CHANGING THE CONSTITUTION

The big news today was, of course, President George Bush coming right out and calling for a Federal Constitutional Amendment to protect the institution of marriage as a union between one man and one woman. The liberals will cry about the “immediate” call for an amendment and how we shouldn’t be so quick to mess with the Constitution.

Well, bull tookey!! It’s been eight years since Congress felt the need to pass the Defense of Marriage of Act. If Congress felt the need to pass an act (with amendment-passing numbers, BTW), the gay marriage issue had been kicking around for a while. So, we are looking at dealing with this issue for at least fifteen years, probably more. This is hardly rushing into a constitutional amendment.

Also, we get quotes like this:

“Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., who hopes to run against Bush in this year's presidential election, said: "I believe President Bush is wrong."

"All Americans should be concerned when a president who is in political trouble tries to tamper with the Constitution of the United States at the start of his re-election campaign," said Kerry, who opposes gay marriage but will oppose the amendment if it reaches the Senate floor. Bush is "looking for a wedge issue to divide the American people," Kerry said.”

This is an argument we hear a lot from people, the whole, “We shouldn’t be changing the Constitution…” Again, bull tookey!!! I got this from a state representative from Vermont during the whole “civil-unions” thing. When I asked him why they didn’t amend the Constitution and tie the courts hands, he said you shouldn’t just “change the Constitution”.

My answer to him and to Jane Kerry is:

“Well, blacks and women who enjoy their right to vote are sure glad the Congressmen didn’t think like you!” And to that, I include all press-types who like their First Amendment rights (get it, “First Amendment”?), eighteen year olds who like to vote, all of us who like to vote for our Senators instead of leaving it up to the State legislators, those who like Martinis… and twenty-something other groups of people who think changing the Constitution isn’t the worst thing we could do.