Bush Appears to Open Door to Same-Sex Unions

[unfrigginreal]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush on Tuesday appeared to open the door to same-sex unions that stop short of marriage, by saying people should be able to make "whatever legal arrangements" they want as long as it is recognized by a state.

Bush made clear he would not go so far as to support gay marriage, however. He said in the interview with ABC News that he would support a constitutional amendment to "honor" marriage as between a man and a woman.

snip

Bush's comments sparked concern among conservatives seeking an outright constitutional ban on gay marriage, as well as from gay rights groups who have argued for legalizing same-sex unions.

"While I'm encouraged President Bush says he supports a Constitutional amendment honoring marriage between a man and woman, I'm very concerned about his additional comments which seem to suggest the definition of marriage, which pre-dates Western civilization and the United States Constitution, can be redefined at the state level," said Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council.

The group, which has made a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage its top election-year priority, expressed concern about Bush's remarks.

The Human Rights campaign, a gay and lesbian rights group, said it was "gravely concerned" by Bush's comments supporting a constitutional amendment, but wanted to study them further. "Any attempt to use this amendment to score a few votes is a strategy sure to backfire and cost elected officials their claims of compassionate conservatives," it said.

http://wireservice.wired.com/wired/story.asp?section=Breaking&storyId=806945&tw=wn_wire_story

[SahaleArm]

1. Change of plans now that Saddam is in hand?

Is this part of the shaping of Election 2004? I think he'll be running on National Security and with some number fudging an improving economy.

[tsipple]

2. Maybe He Can Piss Off Both Sides

That would be fun.

[Jackpine Radical]

3. Wow--this move

doesn't exactly play to his base. There are some (I know one such person) who would consider voting for Dean except for the "civil union" thing. I don't see how this can gain him votes, unless they did some polling somewhere with really surprising results.

[cirej2000]

4. He's hoping that it will fail somewhere in congress

Don't believe the hype. He's a right-wing, southern Christian! This is a purely political move.

[LittleDannySlowhorse]

5. This reminds me of an Onion headline

"Pat Buchanan to gays: 'I promise not to incinerate you.'"

If this means Bush is courting the gay vote, he is SORELY mistaken.

[AntiCoup2K4]

6. If this doesn't bring Buchanan into the race, nothing will

Go Pat Go!!

[unfrigginreal]

7. To me, this story is an indication that the WH is not so confident

of their chances next year. If they were, they would be crowing about the constitutional ban on same sex marriage and steer clear of civil unions.