November 18, 2003
Massachusetts Rules
By Karl-Thomas Musselman
Breaking news today that will be sure to consume the national media for a good while. They knew it was coming, but the question is, are they ready for it?
Massachusetts court rules ban on gay marriage unconstitutional
I wait to see where Bush goes with either supporting or distancing himself from the conservative movement that is pushing the Federal Marriage Amendment, which is sure to go hysterical pretty quick here.
Posted by Karl-Thomas Musselman at November 18, 2003 10:15 AM
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I have a strong suspicion that Bush is on the pro-amendment/anti-marriage side, Byron.
the conservative movement that is pushing the Federal Marriage Amendment, which is sure to go hysterical pretty quick here.
Why would they "go hysterical"? This just gives impetus to the drive for a federal amendment which would render the Massachusetts decision nil.
Just like Roe v. Wade overruled the states which did not want to legalize abortion. What goes around...
I'll have to read the ruling, but needless to say, I'm quite pleased... for now.
Having said that, I fear that Republicans will shamelessly exploit this as a wedge issue next year in order to take people's minds off their economic and foreign policy failures. But it's what Republicans have done since 1964 with their southern strategy of appealing to people's fears.
Both Dick Cheney and Jerry Ford endorse civil unions. It's rather interesting that gays are making better progress with the rank and file republican party (read: Goldwater and Rockefeller republicans) than blacks are. The Christian right is beginning to splinter the republican party.
Civil unions are, I think, a perfect compromise.
Byron,
It isn't a matter of appealing to peoples' fears; it's a matter of honoring their political beliefs. Most Americans don't want gay marriage, and even some of those who do are none too happy with the idea of the courts enforcing it. Eugene Volokh, for example, is a noted supporter of gay marriage, but he opposes this judicial intervention.
The one sure-fire way to galvanize your opposition is to steamroll over democratic processes to get your positions through. Roe vs. Wade did that, and so will this decision.
Byron,
Oh, and please don't talk about 1964 and Republicans appealing to peoples' fears. Have you seen Johnson's 'Daisy' commerical? Sheesh! The man practically invented the negative ad.
