Human Rights Campaign President: Marriage Amendment Shows GOP's Misplaced Priorities
June 7, 2006
This week, the DNC's Podcast hosted Joe Solmonese, President of the Human Rights Campaign. As the Senate votes on the Federal Marriage Amendment, Solmonese discussed the President's attempts to use marriage as a wedge issue to pander to his conservative political base and distract from his failed leadership.
"They know that they're in trouble, and they know that when you get in to this type of situation in an election cycle, there's only one thing to do, and that is to go hard at your base and try to fire them up, re-engage them, and mobilize them any way you can. So, that's why they've chosen to roll out the Federal Marriage Amendment, and that's why they’ve chosen to roll it out now, because they know they are in a very bad situation going in to these elections," said Solmonese.
He also criticized Senate Republicans for pushing a divisive anti-marriage amendment that would legislate discrimination into the Constitution at a time when Americans are concerned about more pressing issues.
"[Americans] are saying why is it that you're doing this now, and why is it that you're doing this instead of dealing with the real issues that face American families such as the continuing war in Iraq and escalating gas prices?" asked Solmonese. "The American people are hearing loud and clear, whether you turn on your television or pick up a newspaper, that the priorities are completely out of place for the Republican leadership in the Senate and for this President."
To listen to the audio, click here.
The DNC's Podcast, an audio broadcast that listeners can download for play on portable music devices or on computers, gives listeners a chance to regularly hear from party leaders, newsmakers, strategists, policy makers, and the grassroots of the Democratic Party.
