Weapons of Mass Discussion

Tuesday, February 24, 2004

BREAKING NEWS: Bush Wants Gay Marriage Ban Amendment

White House Resources

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"[T]he Defense of Marriage requires a constitutional amendment. An amendment to the Constitution is never to be undertaken lightly. The amendment process has addressed many serious matters of national concern. And the preservation of marriage rises to this level of national importance. The union of a man and woman is the most enduring human institution, honoring -- honored and encouraged in all cultures and by every religious faith. Ages of experience have taught humanity 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.

Marriage cannot be severed from its cultural, religious and natural roots without weakening the good influence of society. Government, by recognizing and protecting marriage, serves the interests of all. Today I call upon the Congress to promptly pass, and to send to the states for ratification, an amendment to our Constitution defining and protecting marriage as a union of man and woman as husband and wife. The amendment should fully protect marriage, while leaving the state legislatures free to make their own choices in defining legal arrangements other than marriage."

- President George W. Bush

Media Coverage:

My Way News (AP) Coverage
Fox News Coverage
ABC News Coverage
CBS News Coverage
MSNBC Coverage
CNN Coverage
NewsMax Coverage

Blog Coverage:

Glenn Reynolds on Instapundit: "I think that the SF marriages pushed him off the fence on this, and I think it's probably a bad thing for all concerned."

Wonkette says, " Peenies are for sticking in hoo-has. Also, hoo-has may not touch other hoo-has. Unless we're talking about two hot chicks. Like Naomi Watts and someone else hot."

Andrew Sullivan claims that the President has "launched a war to defile the most sacred document in the land."

Michael Demmons opened up his DiscountBlogger to guest commentary today and there is a variety of views there.

Web Resources

Dictionary.com's definition of marriage:

mar·riage
n.

1.

1. The legal union of a man and woman as husband and wife.
2. The state of being married; wedlock.
3. A common-law marriage.
4. A union between two persons having the customary but usually not the legal force of marriage: a same-sex marriage.
2. A wedding.
3. A close union: “the most successful marriage of beauty and blood in mainstream comics” (Lloyd Rose).
4. Games. The combination of the king and queen of the same suit, as in pinochle.

The 'Lectric Law Library's Lexicon definition of marriage

MarriageWatch