COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., June 10 /Christian Wire Service/ -- Focus on the Family Action Chairman James C. Dobson, Ph.D., said today that he has been assured by U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson that the Nebraska Democrat has changed his position on the need for a marriage-protection amendment to the U.S. Constitution and that he will support up-or-down votes on all but one of President Bush's embattled judicial nominees.
Nelson, in a recent phone call with Dobson and another Focus Action staff member, pointed to last month's federal court decision voiding Nebraska's Defense of Marriage Amendment as the reason behind his change in position -- a statement he reiterated in a subsequent letter to Dobson. Prior to the May 12 ruling from U.S. District Court Judge Joseph F. Bataillon, Nelson had asserted that state-level protections for marriage were sufficient. Clearly, that is not the case.
"Sen. Nelson is to be commended for reevaluating his position on the need for the Marriage Protection Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (MPA) in light of Judge Bataillon's incomprehensible ruling," Dobson said. "The Senator now joins millions of Americans who recognize the threat posed by arrogant and activist judges who would deprive the people of their right to govern themselves. We look forward to working with Sen. Nelson to pass the MPA in the months ahead."
Nelson also committed during the phone call with Dobson not to filibuster any nominee to the federal bench already put forward by President Bush -- except for Henry Saad. Nelson is one of 14 senators -- seven Democrats and seven Republicans -- who brokered a deal last month to end the Democrat-led filibusters of three judicial nominees.
"Sen. Nelson's comments indicate he may be willing to go beyond the details of the ill-advised deal of last month, which allows liberals to continue to abuse filibusters in exchange for letting a handful of nominees through," Dobson said. "Sen. Nelson is doing what an elected official should do -- listening to what his constituents want and working to make sure they get it.
"It is unfortunate that Sen. Nelson's colleague, Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., still fails to acknowledge what is manifestly obvious -- that the Marriage Protection Amendment is the only provision that will place marriage beyond the reach of activist courts," Dobson noted. "We renew our call to Sen. Hagel to not disenfranchise the 70 percent of Nebraskans who voted for the state Defense of Marriage Amendment. He was elected to do the will of the people, and the will of the people is to preserve marriage as it has served all civilized societies for thousands of years."
http://www.earnedmedia.org/fotf0610.htm