I just read this article at msn today and I was very disturbed and annoyed. Here's the article.
WASHINGTON, July 30 — President Bush said Wednesday that he had government lawyers working on a law that would define marriage as a union between a woman and a man, casting aside calls to legalize gay marriages.
“I BELIEVE MARRIAGE is between a man and a woman, and I believe we ought to codify that one way or the other, and we have lawyers looking at the best way to do that,” the president said in a wide-ranging news conference at the White House Rose Garden.
Bush also urged, however, that America remain a “welcoming country” not polarized on the issue of homosexuality.
“I am mindful that we’re all sinners, and I caution those who may try to take a speck out of the neighbor’s eye when they’ve got a log in their own,” the president said. “I think it is important for our society to respect each individual, to welcome those with good hearts.”
“On the other hand, that does not mean that someone like me needs to compromise on the issue of marriage,” he added.
“I BELIEVE MARRIAGE is between a man and a woman, and I believe we ought to codify that one way or the other, and we have lawyers looking at the best way to do that,” the president said in a wide-ranging news conference at the White House Rose Garden.
Bush also urged, however, that America remain a “welcoming country” not polarized on the issue of homosexuality.
“I am mindful that we’re all sinners, and I caution those who may try to take a speck out of the neighbor’s eye when they’ve got a log in their own,” the president said. “I think it is important for our society to respect each individual, to welcome those with good hearts.”
“On the other hand, that does not mean that someone like me needs to compromise on the issue of marriage,” he added.
STRONG REACTION TO REMARKS
Despite his calibrated language, Bush’s statement touched off passionate responses from groups with an interest in the issue.
“There is a real movement for same-sex marriage, and if the president doesn’t intervene, and if he doesn’t take leadership in this area, we could lose marriage in this country the way we know it,” said Franklin Graham, president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and the son of evangelist Billy Graham. “I think the president is doing the right thing.”
The Rev. Pat Robertson agreed. Both ministers spoke in Orlando, Fla., at the memorial service for Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ.
“I applaud the president’s movement on this,” Robertson said. “I think it’s absolutely important that the American people defend the institution of marriage. Its foundational to our entire society, and I think in order [for] this to be effective, it’s going to have to be a constitutional amendment.”
But gay-rights activists took offense at Bush’s comment that “we’re all sinners,” interpreting the remark as directed at them.
“While we respect President Bush’s religious views, it is unbecoming of the president of the United States to characterize same-sex couples as ‘sinners,’” said Matt Foreman, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. “It’s also sad that, at a moment in history that cries out for leadership and moral courage, President Bush has instead opted for the divisive, anti-gay politics of the past.”
The Human Rights Campaign, which says it is the nation’s largest gay and lesbian political group, branded Bush’s exploration of a law on gay marriage a “call to codify discrimination.”
SUPREME COURT ACTION
Bush has long opposed gay marriage, but as recently as earlier this month he said a constitutional ban on gay marriage proposed in the House might not be needed despite a Supreme Court decision that some conservatives thought opened the door to legalizing same-sex marriages.
The Supreme Court struck down a Texas law that made homosexual sex a crime, overturning an earlier ruling that said states could punish gays and lesbians for having sex.
Conservative Justice Antonin Scalia fired off a blistering dissent of the ruling.
The “opinion dismantles the structure of constitutional law that has permitted a distinction to be made between heterosexual and homosexual unions, insofar as formal recognition in marriage is concerned,” Scalia wrote. The ruling specifically said that the court was not addressing that issue, but Scalia warned, “Do not believe it.”
Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, R-Colo., is the main sponsor of the proposal offered May 21 to amend the Constitution. It was referred last month to the House Judiciary subcommittee on the Constitution.
To be added to the Constitution, the proposal must be approved by two-thirds of the House and the Senate and ratified by three-fourths of the states.
here's the link to the article
http://www.msnbc.com/news/945974.asp