Bush To Hold Event Endorsing Attack on LGBT Families

This morning, ABC News reported that President Bush is preparing a White House event to support Republican Senator Bill Frist's heavy-handed attempt to use marriage as a wedge issue to distract the American people from the failed leadership of Republicans in Washington. While Americans are concerned about the war in Iraq, skyrocketing health care costs, out of control gas prices, the need to protect workers' pensions, and the failure of Republicans to raise the minimum wage, Bill Frist and President Bush are more interested in pandering to their conservative base with a Constitutional amendment that scapegoats LGBT Americans for political gain.

According to the report, Senator Frist and the Republican Senate will bring the divisive Federal Marriage Amendment to the floor of the Senate for a vote on June 6 and the President will hold a White House event to express his support for the amendment sometime next week. The White House decision to weigh in on Senator Frist's divisive and hate-filled resolution comes despite the First Lady's admonishment that marriage should not be used as a political issue, and even Vice President Cheney's reported opposition to doing a White House event. [Good Morning America, 5/31/06]

"Neither Senator Frist or President Bush should be using marriage as a wedge issue to pander to extremists in their conservative base or distract Americans from their failed leadership," said Democratic National Committee spokesman Damien LaVera. "Because polls show that the American people, including their core supporters, have completely rejected their failed agenda, President Bush and Bill Frist are once again pushing a hate-filled Constitutional amendment that attacks LGBT Americans. This is not only immoral and un-American, but it is deeply hurtful to LGBT Americans and their families.

"The America people deserve better than this. Because Democrats value all families, we are fighting to provide every American with equal rights, responsibilities and protections under the law. Democrats will oppose any attempt to write discrimination into law by fighting this hateful, divisive amendment and fighting similarly hateful ballot initiatives in states across the country."