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Interview With Genevieve Wood, Patrick Guerriero

Aired July 02, 2003 - 15:00   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.


JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: It is 3 p.m. here in the nation's capital and noon on the west coast. I'm Judy Woodruff live from Washington.
Nearly a week after the Supreme Court struck down laws barring gay sex, many Americans are wondering what's next in the debate over gay rights.

Well, consider this. Wal-Mart, the nation's largest private employer, confirms today that it has extended its anti-discrimination policy to include homosexuals.

In Chicago the nation's second largest county has agreed today to create a registry for same-sex couples. Advocates say the system approved by the Cook County board will help companies extend benefits to domestic partners.

And today President Bush warily entered the growing political debate over gay marriage. He was asked about recent calls by some Republicans for a constitutional amendment defining marriage specifically as a union between a man and a woman.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I don't know if it's necessary yet. Let's let the lawyers look at the full ramifications of the recent Supreme Court hearing. What I do support is the notion that marriage is between a man and a woman.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WOODRUFF: Well, that's not the way New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg sees it. He is distancing himself from fellow Republicans who oppose same-sex marriages.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG, NEW YORK CITY: It's up to the legislature, but I have always thought that people should be allowed to go about their business themselves and I don't know why any of these platforms should deal with issues like that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WOODRUFF: Two guests join us now to dive into the gay marriage debate and the politics surrounding it: Patrick Guerriero of the Log Cabin Republicans, Genevieve Wood of the Family Research Council.

Thank you both for being with us.

GENEVIEVE WOOD, FAMILY RESEARCH COUNCIL: Thank you.

PATRICK GUERRIERO, LOG CABIN REPUBLICANS: Good to be here.

WOODRUFF: President Bush essentially punting today, saying maybe it's not necessary yet, let the lawyers look at it. Is the president trying to have it both ways, Patrick?

GUERRIERO: The president is trying to focus the nation and the American people on his war on terrorism and his war on tax increases. That's how Republicans win elections. And he understands that being an inclusive president and an inclusive party means we win elections, and we don't give the White House to Bill Clinton.

WOODRUFF: So Genevieve, should the president be being more specific at this point than he is?

WOOD: Not surprising, I see it exactly the way that Patrick does.

He outlined a standard position, which is he believes that marriage is between a man and a women. He didn't dance around that issue at all. What he didn't say was, here's exactly how we ought to handle it.

And I think there is debate right now within the Republican circle, within conservative circles, as do we need a constitutional amendment or are there other things that Congress can do?

Because I'll tell you, I mean, you talked about Wal-Mart, what happened in Chicago today. It shows the power of a court decision. It shows you how much influence that could have on the public.

WOODRUFF: Because it's opened the door to this discussion.

WOOD: That's right. And what people have to remember is that the Supreme Court is one of three branches of government and the president, the executive level, the congressional level, they've got to rule because the majority of Americans don't support gay marriage.

WOODRUFF: What is the right next step for the government, Patrick?

GUERRIERO: Well, the right next step is first, to recognize that this is not a liberal Supreme Court, that this is a conservative Supreme Court that is reflecting America.

This country, from Wal-Mart right to the conservative justices recognize the gays and lesbians in the American family. And the government should be taking steps to recognize the civil contract and relationships that different families in America have.

And my relationship is just as valuable as your relationship, and the government should be taking the steps to move in that direction.

WOODRUFF: What's wrong with that, Genevieve?

WOOD: Well, I think what's wrong with it -- you didn't accurately describe the Supreme Court.

This is a Supreme Court which really acted as activists. They came and invented a form of law.

And now, let's be clear, the Texas Warren decision did not create same-sex marriage, but it opened the doors to so-called right to privacy. You have state courts in Massachusetts, state courts in New Jersey that are probably going to use some of that to possibly order state laws saying that gays will be able to marry in those states.

The problem with it is, Judy, that they're going around the people. In every state -- This has been voted on in California, in Hawaii, the people overwhelmingly say "we don't want gay marriage," but then nine court justices or six court justices decide differently and that's not right.

WOODRUFF: Well, if that's the case, Patrick, what is the next step for the government? You said the government needs to make it more clear. What should happen, in your view?

GUERRIERO: Dick Cheney in the 2000 vice presidential debate said, "We need to find some way to recognize that there are gay and lesbian families in America."

And I believe the next step is likely domestic partnership type legislation legislations for federal employees. Fortune 500 companies are moving in that direction, city municipalities are moving in that direction.

The Supreme Court, which certified George Bush's election in Florida and defended the Boy Scouts...

WOOD: I didn't say that's all wrong. I just said the Texas was wrong.

GUERRIERO: ... conservative and solid, are all moving in a direction, to a day when all Americans are treated fairly.

WOODRUFF: Genevieve, you hear political advisers to the president saying that this whole issue of going after a ban on gay marriage could work for the president politically.

Why aren't you right now calling for the president to come out very vocally for this kind of constitutional amendment? You have Senator Bill Frist, the Senate majority leader, saying over the weekend he thinks it's the right way to go.

WOOD: Well, and some conservatives think it's the right way to go. Some Republicans think it's the right way to go. Actually, there's a lot of different ways we could go here. The fact is you don't necessarily have to have a constitutional amendment. What we've called on...

WOODRUFF: So you're not disappointed at the president?

WOOD: No, no. We have asked the president to do nothing more than to take a firm stand for marriage as it is between a man and a woman. He did that today.

Look, this isn't going to be the end of it. The Republican Party platform calls for marriage to be between a man and a woman and the party's leader to defend it. Bush will have to do that in 2004.

WOODRUFF: Patrick, on the other hand, you're not disappointed in the president for not coming out more firmly in the way you'd like him to come down on this issue?

GUERRIERO: The president, from his first campaign right through his first two years in office, has recognized the value of gay and lesbian Americans as part of the American family.

We hope he will use that same language as we head to the 2004 election. The last time I checked, Gary Bower (ph), Pat Buchanan and Pat Robertson got exactly zero electoral college votes when they decided to campaign on the culture war. George Bush knows better.

WOOD: Well, I think there's probably going to be a war for the 2004 convention. I think the president knows that. I mean, unless Patrick and others within the Republican Party, who are calling for same-sex marriage, are willing to say, "OK, we won't call on the president to do that. We won't ask the Republican Party to change its platform." But, if they're asked...

GUERRIERO: We're asking for a respect for all American families and for a civil contract, not a religious contract regarding recognition of our relationships. Basic tax fairness and family fairness.

WOODRUFF: And you're looking for that from this administration when?

GUERRIERO: We would like this administration to take steps in that direction. We have a lot of work to do with Democrats and Republicans on this issue.

The American public opinion is moving in our direction, the conservative Supreme Court is moving in our direction and we should work on uniting issues that help Republicans win.

WOOD: I would just quickly say that the American public, I think, now has a wake-up call. The fact is they may not have been paying that much attention until Texas v. Lawrence was handed down, but now you see everywhere stories about, is gay marriage next? The majority of Americans are against it, and I think you're going to see a new rise on this issue that you haven't seen before.

WOODRUFF: We're going to leave it there. Genevieve Wood of the Family Research Council, Patrick Guerriero, Log Cabin Republicans. It's good to see you both. Thank you. And you know we're going to keep talking about this one. We appreciate it.

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 July 2, 2003 - 15:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: It is 3 p.m. here in the nation's capital and noon on the west coast. I'm Judy Woodruff live from Washington.
Nearly a week after the Supreme Court struck down laws barring gay sex, many Americans are wondering what's next in the debate over gay rights.

Well, consider this. Wal-Mart, the nation's largest private employer, confirms today that it has extended its anti-discrimination policy to include homosexuals.

In Chicago the nation's second largest county has agreed today to create a registry for same-sex couples. Advocates say the system approved by the Cook County board will help companies extend benefits to domestic partners.

And today President Bush warily entered the growing political debate over gay marriage. He was asked about recent calls by some Republicans for a constitutional amendment defining marriage specifically as a union between a man and a woman.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I don't know if it's necessary yet. Let's let the lawyers look at the full ramifications of the recent Supreme Court hearing. What I do support is the notion that marriage is between a man and a woman.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WOODRUFF: Well, that's not the way New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg sees it. He is distancing himself from fellow Republicans who oppose same-sex marriages.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG, NEW YORK CITY: It's up to the legislature, but I have always thought that people should be allowed to go about their business themselves and I don't know why any of these platforms should deal with issues like that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WOODRUFF: Two guests join us now to dive into the gay marriage debate and the politics surrounding it: Patrick Guerriero of the Log Cabin Republicans, Genevieve Wood of the Family Research Council.

Thank you both for being with us.

GENEVIEVE WOOD, FAMILY RESEARCH COUNCIL: Thank you.

PATRICK GUERRIERO, LOG CABIN REPUBLICANS: Good to be here.

WOODRUFF: President Bush essentially punting today, saying maybe it's not necessary yet, let the lawyers look at it. Is the president trying to have it both ways, Patrick?

GUERRIERO: The president is trying to focus the nation and the American people on his war on terrorism and his war on tax increases. That's how Republicans win elections. And he understands that being an inclusive president and an inclusive party means we win elections, and we don't give the White House to Bill Clinton.

WOODRUFF: So Genevieve, should the president be being more specific at this point than he is?

WOOD: Not surprising, I see it exactly the way that Patrick does.

He outlined a standard position, which is he believes that marriage is between a man and a women. He didn't dance around that issue at all. What he didn't say was, here's exactly how we ought to handle it.

And I think there is debate right now within the Republican circle, within conservative circles, as do we need a constitutional amendment or are there other things that Congress can do?

Because I'll tell you, I mean, you talked about Wal-Mart, what happened in Chicago today. It shows the power of a court decision. It shows you how much influence that could have on the public.

WOODRUFF: Because it's opened the door to this discussion.

WOOD: That's right. And what people have to remember is that the Supreme Court is one of three branches of government and the president, the executive level, the congressional level, they've got to rule because the majority of Americans don't support gay marriage.

WOODRUFF: What is the right next step for the government, Patrick?

GUERRIERO: Well, the right next step is first, to recognize that this is not a liberal Supreme Court, that this is a conservative Supreme Court that is reflecting America.

This country, from Wal-Mart right to the conservative justices recognize the gays and lesbians in the American family. And the government should be taking steps to recognize the civil contract and relationships that different families in America have.

And my relationship is just as valuable as your relationship, and the government should be taking the steps to move in that direction.

WOODRUFF: What's wrong with that, Genevieve?

WOOD: Well, I think what's wrong with it -- you didn't accurately describe the Supreme Court.

This is a Supreme Court which really acted as activists. They came and invented a form of law.

And now, let's be clear, the Texas Warren decision did not create same-sex marriage, but it opened the doors to so-called right to privacy. You have state courts in Massachusetts, state courts in New Jersey that are probably going to use some of that to possibly order state laws saying that gays will be able to marry in those states.

The problem with it is, Judy, that they're going around the people. In every state -- This has been voted on in California, in Hawaii, the people overwhelmingly say "we don't want gay marriage," but then nine court justices or six court justices decide differently and that's not right.

WOODRUFF: Well, if that's the case, Patrick, what is the next step for the government? You said the government needs to make it more clear. What should happen, in your view?

GUERRIERO: Dick Cheney in the 2000 vice presidential debate said, "We need to find some way to recognize that there are gay and lesbian families in America."

And I believe the next step is likely domestic partnership type legislation legislations for federal employees. Fortune 500 companies are moving in that direction, city municipalities are moving in that direction.

The Supreme Court, which certified George Bush's election in Florida and defended the Boy Scouts...

WOOD: I didn't say that's all wrong. I just said the Texas was wrong.

GUERRIERO: ... conservative and solid, are all moving in a direction, to a day when all Americans are treated fairly.

WOODRUFF: Genevieve, you hear political advisers to the president saying that this whole issue of going after a ban on gay marriage could work for the president politically.

Why aren't you right now calling for the president to come out very vocally for this kind of constitutional amendment? You have Senator Bill Frist, the Senate majority leader, saying over the weekend he thinks it's the right way to go.

WOOD: Well, and some conservatives think it's the right way to go. Some Republicans think it's the right way to go. Actually, there's a lot of different ways we could go here. The fact is you don't necessarily have to have a constitutional amendment. What we've called on...

WOODRUFF: So you're not disappointed at the president?

WOOD: No, no. We have asked the president to do nothing more than to take a firm stand for marriage as it is between a man and a woman. He did that today.

Look, this isn't going to be the end of it. The Republican Party platform calls for marriage to be between a man and a woman and the party's leader to defend it. Bush will have to do that in 2004.

WOODRUFF: Patrick, on the other hand, you're not disappointed in the president for not coming out more firmly in the way you'd like him to come down on this issue?

GUERRIERO: The president, from his first campaign right through his first two years in office, has recognized the value of gay and lesbian Americans as part of the American family.

We hope he will use that same language as we head to the 2004 election. The last time I checked, Gary Bower (ph), Pat Buchanan and Pat Robertson got exactly zero electoral college votes when they decided to campaign on the culture war. George Bush knows better.

WOOD: Well, I think there's probably going to be a war for the 2004 convention. I think the president knows that. I mean, unless Patrick and others within the Republican Party, who are calling for same-sex marriage, are willing to say, "OK, we won't call on the president to do that. We won't ask the Republican Party to change its platform." But, if they're asked...

GUERRIERO: We're asking for a respect for all American families and for a civil contract, not a religious contract regarding recognition of our relationships. Basic tax fairness and family fairness.

WOODRUFF: And you're looking for that from this administration when?

GUERRIERO: We would like this administration to take steps in that direction. We have a lot of work to do with Democrats and Republicans on this issue.

The American public opinion is moving in our direction, the conservative Supreme Court is moving in our direction and we should work on uniting issues that help Republicans win.

WOOD: I would just quickly say that the American public, I think, now has a wake-up call. The fact is they may not have been paying that much attention until Texas v. Lawrence was handed down, but now you see everywhere stories about, is gay marriage next? The majority of Americans are against it, and I think you're going to see a new rise on this issue that you haven't seen before.

WOODRUFF: We're going to leave it there. Genevieve Wood of the Family Research Council, Patrick Guerriero, Log Cabin Republicans. It's good to see you both. Thank you. And you know we're going to keep talking about this one. We appreciate it.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com