Amending the Constitution... Something To Think About

[KarenC]

I'm not so sure it puts the Democrats in a lose-lose situation. It's been my contention for some time that this year's 18-22 year old voters will actually vote, and that they'll make a difference in the results. (See last week's Newsweek and the recent survey from the Pew Research Center.)

On the whole, that generation is far more tolerant of people who are different than themselves than older generations are. They will see this as the mean-spirited, intolerant ploy that it is and will give them another reason to vote for Democrats.

If I didn't have so much faith in the quality of our young adults, I'd really be flipping out about the power and control that the religious right has over the Republican party. I do think it's interesting that the party needs to put so much effort into keeping that constituency happy in this election year.

 

[AirForceRocks]

Originally posted by ThreeCircles
w should also be advised that while a large section of the population agree with him that marrage "should" be between a man and a woman, the vast majority of Americans do not favor amending the Constitution.

A vast majority opposes an amendment? The last number I heard was something like 55%...majority, yes...vast majority, no.

 

[jrydberg]

Originally posted by KarenC
I'm not so sure it puts the Democrats in a lose-lose situation. It's been my contention for some time that this year's 18-22 year old voters will actually vote, and that they'll make a difference in the results. (See last week's Newsweek and the recent survey from the Pew Research Center.)

On the whole, that generation is far more tolerant of people who are different than themselves than older generations are. They will see this as the mean-spirited, intolerant ploy that it is and will give them another reason to vote for Democrats.

If I didn't have so much faith in the quality of our young adults, I'd really be flipping out about the power and control that the religious right has over the Republican party. I do think it's interesting that the party needs to put so much effort into keeping that constituency happy in this election year.

On the flip side of that, I don't think it's a win-win for Bush. I tend to vote Republican considerably more than Democrat, but the religious right influence turns me off to the Republican Party big time. I don't think it'll change many people's votes. But it probably would affect the level of turnout.

 

[Eeyore1954]

The amendment seeks to add 53 words to the Constitution:

"Marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman. Neither this Constitution, nor the constitution of any State, shall be construed to require that marriage or the legal incidents thereof be conferred upon any union other than the union of a man and a woman."

I normally do not find myself in agreement with Sen. Feinstein from CA, but ITA with this statement she made on the floor of the Senate: "I celebrate marriage. I understand the difficulties in working to keep it together," she said. "But I really believe that this is a waste of time. The votes are not present to submit this amendment to the states."

With the Senate rushing toward its summer recess, aren't there other more important issues to address? This simply smacks of an attempt to win at ANY cost ploy. I am sorely tempted to agree with wvrevy and hope that the co-sponsors of this amendment find themselves working the unemployment line January 2005.