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CNN Live At Daybreak
President Supports Amendment to Ban Gay Marriage
Aired February 25, 2004 - 06:31 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: The issue of gay marriage has become the political issue of the moment. But will it define the race for president? You've heard by now President Bush is calling for a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.
Let's head live to Washington and Bill Prasad.
Good morning -- Bill.
BILL PRASAD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
It is supposed to be about love, but for better or worse, it may be an issue that's decided by an election or an amendment.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I pronounce you to be spouses for life.
PRASAD (voice-over): In San Francisco, they say I do, but the president says no, you don't. Mr. Bush endorsing a constitutional amendment, specifying, "Marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman."
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Our nation must enact a constitutional amendment to protect marriage in America.
PRASAD: It represents a change in the president's stance. In 2000, he said this was an issue that should be left to the states.
But since February 12, more than 3,000 same-sex couples have married in San Francisco. Activists say the president could lose the votes of more than one million gays.
PATRICK GUERRIERO, LOG CABIN REPUBLICANS: This is really a declaration of war on gay and lesbian families.
PRASAD: Polls show most Americans oppose gay marriage. Democratic presidential candidates John Edwards and John Kerry take the same position, but are against a constitutional amendment, preferring to make it a local choice.
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The states for 200 years have had the right to make this decision.
PRASAD: The president leaves the door open to civil unions among gay couples, but the compromise isn't quieting the controversy. A commitment that is supposed to unite two people may divide the passions of a country.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
It is a fiercely political and deeply personal issue. The only thing that both sides seem to agree upon is that amending the Constitution will be very difficult.
Carol -- back to you.
COSTELLO: Oh, you're not kidding. It's a very difficult process. And, Bill, we've been soliciting e-mails from our viewers this morning on the subject.
I want to read one from Carol from Birmingham, Alabama. She says: "First, the president is manipulating this very emotional topic to draw attention and energy away from the truly important issues facing this country: job loss, a war, and his misleading information regarding the same, health care, environment, et cetera, et cetera."
But the question that she raises -- I mean, does the president really feel strongly about this issue? Or is he bowing to his conservative base?
PRASAD: Well, a political scientist might say that he sees this as an opportunity to energize his conservative base. Also, Carol, keep in mind that this is an opportunity for the president to place himself in the mainstream, because polls show that most Americans are opposed to gay marriage.
And one more thing. If you look at the president's agenda, you probably won't find another issue, where he has the automatic backing, right off the bat, of upwards of 60 to 65 percent of the people.
So, it might be in some ways a very good political move.
COSTELLO: All right, Bill Prasad reporting live from Washington, D.C., this morning.
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 - 06:31 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: The issue of gay marriage has become the political issue of the moment. But will it define the race for president? You've heard by now President Bush is calling for a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.
Let's head live to Washington and Bill Prasad.
Good morning -- Bill.
BILL PRASAD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
It is supposed to be about love, but for better or worse, it may be an issue that's decided by an election or an amendment.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I pronounce you to be spouses for life.
PRASAD (voice-over): In San Francisco, they say I do, but the president says no, you don't. Mr. Bush endorsing a constitutional amendment, specifying, "Marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman."
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Our nation must enact a constitutional amendment to protect marriage in America.
PRASAD: It represents a change in the president's stance. In 2000, he said this was an issue that should be left to the states.
But since February 12, more than 3,000 same-sex couples have married in San Francisco. Activists say the president could lose the votes of more than one million gays.
PATRICK GUERRIERO, LOG CABIN REPUBLICANS: This is really a declaration of war on gay and lesbian families.
PRASAD: Polls show most Americans oppose gay marriage. Democratic presidential candidates John Edwards and John Kerry take the same position, but are against a constitutional amendment, preferring to make it a local choice.
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The states for 200 years have had the right to make this decision.
PRASAD: The president leaves the door open to civil unions among gay couples, but the compromise isn't quieting the controversy. A commitment that is supposed to unite two people may divide the passions of a country.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
It is a fiercely political and deeply personal issue. The only thing that both sides seem to agree upon is that amending the Constitution will be very difficult.
Carol -- back to you.
COSTELLO: Oh, you're not kidding. It's a very difficult process. And, Bill, we've been soliciting e-mails from our viewers this morning on the subject.
I want to read one from Carol from Birmingham, Alabama. She says: "First, the president is manipulating this very emotional topic to draw attention and energy away from the truly important issues facing this country: job loss, a war, and his misleading information regarding the same, health care, environment, et cetera, et cetera."
But the question that she raises -- I mean, does the president really feel strongly about this issue? Or is he bowing to his conservative base?
PRASAD: Well, a political scientist might say that he sees this as an opportunity to energize his conservative base. Also, Carol, keep in mind that this is an opportunity for the president to place himself in the mainstream, because polls show that most Americans are opposed to gay marriage.
And one more thing. If you look at the president's agenda, you probably won't find another issue, where he has the automatic backing, right off the bat, of upwards of 60 to 65 percent of the people.
So, it might be in some ways a very good political move.
COSTELLO: All right, Bill Prasad reporting live from Washington, D.C., this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
