So Bush will pursue the anti-marriage amendment. Sure it is probably just be a "re"-election ploy, but while I remain confident that Musgrave will fail, alternative wording FMAs threaten to attract enough support in the Senate that it might pass. Of vital importance is how the moderate Republican senators come down on this issue.
Yesterday, two such Senators weighed in. I am less than thrilled with Sen. Olympia Snowe's response, as I had hoped she would definitely be one of the 34 senators needed to oppose any FMA. She has decided to be coy.
I could not find a quote from Sen. Susan Collins.
Lincoln Chafee (R-RI)
I recognize that many Americans are opposed to same-sex marriage. Nevertheless, I do
not believe that amending the Constitution is the appropriate response to decisions by
individual states to permit these arrangements. I support civil unions between same-sex
couples and believe that each state should be free to make its own decision on this issue.
Olympia Snowe (R-ME)
As defined in the Defense of Marriage of Act (DoMA) that was overwhelmingly passed by the Congress and signed into law by President Clinton in 1996, which I supported, I continue to believe that `marriage' is between a man and a woman. Should this be challenged, the next step would be for the issue to be considered by the federal courts. As the law of the land, I would hope DoMA is upheld and enforced making the consideration of a constitutional amendment unnecessary.