Howard Dean on the Judiciary Committee's Vote on the Federal Marriage Amendment

Yesterday in a small room with restricted access to the general public, under a shameful cloak of secrecy, the Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee rammed through a proposed Constitutional amendment that would prohibit states to recognize same-sex marriages. The measure passed by a party line vote. The measure will now be considered by the full Senate.

Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean today issued the following statement:

"The manner in which the Senate Judiciary Committee chose to consider a divisive and hate-filled constitutional amendment that would in effect write discrimination into the United States Constitution is deplorable. Using any group of Americans as scapegoats for political gain is heinous enough, but doing it in such a way that the public cannot be present to witness it goes even further.

"From the war in Iraq and out of control gas prices, to the need for comprehensive immigration reform and an economy that is leaving working families behind, the American people want leaders who will focus on the challenges facing our country. Instead of finding solutions to those problems, Karl Rove Republicans in Washington and states across the country have used marriage as a political wedge issue to deflect attention from their failed leadership. They did it in 2004, and they're doing it again this year in Congress and across the country.

"The politics of fear and division have no place in America. Republicans must stop scapegoating LGBT families for political gain, and join Democrats in fighting for full equality for all Americans, including our friends and family in the LGBT community."