Was gay-marriage an issue in 2000 election?

[kentuck]

If not, why not? We do know that it was a big issue in the 2004 elections and that the Repubs used it to their advantage in most of the states in which it was on the ballot? When did this become an issue and who's actually pushing this issue, the gays or the Republican Party? And why now?

[Charlie Brown]

1. Bush and Cheney both said it should be left to "the states" in 2000

what a couple of flip-floppers.

Cheney was quick to push the fact that his dauther was a lesbian in his debate w/Lieberman, to show how kind, loving, and tolerant the GOP had become.:sarcasm:

[monarch]

2. If it is an issue, it hurts Lieberman--he's against it,

even though he claims to be pro-gay. Another untrue but weasely position on gay rights and the the way he claims to be pro-choice, pro-civil-rights, pro-environment, anti-Alito etc. etc. when actual votes hurt the cause.

[leeroysphitz]

3. I think at that point they were actually trying to not scare away

the moderates and undecideds (with a "wink and a nod" to the fundies who were, at the time, willing to put up with a lot more than they are today in order to get "God's candidate" into office).

Now that they are IN they aren't letting things slide so much and are demanding screwball issues like this be pushed and the pukes know they have lost most moderates and undecideds (and they aren't coming back anytime soon.) so their best hope is to shamelessly pander to their "base" (fundies etc...)

Just my take on it...

[Bluebear]

4. Marriage was not "under attack" in 2000.

It's an emergency now because marriage is clearly threatened. :sarcasm:

[johnnie]

5. It wasn't

It became a big issue a few months before the 2004 elections and was put on 11 state ballots almost overnight. For the life of me I can't figure out why. :eyes:

[dogday]

7. To appease the religious right

who would vote for the shrub....

[kentuck]

6. A bit of history...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060602/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_gay_marriage;_ylt=AilceZW6Kxx7FHJQ_DOBp1eWwvIE;_ylu=X3oDMTA4NGRzMjRtBHNlYwMxNjk5

<snip>
A slim majority of Americans oppose gay marriage, according to a poll by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press from March. But the poll also showed attitudes are changing: 63 percent opposed gay marriage in February 2004.

Those poll results don't reflect how people might feel about amending the Constitution to ban gay marriage.

The Massachusetts Supreme Court decided to legalize such marriages in 2003. A year later, San Francisco issued thousands of marriage licenses to gay couples.

This November, initiatives banning same-sex marriages are expected to be on the ballot in Idaho, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin. In 2004, 13 states approved initiatives prohibiting gay marriage or civil unions, with 11 states casting votes on Election Day.

....more