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CNN Live At Daybreak
Many Speak Out Against Gay Marriage Ban
Aired February 25, 2004 - 05:03 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: It is looking like the same-sex marriage issue will play a part on the general election debate. President Bush has called for a constitutional amendment restricting marriage to a man and a woman. John Kerry reacted to the president's announcement during a campaign stop in Cleveland.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I personally believe that marriage is between a man and a woman. But I don't think we need a constitutional amendment at the federal level because each of the states have the ability to deal with this and they have for 200 years. So I think the president is really grabbing an election year effort to try to drive a wedge in America. It's not a necessary effort.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: John Edwards was campaigning in Atlanta Tuesday, where he echoed Kerry's stand on the gay marriage issue.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN EDWARDS (D-NC), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I do not support, I am against the president's constitutional amendment on gay marriage. I don't personally support gay marriage myself, but my position has always been that it's for the states to decide and it's for the State of Georgia to decide or any other state to decide. And I think that the federal government should honor those decisions.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: CNN and the "Los Angeles Times" are sponsoring a Democratic presidential debate tomorrow night. Larry King will host and you can watch it right here at 9:00 p.m. Eastern.
The issue of same-sex marriage has been a key speaking point in most of the Democratic debates already. But is an amendment banning the unions really likely?
Senior White House correspondent John King has more on the political process and the president's stance.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN KING, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It is scenes like this in San Francisco that the president says left him no choice but to endorse a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: A few judges and local authorities are presuming to change the most fundamental institution of civilization. Their actions have created confusion on an issue that requires clarity.
KING: The White House says Mr. Bush favors an amendment that defines marriage as between a man and a woman but lets individual states allow civil unions that give legal recognition and partnership benefits to gay couples.
BUSH: Our government should respect every person and protect the institution of marriage. There is no contradiction between these responsibilities.
KING: Such an amendment is a major priority for religious conservatives critical to Mr. Bush this election year and Democrats were quick to accuse the president of pandering.
SEN. EDWARD KENNEDY (D), MASSACHUSETTS: It's about politics, an attempt to drive a wedge between one group of citizens and the rest of the country solely for partisan advantage.
KING: Gay rights advocates, including the Log Cabin Republicans, say the president can no longer claim to be a compassionate conservative.
PATRICK GUERRIERO, LOG CABIN REPUBLICANS: The president has jeopardized the over one million gay and lesbian votes he received in 2000. This is really a declaration of war on gay and lesbian families.
KING: Nearly two thirds of Americans oppose gay marriage. But not all of those opponents think the issue warrants changing the constitution.
BILL MCINTURFF, GOP POLLSTER: It's about 50-50 as a proposition. So, in other words, this is not a slam dunk.
KING: Amending the constitution is no easy task. A proposed change first must pass both the House and the Senate with two thirds support, and then be ratified by 38 states.
In the last campaign, Mr. Bush said gay marriage was a state issue. But now aides say he was swayed by court rulings in Massachusetts, the thousands of gay weddings allowed in San Francisco in defiance of state law and word local governments in New Mexico and elsewhere might soon issue gay marriage licenses, as well.
(on camera): The president called on Congress to act promptly. But even many social conservative allies doubt there are enough votes in Congress to pass an amendment this year. There is no doubt, however, that the issue of gay marriage now will become a key debating point in the presidential campaign.
John King, CNN, the White House. (END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired February 25, 2004 - 05:03 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: It is looking like the same-sex marriage issue will play a part on the general election debate. President Bush has called for a constitutional amendment restricting marriage to a man and a woman. John Kerry reacted to the president's announcement during a campaign stop in Cleveland.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I personally believe that marriage is between a man and a woman. But I don't think we need a constitutional amendment at the federal level because each of the states have the ability to deal with this and they have for 200 years. So I think the president is really grabbing an election year effort to try to drive a wedge in America. It's not a necessary effort.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: John Edwards was campaigning in Atlanta Tuesday, where he echoed Kerry's stand on the gay marriage issue.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN EDWARDS (D-NC), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I do not support, I am against the president's constitutional amendment on gay marriage. I don't personally support gay marriage myself, but my position has always been that it's for the states to decide and it's for the State of Georgia to decide or any other state to decide. And I think that the federal government should honor those decisions.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: CNN and the "Los Angeles Times" are sponsoring a Democratic presidential debate tomorrow night. Larry King will host and you can watch it right here at 9:00 p.m. Eastern.
The issue of same-sex marriage has been a key speaking point in most of the Democratic debates already. But is an amendment banning the unions really likely?
Senior White House correspondent John King has more on the political process and the president's stance.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN KING, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It is scenes like this in San Francisco that the president says left him no choice but to endorse a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: A few judges and local authorities are presuming to change the most fundamental institution of civilization. Their actions have created confusion on an issue that requires clarity.
KING: The White House says Mr. Bush favors an amendment that defines marriage as between a man and a woman but lets individual states allow civil unions that give legal recognition and partnership benefits to gay couples.
BUSH: Our government should respect every person and protect the institution of marriage. There is no contradiction between these responsibilities.
KING: Such an amendment is a major priority for religious conservatives critical to Mr. Bush this election year and Democrats were quick to accuse the president of pandering.
SEN. EDWARD KENNEDY (D), MASSACHUSETTS: It's about politics, an attempt to drive a wedge between one group of citizens and the rest of the country solely for partisan advantage.
KING: Gay rights advocates, including the Log Cabin Republicans, say the president can no longer claim to be a compassionate conservative.
PATRICK GUERRIERO, LOG CABIN REPUBLICANS: The president has jeopardized the over one million gay and lesbian votes he received in 2000. This is really a declaration of war on gay and lesbian families.
KING: Nearly two thirds of Americans oppose gay marriage. But not all of those opponents think the issue warrants changing the constitution.
BILL MCINTURFF, GOP POLLSTER: It's about 50-50 as a proposition. So, in other words, this is not a slam dunk.
KING: Amending the constitution is no easy task. A proposed change first must pass both the House and the Senate with two thirds support, and then be ratified by 38 states.
In the last campaign, Mr. Bush said gay marriage was a state issue. But now aides say he was swayed by court rulings in Massachusetts, the thousands of gay weddings allowed in San Francisco in defiance of state law and word local governments in New Mexico and elsewhere might soon issue gay marriage licenses, as well.
(on camera): The president called on Congress to act promptly. But even many social conservative allies doubt there are enough votes in Congress to pass an amendment this year. There is no doubt, however, that the issue of gay marriage now will become a key debating point in the presidential campaign.
John King, CNN, the White House. (END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
