The U.S. Senate Takes Up, Votes Down the Marriage Amendment
See also: State marriage amendments | News about marriage equality | The main page on the marriage amendment
On June 5, 2006, the Senate began debating the discriminatory federal marriage amendment, a move widely regarded as pandering to the Republican Party's conservative Christian base. On June 7th, the senators defeated the measure in a procedural vote, 49-48, 11 short of the 60 required. The reports below provide a range of perspectives on the Senate action and its outcome.
We also want to thank all of you who took the time to fax or otherwise contact their senators. It was important to add our note of reality to the debate.
GOP still plans to make issue of gay marriage
By Andrea Stone, USA TODAY, June 8, 2006
WASHINGTON — Conservatives had counted on the Senate's vote Wednesday on a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage to give them a boost, but political analysts say it's unclear whether the tally will add votes for Republicans this fall.
Despite predictions by Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo., the amendment's chief sponsor, that the measure would garner 52 votes, it fell short of that and gained just one more supporter than in 2004, the last time it came up.
The amendment failed on a 49-48 procedural vote, far short of the 60 needed to move ahead with an up-or-down vote on the issue or the 67 needed to pass a constitutional amendment. Continue
No Rose Garden for Bush's Anti-Gay Marriage Speech
A Day in the Life of the Gay Marriage Debate on Capitol Hill
By Z. Byron Wolf, ABC News, June 5, 2006
Despite decent weather, White House organizers moved President Bush's endorsement of the constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage from the austere and unmistakably presidential Rose Garden, where invitations last week advertised it would be, into a plain room with blue curtains at an office building next door. Continue
Gay Marriage Amendment Getting a Presidential Push
Conservatives who think Bush has buried the issue denounce the planned event as a ruse.
By Maura Reynolds and Janet Hook, The Los Angeles Times, June 3, 2006
WASHINGTON - The campaign against gay marriage is scheduled to get the full White House treatment on Monday - words from President Bush in front of assembled VIPs and a bank of television cameras.
Such a carefully staged production aims to confer the grandeur of the office on the push for a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. But even before administration officials announced the event, some invitees denounced it as a sham. "I'm going to go and hear what he says, but we already know it is a ruse," said Joe Glover, president of the Family Policy Network, which opposes gay marriage. "We're not buying it. We're going to go and watch the dog-and-pony show, [but] it's too little, too late." Continue
Opposition to the discriminatory bill
Reid: Federal Marriage Amendment Was the Wrong Priority For the Senate
News Release, Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid, June 7, 2006
WASHINGTON, June 7 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid today released the following statement on the Senate's decision today not to proceed to consideration of a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.
"This week's debate underscores the misplaced priorities of the Bush Republicans. Instead of a divisive and unnecessary amendment, we should be addressing the war in Iraq and how to better protect our nation from terror. We should be doing something about skyrocketing gas prices. We should be working on college affordability, retirement security, stem cell research to find new cures for diseases, and making our nation energy independent. These are the priorities of the American people. Continue
5 Ways to Protect Marriage & Religious Freedom
Federal Marriage Amendment Wasted Time on Senate Floor
News Release, Inerfaith Alliance via Common Dreams, June 7, 2006
WASHINGTON - June 7 - The Interfaith Alliance applauds the United States Senate for striking down the Federal Marriage Amendment that would impede on the religious liberty of all Americans. However, TIA is outraged that the religious freedom this country was founded on is being used as a political football during election-year politics geared towards strengthening one party's base.
The proposed Constitutional Amendment would have imposed one religious definition of marriage over other religious views. This would take the debate and power away from houses of worship to decide who they will or will not marry and put it squarely in the hands of the federal government. Continue
ACLU Rebukes President Bush’s Support for Federal Marriage Amendment
Says Proposal Would Write Discrimination Into the Constitution
American Civil Liberties Union, News Release, June 5, 2006
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today strongly condemned President Bush for publicly supporting a proposal to amend the Constitution to deny marriage protections to gay and lesbian couples and their children. Both houses of Congress overwhelmingly rejected a similar Federal Marriage Amendment in 2004, and the Senate is expected to consider the proposal on Wednesday.
"The Federal Marriage Amendment is neither compassionate nor conservative," said Caroline Fredrickson, Director of the ACLU Washington Legislative Office. "Lawmakers rightly rejected it in 2004, but election year politics and Republicans pandering to their base have resurrected this mean-spirited amendment. Congress must -- and will -- reject this anti-family proposal again. Discrimination has no place in America, and certainly not in our founding document." Continue
 Protect the Rights of Same-Sex Couples
National Council of Jewish Women message to senators
The so-called "Marriage Protection Amendment" (SJ Res 1) would write discrimination into the US Constitution. This amendment would define marriage as a union that can only exist between a man and a woman -- denying same-sex couples the protections and legal benefits accorded to spouses in heterosexual marriages. If passed, it would be the first constitutional amendment to restrict the rights of a particular group of people -- setting a dangerous precedent.
Click here to take action
Save Our Constitution: Petition Against the Federal Marriage Amendment
People for the American Way campaign
People for the American Way's campaign against the marriage amendment. "Fairness. Community. Equality for all. Despite what the Right says, it’s been our values – the real values of this nation – that are under attack." Click here to take action
Jewish views
Will Bush’s appeal to religious right on gay marriage backfire among Jews?
By Ron Kampeas, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, June 5, 2006
WASHINGTON, June 6 (JTA) — It’s a familiar calculus in the relationship between the Jewish community and the Bush administration: a social issue that divides the country 50-50 has the Jewish community split 75-25 against where President Bush stands. Continue
Rosner's Blog
Same sex marriage and the Jewish dilemma
Shmuel Rosner, Chief U.S. Correspondent www.haaretz.com, June 6, 2006
Rossner examines how Jewish communities are (and are not) forging positions on gay marriage. He makes Indianapolis, where the Jewish community is drafting a position opposing a particularly egregious state marriage amendment, a case in point. Click here
Religious right -- not quite in lockstep
 Statement by Richard A. Viguerie, Chairman of ConservativeHQ.com
Regarding the Effect of the Marriage Amendment on Conservative Support for President Bush
General
ConservativeHQ.com, June 5, 2006
President Bush’s endorsement of the proposed Marriage Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is welcome, but it’s hardly even a beginning. The disappointment and betrayal felt by many conservative and values voters will not be undone by this very modest, baby step on the part of the President and the Republican Senate.
It’s clear that President Bush and the Republican Congressional leaders are trying to fix their conservative base problems with lip service. At this point, it may be too little, too late. Continue
President Bush Speaks Up For Marriage
To: Friends & Supporters, from: Gary Bauer, June 5, 2006
Bauer, who heads American Values, sends out a daily email. The following is quoted from his June 5th message:
Today, I joined President Bush and other conservative leaders at a White House ceremony where the president reiterated his strong support for a marriage protection amendment to the Constitution in a bold and unambiguous statement. I particularly appreciated the president’s willingness to directly take-on the “states’ rights” objections raised by many Democrats and, regrettably, even a few Republicans, who aren’t honest enough to admit that they support the radical notion of men “marrying” other men. While the Democrat Party and the militant homosexual movement are united in defeating the marriage protection amendment, conservatives have been divided over the issue of “federalism.” The libertarian CATO Institute, for example, held a seminar today attacking the amendment, and even some economic conservatives have been quoted in the press dismissing the amendment as a non-issue.
But President Bush’s statement today was a home run. He recognized that this problem has been brought about by activist judges who are attempting to redefine marriage contrary to the will of the people, not by conservatives looking for an election year gimmick.
Gay Marriage: Are Some Conservatives Ready to Surrender?
Commentary by Albert Mohler, June 07, 2006
Is the battle against same-sex marriage already lost? With homosexual marriage now legal in Massachusetts and with momentum toward legalization now spreading across the nation, homosexual advocates are increasingly confident that victory is in sight. Now, some conservatives are beginning to wonder if the gay activists might be right. Christopher Caldwell, writing in The Financial Times, notes the momentum of the gay rights movement as it achieved its great victory in Massachusetts. "In gaining full legal marriage rights in an important state, American gays have effected the quickest transition from pariah status to protected status in the history of civil rights movements." Caldwell, a senior editor at The Weekly Standard, appears certain that same-sex marriage is now an established social reality. Continue
Southern Baptist Convention president answers marriage amendment questions
Baptist Press, June 5, 2006
WASHINGTON (BP)--Having heard various questions about the Marriage Protection Amendment, Bobby Welch has a few answers.
Welch, president of the Southern Baptist Convention, was in attendance for President Bush’s speech today (June 5) in support of the initiative to protect marriage at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington. Continue
Marriage Amendment Supporters Vow to Fight On
Susan Jones and Melanie Hunter, CNSNews.com, June 8, 2006
Supporters of a federal marriage amendment vow to keep fighting to protect traditional marriage, even though the Senate on Wednesday was unable to muster the 60 votes needed to proceed with the Marriage Protection Amendment.
The Senate voted 49-48 on a motion to cut off debate and proceed to a vote on the amendment itself. Sixty votes are required to cut off debate, and 67 are required to pass a constitutional amendment.
Wednesday's vote also fell short of the simple majority that marriage defenders were hoping to attain.
"Today's vote is yet another sign that far too many U.S. senators have abandoned even the appearance of voting the will of their constituents," said Focus on the Family Founder and Chairman James Dobson in a statement Continue
Over 500,000 Pro-Traditional Marriage Signatures Sent to U.S. Senate as Marriage Amendment Vote Nears
Bush to publicly endorse the MPA in White House ceremony
LifeSiteNews.com, June 5, 2006
Tomorrow, June 6, the U.S. Senate will vote on the so-called Marriage Protection Amendment (MPA), which defines marriage as the union of one man and one woman.... Meanwhile, today, June 5, the Center for Reclaiming America for Christ will deliver the names of 505,199 people who have signed a petition in support of the Marriage Protection Amendment to the U.S. Senate. Continue
Marriage Amendment Does More to Promote Civil Unions Than Protect Marriage
White House & Religious Conservatives mislead American people on effect of MPA
Traditional Values Coalition, June 5, 2006
June 5, 2006 - Washington, DC – The Traditional Values Coalition will not attend the White House ceremony today to promote the Marriage Protection Amendment because it puts in the U.S. Constitution the right to civil unions and other forms of counterfeit marriage, which are one small step from full marriage rights for homosexuals.
“This amendment is a hollow gesture when it comes to protecting marriage,” said TVC Chairman Rev. Louis P. Sheldon. “It does not ‘fully protect marriage’ but it amends the Constitution to allow civil unions and other forms of counterfeit marriage in all 50 states.” Continue
From Family Research Council's June 6 email
Pray, Petition and Call
We need 67 votes in the U.S. Senate to approve the Marriage Protection Amendment (MPA). I am not embarrassed to ask for your prayers for just such an outcome. This country has felt the need to turn to the Lord in prayer right from the beginning. Our First Continental Congress knelt in prayer when a British fleet menaced Philadelphia. We are also exercising our constitutional right "to petition for redress of grievances." FRC's Tom McClusky delivered nearly 60,000 petition signatures to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist's (R-TN) office today. Last night, FOX News contributor Fred Barnes gave FRC the credit for putting the MPA on the Senate agenda. That's very flattering. But you are the ones whose voices are being heard. You are the ones whose views should be respected in this country. And, finally, I appeal to you to call your two U.S. Senators at 202.224.3121. Strongly urge them to support the Marriage Protection Amendment. Ask them to write common sense on marriage into the Constitution.
Tony Perkins, head of the FRC, also noted that two black pastors had participated in a religious right news conference supporting the marriage amendment:
was proud to join with black pastors and civil rights leaders at a Capitol Hill press conference today. FRC stood with Bishop Harry Jackson and his High Impact Leadership Coalition, Rev. Bill Owens of the Coalition of African-American Pastors (CAAP), and Star Parker, the President of the Coalition on Urban Renewal and Education (CURE). These leaders are unwilling to let the civil rights legacy be hijacked by radicals who want to re-define marriage. Black churches were in the forefront of the civil rights movement. If anyone can testify to the real meaning of civil rights, it is these leaders. Amendment opponents call it a "wedge" issue; standing in the midst of black leaders I pointed out that this is not a wedge issue - it is a bridge issue, bringing together people of different racial, political and denominational backgrounds to speak with one voice for marriage. Yesterday, an ad cosponsored by FRCAction (our legislative arm) and Focus on the Family Action appeared nationwide in USA Today. The ad challenged Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Hillary Clinton (D-Liberal-NY) to match their pro-marriage rhetoric with pro-marriage action. Both senators have announced their opposition to the Marriage Protection Amendment. Clinton has met with homosexual leaders to plot anti-MPA strategy. Sen. McCain promises to take action to amend the Constitution only after a federal appeals court rules against marriage. Both Senators have anti-marriage positions.
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