Bush Backs Federal Marriage Amendment, Calls on Congress to Act 'Promptly'
by Jody Brown
February 24, 2004
(AgapePress) - In clear and concise terms, President Bush has made his position clear. This morning, during a speech at the White House, the president called on Congress to "promptly" pass legislation calling for a constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of a man and a woman. The amendment would then need to be ratified by at least 38 of the 50 states.
Speaking to a national television audience, George W. Bush -- who heretofore in this election year appeared hesitant to become entangled in the controversial issue of homosexual "marriage" -- said a federal marriage amendment is the "one recourse" left for the American people to "prevent the meaning of marriage from being changed forever."
Thirty-eight states already have a Defense of Marriage Act on the books -- among them California, where the mayor of San Francisco openly defied state law almost two weeks ago and ordered county officials to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. The president cited those actions by Mayor Gavin Newsom, and a similar but brief action by one county in New Mexico, as reasons why a federal marriage amendment is needed.
The president stated that the America people -- by virtue of the number of states now with a DOMA -- overwhelmingly support the traditional concept of marriage. But "activist courts" and the actions in San Francisco and New Mexico are going against that definition, he said.
While calling for a marriage amendment at the national level, Bush also said that state legislatures should be free to "make their own choice in defining legal arrangements other than marriage."
Earlier on Tuesday, White House press secretary Scott McClellan said the president would be announcing his support for a constitutional amendment barring homosexual marriage. McClellan stated that the president wanted to end "growing confusion" that has arisen as a result of events in California and court decisions in Massachusetts.
"The president believes it is important to have clarity," McCleelan said.
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