“Isn’t that the ultimate homeland security? To defend the sanctity of marriage?” – Senator Rick Santorum, equating his campaign against marriage rights for gays with the war on terror. I should have added that the 48 – 50 procedural vote greatly understates opposition to the FMA. The Santorumites were afraid to put their amendment to the vote. If they had, it might have been crushed. Here’s the Log Cabin analysis:
Senator McCain’s opposition to the amendment came just hours after Senator John Warner (R-VA) took to the floor and announced his opposition to the anti-family amendment. In addition to Senator McCain and Senator Warner’s floor statements, Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) told reporters on Tuesday that, “I see no need for a constitutional amendment … at a time when we already have a federal law on the books that protects the rights of states to define marriage as between a man and a woman.”
Log Cabin has made it clear from day one that this debate is not about protecting marriage, but is really about protecting the Constitution and protecting federalism. Over this past weekend, Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) added to the growing voices of Republican opposition to this unnecessary amendment by stating, “I believe that marriage should be defined as a marriage between man and woman, but I don’t think that a constitutional amendment is necessary.”
Even some of the most conservative members of the Senate expressed reservations about amending the Constitution. Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH) said, “a federal constitutional Amendment is premature at this time, as federal law already gives authority to the states in recognizing marriage.”
Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) made his opposition to this amendment clear. “I do not support amending the U.S. Constitution to ban same sex marriage at this time.”
Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) courageously spoke out against the amendment in the midst of a difficult primary campaign against an anti-gay opponent. Senator Lincoln Chafee (R-RI) went as far as to circulate a letter to his colleagues asking fellow Republicans to reject this anti-family amendment.
Up to a dozen Republicans would have voted against the measure. It truly is a humiliation for the anti-gay forces in the GOP. Let’s hope they take this to heart – and leave the states to figure out how to accommodate gay families into American society.
The Dish 