying group, noting that several of the speakers at the convention have come out against the amendment. 'Social conservatives are not happy.' "

Oh dear.

"...polls have shown that while a majority of undecided voters oppose gay marriage, there is little enthusiasm among them for amending the Constitution to ban it."

Oh double-dear.

The Rovians have clearly rolled the dice, as we fully expected them to, but they might well listen to this gentleman, whose research has in the past proven extremely prescient: "Our analysis of the swing voters shows that they are concerned about Iraq and about the economy, and I don't think they are likely to be swayed, or have strong feelings about a constitutional amendment," said Andrew Kohut, director of the nonpartisan Pew Research Center for the People and the Press. "If anything, they may see it as putting the emphasis on the wrong place when the country has other problems."

So bring it on, Mr. President. Show where your priorities are. Let us see your heart and soul in this.

And, incidentally, Mr. Prez, whatever else you do, don't listen to that wife of your vice president. She was on CNN's "Late Edition" yesterday definitely NOT taking the party line, differing with you about the need for a Constitutional Amendment. Said it should be left up to the states to decide these matters. But what does she know (just 'cause she wrote that lesbian novel and has a lesbian daughter)? Say, is it too late to dump the Cheneys?