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President Bush Supports Constitutional Ban on Gay Marriage
Aired February 24, 2004 - 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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: We begin this hour with new divisions over same-sex unions. President Bush today endorsed a Constitution solution for what he says is confusion being created by activist judges and local officials. He supports an amendment that would reserve marriage for one man and one woman.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: In a matter of such importance, the voice of the people must be heard. Activist courts have left the people with one recourse. If we are to prevent the meaning of marriage from being changed forever, our nation must enact a constitutional amendment to protect marriage in America. Decisive and democratic action is needed, because attempts to redefine marriage in a single state or city could have serious consequences throughout the country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Reaction from Republicans is muted today, but Democrats are venting. Ted Kennedy accuses Mr. Bush of -- quote -- "trying to write bigotry back into the Constitution." Presidential contender John Kerry says that Bush is toying with the Constitution for political purposes. And just a short time ago, John Edwards said this:
(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 the federal government should honor those decisions.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Now, the country in general opposes same-sex marriage by a 2-1 margin. That's according to a CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup poll the we told you about last week. It does not apply to San Francisco, where the mayor says the Constitution is really on his side and where thousands of gay marriages are already on the books. Today, Gavin Newsom is a mayor scorned.
And CNN's David Mattingly has more on that -- David.
DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom not holding back at all in his criticism of the president, comparing President Bush's support of a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage to standing in the courthouse door.
The mayor went on to say that he believes what the president is doing is a disservice to America. He called it shameful. He called it a clear political attempt to divide the country and a low point for the Bush administration.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GAVIN NEWSOM (D), MAYOR OF SAN FRANCISCO: The Constitution sets forth rights and has been used to expand our freedoms and has been used to fight discrimination. And now the president of the United States has called upon Congress to write discrimination into the U.S. Constitution. The Constitution protects citizens, not politicians during reelection bids.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MATTINGLY: Same-sex couples still getting married inside City Hall today. There are no lines because it is an appointment-only situation now.
The couples here are expressing their disappointment and what they describe as their sadness over the president's decision. The mayor went on saying that while this is going on inside City Hall that he wants the president to -- quote -- "keep his hands off the U.S. Constitution." So very strong words here at San Francisco City Hall -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: David Mattingly, thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Marriage>
Aired February 24, 2004 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: We begin this hour with new divisions over same-sex unions. President Bush today endorsed a Constitution solution for what he says is confusion being created by activist judges and local officials. He supports an amendment that would reserve marriage for one man and one woman.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: In a matter of such importance, the voice of the people must be heard. Activist courts have left the people with one recourse. If we are to prevent the meaning of marriage from being changed forever, our nation must enact a constitutional amendment to protect marriage in America. Decisive and democratic action is needed, because attempts to redefine marriage in a single state or city could have serious consequences throughout the country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Reaction from Republicans is muted today, but Democrats are venting. Ted Kennedy accuses Mr. Bush of -- quote -- "trying to write bigotry back into the Constitution." Presidential contender John Kerry says that Bush is toying with the Constitution for political purposes. And just a short time ago, John Edwards said this:
(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 the federal government should honor those decisions.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Now, the country in general opposes same-sex marriage by a 2-1 margin. That's according to a CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup poll the we told you about last week. It does not apply to San Francisco, where the mayor says the Constitution is really on his side and where thousands of gay marriages are already on the books. Today, Gavin Newsom is a mayor scorned.
And CNN's David Mattingly has more on that -- David.
DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom not holding back at all in his criticism of the president, comparing President Bush's support of a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage to standing in the courthouse door.
The mayor went on to say that he believes what the president is doing is a disservice to America. He called it shameful. He called it a clear political attempt to divide the country and a low point for the Bush administration.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GAVIN NEWSOM (D), MAYOR OF SAN FRANCISCO: The Constitution sets forth rights and has been used to expand our freedoms and has been used to fight discrimination. And now the president of the United States has called upon Congress to write discrimination into the U.S. Constitution. The Constitution protects citizens, not politicians during reelection bids.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MATTINGLY: Same-sex couples still getting married inside City Hall today. There are no lines because it is an appointment-only situation now.
The couples here are expressing their disappointment and what they describe as their sadness over the president's decision. The mayor went on saying that while this is going on inside City Hall that he wants the president to -- quote -- "keep his hands off the U.S. Constitution." So very strong words here at San Francisco City Hall -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: David Mattingly, thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Marriage>
