The Republicans as a party are in fairly dire straits. After losing control of Congress, they now look to lose the White House and potentially find themselves in a Veto-Proof minority on Capitol Hill.
They desperately need a hot button issue to wrap themselves around to rally the base. Fortunately for them, California exists.
For those who don't know, California's Supreme Court recently held that the state's Gay Marriage ban violates the state's Constitution. This is just the ammunition a high-speed, devoted Republican Congressman needs to be able to jump headfirst into the election cycle. In this case, it's Georgia Congressman Paul Broun, who has declared his intent to introduce an amendment banning Gay Marriage. The rationale? In Congressman Broun's opinion, "There is simply no basis for the suggestion that homosexual 'marriage' is a right protected by the United States Constitution." I first read about this proposal on The Moderate Voice here.
This is merely posturing. The Congressman knows that this proposition has virtually no chance of getting through a 2/3 majority Congress, and even if it did, 75% of the states would not agree to it. But, the goal is not to change the law. The goal, rather, is to get the issue out there for the Religious Right to get fired up about them damn libruls and hopefully go out and stop 'em before this country really goes to hell by treating people equally.
3 comments:
and if that doesn't work, there's always the tried-and-true flag-burning amendment. That's probably good for a lot of smoke and mirrors in this military age.
smoke and fire? What's that phrase that indicates lots of motion and activity, but little substance?
Bruce, I think you right the first time -- smoke and mirrors.
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