Feingold Berates Specter Over Gay Marriage Ban Amendment

Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee decided today was the day to throw some extra special red meat to their lunatic fringe. After all, the right-wing extremists who form the core of today's Republican Party have been very unhappy with Bush, his immigration plan and much more. In a transparent and cynical attempt to appease them, Repub Senators raised the always reliable issue of gay marriage.

They proposed a constitutional amendment that would deny states the right to offer their gay citizens equal civil rights under the law. The measure passed on a 10-8 party line vote. There's not a chance it will pass when it's considered by the full Senate on June 5th, and everyone knows it. So why did Repubs rush to offer it today? What better way to convince their complaining base that they're still fighting on their behalf against truth, justice and the American way?

A CNN story details a loud exchange between Sen. Russ Feingold and Committee Chair Arlen Specter at the session. Feingold questioned the handling and timing of the amendment. He also protested Specter's unusual decision to move the markup of the bill from the committee's regular meeting space to a room adjacent to the Senate floor. The President's Room, just by coincidence, offers no access to the public and no TV coverage:

... a shouting match ... ended when one Democrat strode out and the Republican chairman bid him "good riddance."

"I don't need to be lectured by you. You are no more a protector of the Constitution than am I," Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter, R-Pennsylvania, shouted after Sen. Russ Feingold declared his opposition to the amendment, his affinity for the Constitution and his intention to leave the meeting.

"If you want to leave, good riddance," Specter finished.

"I've enjoyed your lecture, too, Mr. Chairman," replied Feingold, D-Wisconsin, who is considering a run for president in 2008. "See ya."

It seems ole Arlen, self-described "moderate" and "protector of the constitution," didn't want to be seen in public pushing for an ugly (and unattainable) constitutional change to satisfy the lower reaches of the Republican Party. Although he voted for the proposed constitutional amendment, he claimed he didn't really support it and was merely voting for it so the Senate could debate the topic. Right, Arlen. It must be difficult to serve yourself and your right-wing masters at the same time.

And Now the Dems
Of course you have to wonder why the Democrats on the committee voted against the effort to limit marriage, all over America, to "one man and one woman." Just the other day DNC Chair Howard Dean claimed the Party's 2004 platform included that very position. He was wrong about that, but you wouldn't know it from all the quivering and quaking Democrats who have been working so hard to pretend they're on the side of the Christian right.

It's evident that Repubs will keep using this issue to their advantage whenever they have a chance. With only a few Democrats, like Senator Feingold, willing to stand up to the right-wing noise machine on this issue, there's no chance we can frame it on our terms. Until Democrats are willing to support publicly what we all know most of them support privately, we'll make no progress on this. Instead, Democrats will continue to be cornered by it and made to look like frightened liars.

Come on Democrats! Everyone knows by now you believe that GLBT people, like all Americans, deserve equal treatment under civil law. Everyone knows you understand the difference between church doctrine and civil law. Everyone knows you strongly support justice for minorities. If you keep refusing to fight for your true values and beliefs, you'll just dig yourself deeper in the hole. You'll continue to fit the spineless stereotype used to paint Dems as frightened, duplicitous cowards. Now's the time to shed that burden and be yourselves before we end up once again studying the reasons why Democrats keep losing. If you won't stand up for your own true values, and ours, who will?

Feingold Releases Statement
The general reluctance of Dems to stick up for gay rights makes Feingold's stand even more remarkable. He released this statement about what happened today at the Senate Judiciary Committee meeting. Hurrah:

Objecting to the Judiciary Committee's Handling of the Constitutional Amendment on Marriage

Today's markup of the constitutional amendment concerning marriage, in a small room off the Senate floor with only a handful of people other than Senators and their staffs present, was an affront to the Constitution. I objected to its consideration in such an inappropriate setting and refused to help make a quorum.  I am deeply disappointed that the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee went forward with the markup over my objection.  Unfortunately, the Majority Leader has set a politically motivated schedule for floor consideration of this measure that the Chairman felt compelled to follow, even though he says he opposes the amendment.

Constitutional amendments deserve the most careful and deliberate consideration of any matter that comes before the Senate.  In addition to hearings and a subcommittee markup, such a measure should be considered by the Judiciary Committee in the light of day, open to the press and the public, with cameras present so that the whole country can see what is done.  Open and deliberate debate on such an important matter cannot take place in a setting such as the one chosen by the Chairman of the Committee today. 

The Constitution of the United States is an historic guarantee of individual freedom. It has served as a beacon of hope, an example to people around the world who yearn to be free and to live their lives without government interference in their most basic human decisions.  I took an oath when I joined this body to support and defend the Constitution.  I will continue to fight this mean-spirited, divisive, poorly drafted, and misguided amendment when it comes to the Senate floor.