Distinguished Senators Spector (R-Pa.) and Feingold (D-Wis.) got into a bit of a tiff when discussing the constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage yesterday. We know from experience that talking about gay anything is a hot button issue by the amount of phone calls we get on the air when we choose to discuss it.
It’s very disappointing to watch Senator Spector, who was on the right track a few weeks ago by calling for hearings into NSA wiretapping, stir up this meaningless debate to appeal to the GOP’s base. Although, frankly, it doesn’t seem to be working this time around. Could it be that the American public have been so worn down (to a nub) by five years of nothing but bad management by the Bush Administration that they could care less about Adam and Steve? The Republican controlled government whittles away at our liberties, fails to act in crisis situations, gives tax-cuts to the wealthy, and gives away our hard-earned tax dollars to military contractors and big oil (perhaps they should use some of their gazillions in profits for R&D?) instead of spending it on improving education and providing healthcare for all citizens. Gay marriage? Who the hell cares?
Not the majority. An ABC News/Washington Post poll (pdf) from earlier this year shows that 53 percent of Americans are in favor of letting states decide the question while 44 percent are in favor of an amendment. Other polls show similar results.
And is it a coincidence that the lowest divorce rates are in states that support gay marriage, like Connecticut and Massachusetts? And the highest divorce rates are in states that oppose gay marriage like Alabama and Georgia? William V. D’Antonio writing for the Boston Globe opines that “More disturbing was the finding that born-again Christians have among the highest divorce rates.” Why is this tidbit of info framed as “more disturbing?” Would a high divorce rate be less distubing if it were in New York or Pennsylvania? “Oh sure, you know those heathen northerners, we EXPECT them to divorce. They can’t keep it in their pants!” What is disturbing is the press’ reporting of Republican frames as fact. Everything that the GOP wants you to believe about people living in the bible belt is folly. People living in the bible belt are not of one majority opinion and they are not more moral than east and west coasters. Democrats are and always have been the party of values and the party of working people. Democrats would rather FIGHT for your rights, for your freedoms, for your opportunities, for your equality, and for your prosperity than waste their time on manufactured issues like gay marriage.
Democrats know that our Constitution is a precious document and a tool for expanding and protecting rights, not limiting them.
Republicans are no longer the party of states rights. They are, and always have been, the party of the opportunistic use of hot button issues.
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