Wednesday, February 01, 2006

Bush Renews Attack on Marriage Equality

(Link) In Monday's State of the Union drinking game/speech, Bush stirred up the pot again by equating the evils of "activist courts that try to redefine marriage" with "unethical conduct by public officials." Nice. So we're right up there with Tom DeLay now?
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LNewsEditor said...

JIC Post:
By Paul Johnson
365Gay.com Washington Bureau Chief

(Washington, DC) President Bush reached out to Democrats, called for new education, economic and fuel initiatives and renewed his attack on gay families Monday night in his State of the Union speech.

Addressing a joint session of Congress the president said that "many Americans, especially parents, still have deep concerns about the direction of our culture, and the health of our most basic institutions. They are concerned about unethical conduct by public officials, and discouraged by activist courts that try to redefine marriage."

The comparison drew an angry response from the Human Rights Campaign.

“Trying to draw comparisons between the reprehensible acts of unethical politicians with fair and independent judges is both ridiculous and wrong,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese.

National Stonewall Democrats, unexpectedly, were more blunt.

"It is dishonest for President Bush to ethically couple marriage recognition of American families with the permissive, slop-trough gorging on special interest money that has shamed the Bush Administration and his Republican Party," said Eric Stern, NSD Executive Director.

"President Bush attempted to mislead Congress last night with his false assessment of the priorities facing our country. An ethical President would sharpen his focus on winning the War on Terror, reigning in the nuclear capacity of Iran and North Korea that has been allowed to expand during President Bush's tenure, and addressing real problems that face our nation at home. Urging Congress to devote time and federal funds to promote the initiatives of anti-gay lobbyists undermines and distracts resources from defeating terrorism and achieving a secure state for our Union."

The President also called for additional tax cuts and better health care insurance alternatives to working families.

“If the President is truly interested in cutting taxes and providing health care coverage for working families then he would support an end to the tax inequity on health care benefits for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans,” said Solmonese.

“Our community is being taxed at a much higher rate than our neighbors and the President and Congress should act on this disparity.”

Bush did, however, call on Congress to reform and reauthorize the Ryan White Act and provide new funding to states to end waiting lists for AIDS medicine.

The President noted that “More than a million Americans live with HIV, and half of all AIDS cases occur among African-Americans.

"We will also lead a nationwide effort, working closely with African-American churches and faith-based groups, to deliver rapid HIV tests to millions, end the stigma of AIDS and come closer to the day when there are no new infections in America," the President said.

“It is a positive sign the President’s acknowledged the crisis," said Solmonese.

"However, we continue to be troubled by this administration’s policies that continually leave our nation’s health programs underfunded and allow ideology, and not science, to determine HIV/AIDS policy.”

That opinion was echoed by AIDS Project Los Angeles Executive Director Craig E. Thompson.

“We’re glad the president sees an end to HIV/AIDS as part of his vision of a hopeful society. However, Mr. Bush has had six years to appropriate funding to end wait lists for life-saving HIV/AIDS medications in this country," said Thompson.

"This year, advocacy groups estimated that need at approximately $303 million and got $2 million. It is hard not to be skeptical when there is no will behind the words.”

The Rev. Nancy L. Wilson, the Moderator of the Metropolitan Community Churches was equally unimpressed with the President's address.

"For far too many Americans, the President's declaration that, 'The state of our union is strong,' is far removed from their everyday experience," Wilson said.

"Despite the promise of the U.S. Constitution to "establish Justice...and to secure the blessing of Liberty to ourselves and to our Posterity," the reality is that millions of LGBT people live our day-to-day lives without the full legal rights and protections accorded to most citizens."

Bush delivered the State of the Union just hours after the swearing in of Samuel Alito as the newest justice on the Supreme Court. The Senate confirmed Alito Tuesday morning in a move that swings the court to the right.

2/01/2006 10:39 AM
Anonymous said...

Never apologize for a good rant, Elaine!
Where will it go? I'm noticing a disturbing little trend that seems to be popping up here and there: Anti-gay, anti-choice Democrats. They could pull the voters that are sick of the Republican corruption -- but still want to dictate Xtian bible mores into law.

2/03/2006 12:21 PM

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