Insight On The News reports that
First couple splits over constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. Karl Rove and Senator Frist have encountered unexpected opposition to their proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage.
The issue of gay marriage is causing divisions within the Republican Party, including the highest reaches of the White House.
The split has been so pronounced that President Bush faces strong opposition within his own administration to a constitutional amendment that would outlaw gay marriage. The split has pitted Mr. Bush against his own wife, first lady Laura Bush.
Mrs. Bush has warned that promoting the amendment could backfire against the GOP in congressional races in November. She has suggested that a constitutional amendment would hamper any constructive debate over gay marriage.
"Well, I don't think it should be used as a campaign tool, obviously," Mrs. Bush said. "But I do think it's something that people in the United States want to debate. And it requires a lot of sensitivity to talk about the issue, a lot of sensitivity."
Laura Bush and Dick Cheney Oppose Constitutional Amendment To Outlaw Gay Marriage
Laura Bush supports sensitive discussion but not a legislative ban.
"People, I have found, over the country don't want the governor of Massachusetts or the mayor of San Francisco to make the choice for them--the courts of Massachusetts, I should say," the first lady told Fox News. "So I think it deserves debate. I think it's something that people want to talk about."
Administration sources said the split has divided the GOP majority in the Senate. They said that, unless the White House presents a united front, the proposed constitutional amendment will fail in the Senate.
Vice President Dick Cheney Also Opposes Bill
In a rare moment of admirable behavior, Vice President Dick Cheney argued has apparently maintained loyalty to his Lesbian daughter, Mary, and argued against introducing this ban on same-sex marriage at this time.
Vice President Dick Cheney, whose daughter is a lesbian, also opposes the bill. Administration sources said Mr. Cheney has argued against introducing a constitutional amendment in 2006.
In 2004, Mr. Cheney's daughter, Mary, was said to have nearly quit the Bush-Cheney campaign because of the president's position on gay marriage. Miss Cheney has been touring the talk show circuit and speaking out against the marriage amendment.
"What I can say is look, amending the constitution with this amendment, this piece of legislation, is a bad piece of legislation," Miss Cheney said. "It is writing discrimination into the constitution, and, as I say, it is fundamentally wrong."
Karl Rove's and Bill First's Political Agenda
Karl Rove decided some months back to advance this gay marriage ban as a political football--to throw some raw meat to the right wing hate groups to get them back in Presdident Bush's camp. But now it appears, that Rove's Machievellian move might be blowing up in his face.
Sources said the administration has to act quickly as the Senate plans to debate legislation in the first week of June that would define marriage as the union between a man and a woman. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove have been forceful proponents of the legislation.
Both Mr. Frist and Mr. Rove have assessed that the legislation will help mobilize the Christian Right to support GOP candidates for Congress. Recent polls show a sharp drop in support for the administration among conservatives.
"I basically say, Mr. Vice President, right now marriage is under attack in this country," Mr. Frist said. "And we've seen activist judges overturning state by state law, where state legislatures have passed laws defining marriage between a man and a woman, and that's being overturned by a handful of activist judges around the country. And that is why we need an amendment to come to the floor of the United States Senate to define marriage as that union between one man and one woman."
Senators Russ Feingold (D-WI) and Arlen Specter (R-PA) Shout Out At SJC Hearing
On May 18, the Senate Judiciary Committee, in a vote split along party lines, approved a constitutional amendment that banned gay marriage. The committee hearing was marred by a shouting match between Chairman Arlen Specter, Pennsylvania Republican, and Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, who walked out of the session.
"I don't need to be lectured by you," Mr. Specter told Mr. Feingold. "You are no more a protector of the constitution than am I."
Conclusion
The anti-GLBT extreme right wing of the GOP has backed the Republicans into the wrong side of history by pushing so hard to throw this political bone to its base. But with even moderates Republicans like Laura Bush and "Dick Cheney" opposing this hateful ban, and Mary Cheney on a speaking tour, traveling without horns and a tail, the prospects seem to be running against passage.
Additionally, it seems as if it is quite possible the right wing will be delivered a significant setback as a significant number of Republican speak out for greater tolerance and compassion.
Perhaps, we are beginning to see a longer term improvement in attitudes on attempts to ban same-sex marriage and other GLBT issues similar to those seen with the bans on inter-racial marraige, racism, and sexism.
Update
Here is the Pew Poll from March 22 showing a 12% decline in opposition to gay marriage in just two years. My impression from anecdotal evidence is that this trend has continued and will show even less opposition in the next poll.
Pew Survey Poll, March 22, 2006 show 12% decline in opposition to gay marriage in 2 years. Diminishing Divide On Cultural Issues? Opposition To Gay Marriage, Adoption And Military Service Declines
Polls/Survey Results
Public acceptance of homosexuality has increased in a number of ways in recent years. On three specific issues - allowing gays to serve openly in the military, adoption by homosexual couples and legalizing gay marriage - opposition has fallen considerably in the past decade, though each issue continues to be divisive, according to the latest national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press.
The survey found that half of Americans (51 percent) continue to oppose legalizing gay marriage, but this number is down from 63 percent just two years ago, when opposition spiked following the Massachusetts Supreme Court decision and remained high throughout the 2004 election season.
These are among the results of the survey, conducted among 1,405 adults from March 8-12.