06/05/2006
Numbers Down, Bush Declares June Gay Bashing Month
''It's politics. It's pandering and it's placating a core constituency, the evangelicals," said Gavin Newsom of George Bush's weekend radio address in which he reiterated his support for the Federal Marriage Amendment which has an ice cube's chance in hell of passing.
Said Bush in his weekend address: "Ages of experience have taught us that the commitment of a husband and wife to love and to serve one another promotes the welfare of children and the stability of society. Government, by recognizing and protecting marriage, serves the interests of all."
The President was expected to make additional remarks today as the Senate begins three days of hearings on the issue. The statements are largely seen as pandering to Bush's core conservative base in an election year, hoping to distract them from the failed war in Iraq and the wiretapping and corruption scandals that have plagued his administration. The President's wife Laura Bush said recently that same-sex marriage should not be used as a campaign tool: "I don't think it should be used as a campaign tool, obviously. It requires a lot of sensitivity to just talk about the issue - a lot of sensitivity." I guess her husband didn't get that memo, either.
However, Bush's move to reopen the FMA debate in front of VIPS and cameras on Monday is not even sitting well with some conservative groups. Joe Glover, president of the Family Policy Network: "I'm going to go and hear what he says, but we already know it is a ruse. We're not buying it. We're going to go and watch the dog-and-pony show, [but] it's too little, too late."
Over the weekend, hundreds of same-sex marriage supporters held a third annual "Wedding March" as they walked across the Brooklyn Bridge to a rally in lower Manhattan. In San Francisco, activists marched across the Golden Gate Bridge to show their support. New York's Court of Appeals recently took up the same-sex marriage case again and is expected to rule in the coming weeks.
The activist group Soulforce has begun a billboard campaign featuring the words of Coretta Scott King. One of the billboards will be placed in Senator Bill Frist's hometown.
William Eskridge and Darren Spedale published a piece today which attempts to dissect the often-confusing process of getting same-sex marriage laws passed and its deft navigation by politicians looking to get elected. The duo have a book coming out, Gay Marriage: For Better or for Worse
Will the same strategy that helped Bush and the Republicans bring out the vote in 2004 work again two years later? Or will more Americans see through the bigoted diversionary ploy?
Regardless, it can't help but look ugly. Instead of issuing a Gay Pride month proclamation praising the contributions to America of its gay and lesbian citizens, George Bush has chosen to defy our Founding Fathers by proposing allowing discriminatory legislation into the U.S. Constitution, a document that should continue to serve and protect the minority groups of this nation.
UPDATE: Bush's press conference today, courtesy of PageOneQ:
Gay Marriage Ban is Short of Votes in Senate [ny times]
OPINION: Who's Afraid of Gay Marriage? [abc news]
OPINION: Gay Marriage Vote Serves Only to Divide Nation [la times]
Photo source: this great set of patriotic parodies at WhiteHouse.org.
Posted 1:30 PM EST by Andy Towle in Gay Marriage | Permalink
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As a lesbian, I object to being used to distract domestic and international attention from the violent mayhem spiralling in Iraq. In protest, today I wll not say one word about marriage or queer civil rights. My only remarks will address the barbaric cycle of violence in Iraq that not even phoney-baloney presidential statements about my lesbian life can obscure or hide from view.
Posted by: Cdn Looking South | Jun 5, 2006 1:51:32 PM
Futile pandering to a rapidly diminishing base, solely populated now by a group of ostriches with their heads sticking out of the blood-soaked sands of Iraq. Did anyone else notice that Bush decided to bring this up again in June- Gay Pride Month? What a shithole!
Posted by: Neal | Jun 5, 2006 2:29:02 PM
I used to make little flags with the picture of the president on them to put in the little piles of dog shit I would come across on my way to work or around town, but now I think that's too great an honor for him.
Dog shit flags. They make great gifts. Easy to make. Craft day: fun for the whole family.
Posted by: David | Jun 5, 2006 2:35:14 PM
Everybody's doing it.
http://madeyouthink.org/
/not my site
//not affiliated in any way, other than perhaps ideologically, and that only just.
///not for profit
Posted by: David | Jun 5, 2006 2:43:38 PM
Could his timing be any worse? June being gay pride month, around the globe and all.
What's next, an amendment demanding that blacks sit at the back of the bus and drink from seperate drinking fountains, during Black History Month?
What an outrage. We should converge on the White House lawn and and have a Block Party.
This Presidnet is as creepy and over the top as any X-Men villian out to "cure us."
Posted by: Joe Fitrzyk | Jun 5, 2006 2:45:21 PM
Oh, using the White House to gay bash us again in Pride Month is the lesser outrage of this slimy, ruthless reptile. And the radio address [always plugged by national TV news] was just foreplay. It is no accident that he chose today for the big show as Rove knows this will be the day when virtually 99% of news media outlets will also be mentioning the titular 25th anniversary of AIDS, and that in most Americans' minds it falsely remains as something the gays caused. When the homos are trying to destroy marriage and civilization their irresponsible behaviour and sexual compulsion might get us all killed. Timeless demagoguery. Hermann Goering could not have done it any better. If you're gay or gay-friendly, fight back: stop talking to anyone you know, regardless of their relationship to you, who voted for Bush in 2004.
Posted by: Leland | Jun 5, 2006 2:48:41 PM
I'd like a lot to refer to what a stupid fuckhead he is. I'd like to toss eggs at that absurd statement about how what 'ages of experience' have shown us.
But I can't. We put him there. We let him stay. We deserve everything we get.
Posted by: Jacko | Jun 5, 2006 3:00:25 PM
I'm hard pressed to remember a Western leader with a message of such hatred towards a segment of his own people.
You Americans have a really problem on your hands.
Posted by: protogenes | Jun 5, 2006 3:26:46 PM
It's actually a really sad week in American history. Values we thought we grew up with are being mocked. Bush is making every effort to shred the Constitution and ultimately ATTACK the American family, which includes all gay families, however they are composed.
He is a weak, pathetic person. Really sad day.
Who could have really foreseen the depth of damage this man would bring to America in 6 years? It's an endless pit.
Posted by: xolondon | Jun 5, 2006 3:59:37 PM
Truthfully, it just makes me sick to my stomach.
Posted by: Hoya86 | Jun 5, 2006 4:18:56 PM
Just listened to Sam Brownback (Cspan) wax poetically (and unironically) about the lovely heterosexual wedding he attended over the weekend in which his "beautiful" daughter was a bridesmaid and for some reason I can't help but think of Nazi era Germany and the idea of "pure" blood.
Posted by: Giovanni | Jun 5, 2006 4:46:28 PM
Most straight Republicans (Sam Brownback) get a tingle at the idea of marriage because it:
A. Gives them a sense of immortality (spreading their DNA)
B. Allows them to live thru their children, forcing their offspring to do everything they wished they had done with their own miserable life
It's all ego where straight marriage and children are concerned.
That's while you will never see a Republican adopt. They need a "Pure Race" made form thier own sacred DNA. Their life has more value than anyone elses.
The gays however, are truly in touch with the sacred vows of marriage because it has been denied to them for so long. When they choose to have children, they usually adopt--the "unwanted" children Republicans would not touch with a stick.
Republicans have the most distorted, twisted, self serving views on marriage, religion and children. Yet, ironically, the gays are labeled deviant.
Posted by: Joe Fitrzyk | Jun 5, 2006 5:09:04 PM
"that's while you will never see a Republican adopt."
Huh?? Huh?? One for the English, the other for the absurd statement.
Posted by: jmg | Jun 5, 2006 5:16:07 PM
Grrrr. Arrrrgh. FSKHDKJKUEEKD.
Head wants to explode.
I hate him, I hate him, I hate him.
Seriously, how do we explain this to our kids someday?
Posted by: Japhy Grant | Jun 5, 2006 5:40:51 PM
Hi there,
Of all the things for Bush to choose to boost his numbers, this one truly, truly does boggle the mind...
Sorry, but I just can't see even the evangelists on Wall Street (much less other supposedly progressive countries) thinking: Geeeee, guess he's worth backing now.
I mean, that settles it! You're all just going to have to move NORTH Of The BORDER, up here with us =).
I promise you we're not dull--as some of you have commented on this blog. With so much land around us to use, what do you think we do up here all day?? Nope, nope, it's not thumb twiddling! Life is definitely what you MAKE it!
See you soon...
=)
Posted by: Gilli | Jun 5, 2006 5:51:30 PM
I for one am sick and tired of baring the burden of this pink bullseye on the back of my realtionship!
I am American! That is the only qualifier I was taught that mattered when you want to exercise your rights!?
Here's hoping this debate has opened some hearts and minds. I am praying for a backlash as Americans becoming increasingly frustrated by politicians that refuse to focus on real priorities; and instead tell us what we should see as a priority.
I say take your "smoke and mirrors" and shove them up your ass Dumbya, First & Santorum!
Posted by: gary | Jun 5, 2006 5:56:01 PM
"Seriously, how do we explain this to our kids someday?"
I tried to explaining to my young nephew why it was Rosa Parks would have been obligated to give up her seat on a bus to a white person some fifty odd years ago (as well as the mind boggling concepts of "colored" drinking fountains, swimming pools etc) and he looked at me as if I were talking about life on Mars. Hopefully our childrens children will view this debate with the same "WTF!?!" dismay.
Posted by: Giovanni | Jun 5, 2006 6:18:59 PM
Apparently Tony Snow has a hard time explaining it as well (Transcript from this mornings press briefing)
WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY TONY SNOW:
Whether it passes or not, as you know, Terry, there have been a number of cases where civil rights matters have risen on a number of occasions, and they've been brought up for repeated consideration by the United States Senate and other legislative bodies...
Q You mentioned civil rights. Are you comparing this to various civil rights measures which have come to the Congress over the years?
MR. SNOW: Not -- well, these -- it --
Q Is this a civil right?
MR. SNOW: Marriage? It actually -- what we're really talking about here is an attempt to try to maintain the traditional meaning of an institution that has maintained one meeting for -- meaning for a period of centuries. And furthermore --
Q And you would equate that with civil rights?
MR. SNOW: No, I'm just saying that I think -- well, I don't know. How do you define civil rights?
Q It's not up to me. Up to you.
MR. SNOW: Okay. Well, no, it's your question. So I -- if I --
Q (Chuckles.)
MR. SNOW: I need to get a more precise definition.
Posted by: Giovanni | Jun 5, 2006 6:28:02 PM
JMG
Sorry for the typos, I tend to overlook these thing when I'm angry and and being attacked by my own government, you dumb ass.
At least I have an opinion, while you come on here with nothing to offer, exceptto play Grammer Police.
Unilke Republicans, I don't lable everyone into a tidy stereotype.
When I said you will never see a Repub adopt, it was implied that I meant the hypocrites in public office and not the average citizen.
Don't worry about my fucking typos, at least I have something to say.
Posted by: Joe FItrzyk | Jun 5, 2006 6:28:27 PM
He makes me want to throw up...As said in other comments here...I hate the fact that he brings this up during Pride Month...and talk about the activist judges...if it were not for some of these activist judges there would be no black and white marriages...I wish I could get him on camera for some real questions...he would fry... and a little self promotion here...if you want a nice pic to post for pride, go check out my challenge to all bloggers gay/straight/bi/trans...just shoot me a comment to let me know where I can view it and Andy...please feel free to use it here too...Happy Pride everyone!!
Posted by: Kelly | Jun 5, 2006 7:24:09 PM
Hmmm. Where are the wingnuts that usually post here to tell us how much nicer Ann Coulter.com posters are than we are?
Hello? Hello? Anybody going to say that the Democrat Party hates us more than anyone and this is all Howard Dean's fault?
Hello? Where are the wingnuts?
Come on, you Log Cabin closet bottoms should have a sense of humor when Bush is saying straight to you:
BWHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Posted by: Brian NYC | Jun 5, 2006 7:26:06 PM
I think we (gay rights activists) have an opportunity here, in the sense that there might actually be a shift afoot in support for anti-gay marriage efforts nationally. And in the good news department, it seems that hardly a single media outlet failed to report the President's move as a cynical political ploy/red meat to the base/distraction from upopular war, etc. and they have frequently today characterized the President's Johnny-Come-Lately strategy to the FMA this time around (i.e. he and the Senate waited until it was just before the election) as unllikely to satisfy even his nutty right-wing base. I think he's doing us a favor this time by really looking like a nut himself. A poll put FMA under 1% when asked what the top priorities were facing the nation. I'm a New Yorker currently visiting family in Toronto (where I'm originally from). I had the bad luck to witness 9/11 as I stood on the street in front of the WTC (my office is directly across the street. Now while I've been here, in usually peaceful Toronto the arrest of an alleged terrorist cell here is all over the news. You'd think Republicans who were REALLY concerned about porous borders would be talking about how to make sure terrorists can't enter the U.S. from the vastly unguarded Canadian border. How did gay marriage get more important than national security? Republicans deserve to lose the Senate, the House and next the White House. They have written their own epitaph this week. I don't think they stand for anything. The Democrats should seize the initiative and fight hard to keep FMA in the news, get the Republicans copious free advertising for their extremist agenda, and reveal them for what they are, incapable of governing this country. Most of all Dems need to stay on message, and we as their constituents should contact them (Hilary?) and demand that they raise the profile of the anti-FMA arguments, isolate the extremists who are running this country.
Posted by: Lavi Soloway | Jun 5, 2006 9:46:10 PM
You all have a right to be angry with Bush's comments but the actual outcome is that the legislation will not pass..... consider for a moment how we gay australians felt when Bush's crony (our prime minister howard) brought into law similiar legislation which has been passed by his majority in the government...... as with Bush, Howard is the first prime minister in over 50yrs to pass legislation that discriminates againt a percentage of the population....
Posted by: Troy | Jun 5, 2006 10:41:49 PM
Greetings, Troy, the OUTCOME of the hate speech of both incompetents is more hate speech among other politicians and more hate crimes and attacks and killings of gay people. Not to mention the poisoning of the human spirit.
Posted by: Brian NYC | Jun 6, 2006 7:29:53 AM
That nasty smirking vomitous mass in the white house makes me want to throw up in my mouth. Please God... smite him...
Posted by: Brian | Jun 6, 2006 10:09:55 AM