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HOST: You talk about a lot of issues that affect people’s lives. And yet you’re going to bring two constitutional amendments to the Senate floor in the next few weeks, one to ban same-sex marriage, another to ban flag-burning, both reportedly in the papers to mobilize your conservative base. I have to tell you, I talked to a Republican senator this week who said he may vote for both of them but said they’re both pandering. Are gay marriage and flag burning the most important issues the Senate can be addressing in June of 2006?

FRIST: Let me tell you what the agenda is real quick.... Marriage — marriage, you asked about. Right now. Why marriage today? Marriage is for our society that union between a man and a woman, is the cornerstone of our society. It is under attack today. Right now there are 13 states who passed constitutional amendments in the last year and a half to protect marriage. Why? Because in nine states today, activist judges, unelected activist judges are tearing down state laws in nine states today. That’s why I will take it to the floor of the Senate, simply define marriage as the union between a man and a woman.

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The visceral reaction by a lot of people (more than we think!) of this affront to their most personal of values, is what the Conservatives are counting on when they make issue a priority. This cannot be underestimated as the Conservatives attempt to make inroads with most New Canadians that come from much more conservative societies (East Asia, South Asia, the Caribbean -- all socially conservative societies).

Here's another scary article:

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A visit to North Carolina this week brought me face to face with a humorous and thoughtful illegal immigrant, Carlos from Venezuela.

I was chatting to Carlos about the president and John Kerry, the Democratic contender he beat in 2004.

Carlos agreed that Bush had his troubles. "But," he said, "he's better than Kerry.

Why? John Kerry supports abortion rights.

From the bottom of the pile in American society - from a man who is not yet even a proper citizen here but whose children will be - comes a message that hostility to abortion and to homosexuality - a belief in other words in Bush values - is going to be the wave of the future.

In a few decades, more than a quarter of the people of this nation will be Hispanic immigrants and the great majority of them - like Carlos - will be socially conservative.

Too late of course to save this president, though not too late to re-write history in his favour.

The headlines scream "Bush finished" and in the short term the headlines are right.

But America is full of surprises.

BBC News

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[ 30 May 2006: Message edited by: ceti ]

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Originally posted by ceti:
The visceral reaction by a lot of people (more than we think!) of this affront to their most personal of values...

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I'm having trouble seeing 'other people's equality' as 'most personal value'.

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Marriage is for our society that union between a man and a woman, is the cornerstone of our society

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From Article : activist judges

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I love the term "activist judges". Judge finds that law banning on gay marriage infringes on human rights, then the judge must be the 'All Mighty Activist Judge pretending to Play God'. Wheres the banging head on desk smiley again?

[ 30 May 2006: Message edited by: Noise ]

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I'm having trouble seeing 'other people's equality' as 'most personal value' S1m0on

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I know what you mean S1m0n. I too have trouble seeing some people's equality perceived as too expensive to others.

Perhaps there is nothing wrong with the Senator's proposal... All gays and lesbians have to do is count on their pockets, hire lawyers and invoke the Constitution. Life is not always fair, S1m0n

PS: I am far from supporting this regressive measure.. I am trying to make a point to S1m0n, that I am sure he will understand.

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Is Senator Crapo* in favor of traditional marriage?
Yes he is, he's a cosponsor of the bill.
He is? Can you tell me if he masturbates?
I could not tell you that.
Can you tell me, do you masturbate?
I cannot tell you that either.
Can you tell me, does he commit sodomy, analingus, cunnilingus or fellatio?
What is the purpose of this questioning?
It's regarding his views on traditional marriage.
Okay, he supports the bill.
Yes, but could you tell me does he commit sodomy?
I could not give you an answer on that.
Is he willing to pledge that he has not or will not commit sodomy?
I could not answer that.
Has he ever had sex before or outside of marriage?
Again, sir, what is the point of this questioning?
It's regarding traditional marriage and how far his support goes.
Any one of those questions I could not answer.
Have you ever had sex outside of marriage?
Again, I will not answer that.
It's nobody's business, right?
That's right.
Okay, thank you.

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He and his crew know they don't have the votes in the Senate to make this fly, but they're going ahead anyway so they can charge up the base, raise their turnout in the mid-terms, all the while raising hundreds of millions from gullible fools who think they're doing something to 'save the family' by writing a cheque to stop this or that Democrat or activist judge.

Meanwhile the people who'll bear the real brunt of this cynically divisive strategy (gays and lesbians) will join undocumented workers in the scapegoat-du-jour club.

And all to elect GOP members who'll help advance the agenda of cuts to social programmes, infringements on civil liberties, environmental rollbacks, tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy, and gravy for the defence sector.