Gay Mass. Senator's Bold Move To Divide & Conquer

[davidinalameda]

http://www.365gay.com/newscon05/05/051205massAmend.htm

In a move that has surprised many on both sides of the issue of same-sex marriage openly gay state Senator Jarrett T. Barrios has proposed an amendment to the Massachusetts Constitution to ban both same-sex marriage and civil unions.

Last March a joint session of the House and Senate, known as the Constitutional Conference, narrowly approved a proposed amendment that would ban same-sex marriage but allow civil unions. (story)

The amendment was a compromise, worked out by Senate President Robert E. Travaglini and Senate Republican leader Brian P. Lees, after it appeared that just a ban on gay marriage might not pass.

[Mass]

1. Weird strategic move

but it could work, who knows.

[Technowitch]

2. Trying to "poison pill" it, perhaps?

Seen this sort of thing before -- since he can't get rid of it, make it so unpalatable and bitter that it splits off some of the supporters of the amendment.