by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright June 4, 2006
All Rights Reserved.

inding a lifesaver for his sinking ship, President George W. Bush got behind a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, hoping to rescue the GOP before midyear elections. Faced with shrinking popularity largely due to the war in Iraq, Bush's chief strategist Karl Rove hopes evangelicals can help avert a Democratic congressional takeover. Recent polls don't bode well for the GOP showing that prospective voters favor Democrats on virtually every issue, including national security. Throwing his weight behind a ban on gay marriage, Bush diverts attention away from the Iraq war and a possible confrontation with Iran on its uranium enrichment program. Bush's amendment would ban states from recognizing gay marriage, something currently legal in Massachusetts where the high court ruled November 18, 2003 that domestic partnerships violated the state Constitution.

      Bush knows that a proposed constitutional ban on gay marriage stands virtually no chance of Senate approval, or, for that matter, ratification by 38, or two-thirds, of state legislatures. Nothing other than a constitutional amendment banning abortion whips up Bush's base more than legalizing gay marriage. Not all progressives support gay marriage but they don't want a constitutional amendment, preferring to settle the issue in individual states. Gay marriage proponents agree with the Massachusetts high court and believe that that the Constitution already protects gay marriage. They view gay marriage as already protected by the 14th amendment's equal protection and due process clauses. Like the 1973 Roe v. Wade that legalized abortion, Bush wants a constitutional ban on gay marriage to prevent activist judges redefining what he sees as biblical and historic definitions of marriage.

      When the Senate Judiciary Committee approved the amendment on May 18, it practically sparked a riot, leaving Judiciary Chairman Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Penn.) and Sen. Russell Feingold (D-Wis.) in a screaming match. Republicans and Democrats voted along party lines, not surprising when you consider the influence of religious conservatives on the GOP. In Feb. 2004 a Pew Research Center of the People and the Press poll indicated that 63% opposed gay marriage. Today's results show a slim majority opposing gay marriage, reflecting, if nothing else, current events in Massachusetts and California. While San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom was forced by the state's Supreme Court to stop issuing marriages licenses to gays, progressive voters believe he did the right thing. California doesn't like to be one-upped by liberal Massachusetts.

      Several states, including, Idaho, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin will introduce initiatives banning gay marriage in November's midyear elections. Thirteen states already approved bans on gay marriage or civil unions in 2004. When Bush defeated Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) in Ohio, a voter analysis proved that Ohio's gay marriage ban brought out religious conservatives. Bush hopes that the same gimmick will get out the vote next November. Unlike 2004, Bush's conservative base has been turned off by his immigration policy expected to grant legal status to some 12-million undocumented workers. Together with the deteriorating situation in Iraq, moderate Republicans, independents, crossover Democrats aren't expected to get jazzed by a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. Rising gas prices also haven't helped the GOP fortunes.

      Log Cabin Republicans, an exclusively gay group, aren't expected to get behind Bush's proposed gay marriage amendment. With his approval ratings around 30%, evangelicals are the last group that hasn't abandoned ship. When voters fill up their gas tanks, they're reminded why a gay marriage ban is so sadly irrelevant to lives of ordinary citizens. “The president firmly believes that marriage is an enduring and sacred institution between a man and a woman and has supported measures to protect the sanctity of marriage,” said White House spokesman Ken Lisaius. If Bush had as much passion about piracy by publicly traded oil companies, he'd be doing more to bring down the price of gasoline. Whether gays marry legally doesn't affect the lifestyles of heterosexuals who still have to serve in the military or put gas in their cars to get to work and go on vacations.

      Bush has bigger fish to fry than to waste precious time promoting a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. With U.S. soldiers losing their lives daily in Iraq, Iran feverishly pursing nuclear weapons, illegal aliens usurping government largesse and American motorists getting gouged at the pumps, there's plenty of work left in Bush's second term. Wasting his energy on banning gay marriage could antagonize voters heading into November, leading to more catastrophic losses for the GOP. Bush has run out of diversionary tactics and must now carefully prioritize his final legacy before retirement. It's going to take a Herculean effort to undo the damage from a failed domestic and foreign policy, leaving average families financially strapped and scaling back on spending. Before Bush causes more damage, he should reconsider his plans and get back to work.

About the Author

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

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