A Shameful Political Ploy: by Senator Russ Feingold (at Kos)

[kpete]

A Shameful Political Ploy
by Senator Russ Feingold
Tue Jun 06, 2006

The federal marriage amendment, which would write discrimination into the Constitution, is an obvious attempt to change the subject from topics that the Congress should be addressing to a hot button social issue intended to appeal to certain factions. On Wednesday, Senate Majority Leader Frist plans to hold a vote on this mean-spirited proposal. It has no chance of receiving the two-thirds majority required for constitutional amendments. The only thing bringing it up now will accomplish is to push Congress further away from the issues it should be addressing and engage the Senate of the United States in a shameful political ploy.

Senator Russ Feingold's diary :: ::
The last thing we should be doing right now is playing politics with the Constitution, or with the lives of gay and lesbian Americans, who see this proposal for what it is - discrimination, pure and simple. Gay and lesbian Americans are our friends, our family members, our neighbors, and our colleagues. They should not be used as pawns in a political exercise.

Backers of the proposal say they want to support marriage. But this debate is not about supporting marriage. Everyone agrees that good and strong marriages should be supported and celebrated. The debate in the Senate is also not about whether states should permit same sex marriage. I happen to believe that two adults who love each other and want to make a lifelong commitment to each other with all of the responsibilities that commitment entails should be able to do so. Others may disagree. But the Senate debate is about whether we should amend the Constitution of the United States to try to define marriage, and restrict, rather than expand, the rights of our citizens. The answer to that question has to be "no."

MORE AT:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/6/6/105913/0724

[myrna minx]

1. I love you, Senator Feingold.

:loveya:

[BR_Parkway]

2. Thank you Senator, I just made a donation - pass that last paragraph to

every Senator in DC:

A colleague of mine asked me if I was taking a lot of heat for announcing my support for the right of gays and lesbians to marry. And, frankly, the question doesn't surprise me because I suppose many of my colleagues might be wary of taking a strong stand on an issue meant to divide Americans. The Washington Post today called this "a tricky issue for Democrats" but it doesn't have to be. All Americans should stand up and say no to the federal marriage amendment, no to discrimination targeted at some of our finest citizens, and no to this narrow-minded attempt to score political points in an election year.

[bdamomma]

3. Senator Feingold

you just got to respect the guy.:loveya:

[Greybnk48]

4. K&R for my senator who has the

b*lls to stand up for what he believes in--over and over again.

[kwolf68]

5. He's too damn good...

Great comments, Senator.

[Critters2]

6. Feingold for President

He meets all of my requirements:

graduate of public schools
voted "no" on the IWR
consistently progressive

Run, Russ, Run

(but be ready for other Dems to call you "too far to the left")

[Cos]

7. he's ready

Feingold has a history of building coalitions with conservatives. His almost-successful attempt to reform the Patriot Act this winter happened because he got four Republican Senators to ally with him (until the Bushies broke them down). When he talks about voting against the Patriot Act, he can bring up prominent conservative allies. His best bit of national name recognition is being the Feingold in McCain-Feingold, which by its very name screams "coalition with prominent conservative!" He's been doing a good job defining himself, and by the time the primary campaigns kick in, a lot of what he's done in the past will be there in the background for him to link himself to.

The reason he's done such a good job laying that background, is that he wasn't trying to lay a background for a presidential run - he was just trying to work for the things he believes in. That sort of record will shine through.

[Kurovski]

8. Kick!(nt)

[dogday]

9. He is my guy

Will tackle the issues other politicians won't touch... You Go Russ! :loveya: