Bush plays both sides in debate over gay marriage

[ima_sinnic]

He says he'll back constitutional ban -- 'if necessary'

Carolyn Lochhead
San Francisco Chronicle Washington Bureau
Thursday, December 18, 2003

Washington -- President Bush took another carefully calibrated step toward endorsing a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage Tuesday night, but his elliptical comments left such ample room for interpretation that some described them as "Clintonian."

Bush also for the first time raised the issue of the longstanding right of states, rather than the federal government, to determine "legal arrangements" between couples. His remarks seemed to condone the civil union statute adopted by Vermont, or California's new domestic partnership law, both of which grant lesbian and gay couples the legal rights of marriage without calling it marriage.

"I think Bush is trying to find a midpoint that's about three-quarters on the side of the anti-gay-marriage forces," said Jim Pinkerton, an analyst and veteran in the administration of Bush's father.

Bush told ABC news correspondent Diane Sawyer in an exclusive prime-time interview, "If necessary, I will support a constitutional amendment which would honor marriage between a man and a woman, codify that." He then immediately added, "The position of this administration is that whatever legal arrangements people want to make, they're allowed to make, so long as it's embraced by the state or start at the state level." . . .

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2003/12/18/MNG0P3PNH21.DTL

ha ha, watering down his stands (and btw taking cues from the Democratic candidates) is not going to put him in good standing with his base of moronic fundie "Christians."

[Cannikin]

1. The marraige bill went back to the courts...

to clarify if the issue of 'civil unions' would be acceptible or would it HAVE to be marraige...I'm afraid it could possibly be another strategy similar to the re-instatement of the draft. He will play both sides through the election to get all votes possible, then after he's (hopefuly not) re elected and has no further use for us, he'll pass the bill...just one paranoid theory.

[Cronus Protagonist]

5. That's not a paranoid theory

It's his modus operandi.

"Terminate Governor Gangbang" Buttons, Stickers & Magnets

[Voltaire99]

2. "He's looked at life from both sides now..."

"I think Bush is trying to find a midpoint that's about three-quarters on the side of the anti-gay-marriage forces," said Jim Pinkerton, an analyst and veteran in the administration of Bush's father.

The Bush definition of equal rights: full rights for us, 1/4 rights for you!

[tom_paine]

3. No, he's just a liar.

Plus, it's not Bush...it's Uncle Karl who has decided, as usual, to lie their way out of it and to speak out of both sides of the Tyrannical Faces.

[Plaid Adder]

4. Heard Andrew Card on NPR not too long ago

and it seemed to me like he was working hard not to be backed into a corner on this issue (whereas on the others he was just spouting the claptrap you'd expect). I think this thing does kind of have Bush over a barrel, because if the right gets to thinking he's soft on this issue they'll be pretty pissed off, whereas there are probably a lot of moderates in his own party who think this issue is a loser. Hell, Cheney's got a gay daughter, maybe she's finally using her powers for good instead of evil.

Anyway, until the amendment passes in Congress, I will enjoy watching Bush squirm...

C ya,

The Plaid Adder