(Washington) “Marriage today is under assault,” announced Sen. Wayne Allard (R-Colo.) as he opened debate on a proposed amendment to the Constitution that would ban same-sex marriage.
Allard, who is the chief sponsor of the amendment in the Senate lambasted “activist judges” and accused same-sex couples seeking the right to marry of attempting to destroy traditional marriage.
“The U.S. Constitution is already in the process of being amended to reflect a new definition of marriage - but not by democratically elected members of Congress, yet by unaccountable and unelected judges,” he said.
The measure has little chance of moving through the Senate. It needs 67 votes, what is called a super majority. Only one Democrat, Ben Nelson of Nebraska supports the amendment and it has divided Republicans.
Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) allowed the proposed amendment to get through his committee but he said he will vote against the measure on the floor.
“A vote for this amendment is a vote for bigotry pure and simple,” said Democratic Sen. Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts. His home state is the only area in the country where same-sex couples can wed, the result of a high court ruling in 2003 that overturned the law blocking gay unions.
Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, who says he believes marriage is the union of a man and a woman, said he nonetheless will vote against the amendment.
“The reason for this debate is to divide our society, to pit one against another,” Reid said.
“This is another one of the presidents efforts to frighten, to distort, to distract, and to confuse America. It is this administration’s way of avoiding the tough, real problems that American citizens are confronted with each and every day.”
The proposed amendment is almost identical to one which failed to get enough votes to advance in 2004. The amendment drew 48 of the 67 votes needed to pass in 2004 and opponents believe it may get fewer votes this year.
The amendment reads: “Marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman. Neither this Constitution, nor the constitution of any State, shall be construed to require that marriage or the legal incidents thereof be conferred upon any union other than the union of a man and a woman.”
Earlier Monday President attempted to garner support for the amendment in a televised speech.
“A constitutional amendment is the most democratic method by which our country can resolve this issue,” the President said.
Gay Republicans quickly distanced themselves from Bush’s remarks.
“Good conservatives and loyal Republicans should resist politically motivated efforts to write discrimination into the U.S. Constitution,” said Log Cabin President Patrick Guerriero. “The President’s call for ‘tolerance and civility’ while advocating discrimination rings hollow. In fact, the effort to write discrimination into our Constitution is an intolerant and uncivil attack on gay and lesbian Americans and our families.”
Behind the scenes on Capitol Hill on Monday Senate opponents of the amendment were working to derail the measure before it comes to a full vote on Wednesday.
Democrats and moderate Republicans are working on a procedural maneuver to block an up-or-down vote, killing the measure for the year.

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon06/06/060506senate.htm