Bush's push against gay marriage criticized

[papaspot]

U.S. President George W. Bush's move to ban same-sex marriages has been called a political ploy, and one that observers say is not likely to succeed.

He raised the issue in a radio talk on Saturday, and made many of the same comments on Monday as the U.S. Senate began a debate on his proposal to launch a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriages.

It is the second time he has tried for the ban and critics note that the previous push — like the current one — was launched during the run-up to an election.

Rev. Robert Hardies of the liberal All Souls Church in Washington said Bush's proposal is political.

"There isn't anyone here who is naive enough to believe that the introduction of this legislation now in two consecutive election cycles is anything but a politically motivated effort to win votes by demonizing a class of citizen."

But whatever the motivation, Washington observers doubt it will attract enough support to pass. A constitutional amendment must be supported by two-thirds of the House and Senate and then ratified by three-quarters of the states.

CBC

With all the problems facing the U.S. right now, it's surprising that Bush has TIME to pander to right wing Christian fundamentalists.