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2-18-2004 President Bush said Wednesday he was troubled by gay weddings in San Francisco and by legal decisions in Massachusetts that could clear the way for same-sex marriage. He declined to say whether he was close to backing a constitutional ban. "I have watched carefully what's happening in San Francisco, where licenses were being issued, even though the law states otherwise," Bush said. "I have consistently stated that I'll support law to protect marriage between a man and a woman. Obviously these events are influencing my decision." He didn't answer directly when asked whether he is any closer to endorsing a constitutional ban on same-sex marriages, as conservative groups say the White House has assured them Bush will do. "I strongly believe marriage should be defined as between a man and a woman," Bush said during an Oval Office session with Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. "I am troubled by activist judges who are defining marriage." "People need to be involved in this decision," Bush said. "Marriage ought to be defined by the people not by the courts. And I'm watching it carefully." White House spokesman Scott McClellan said Bush recognized that gay marriage is a divisive topic. But, he said, "This is an issue where he believes it is important for people to stand up on principle." Gay and lesbian couples from Europe and more than 20 states have lined up outside the ornate San Francisco City Hall since city officials decided to begin marrying same-sex couples six days ago. City officials said 172 couples were married Tuesday, a pace that would bring the total number who have taken vows promising to be "spouses for life" to over 3,000 by Friday. The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court recently ruled that it is unconstitutional to bar gay couples from marriage. Under the decision, the nation's first legally sanctioned gay marriages are scheduled to begin in mid-May. Lawmakers are proposing a constitutional amendment that would define marriage as a union between one man and one woman, and the Legislature resumes its deliberations of amendments on March 11.
02-18-2004 Laura Bush says gay marriages are "a very, very shocking issue" for some people, a subject that should be debated by Americans rather than settled by a Massachusetts court or the mayor of San Francisco. Asked how she feels about the issue personally, Mrs. Bush replies: "Let's just leave it at that." In an Associated Press interview, Mrs. Bush also endorsed sexual abstinence programs for teens, which are slated to get double their current funding under the president's latest budget proposal. Abstinence should be extensively discussed alongside contraception, she said. "We know it works. It's 100 percent fail-safe." Mrs. Bush discussed her views as she flew across the country at the start of a three-day trip to raise re-election cash for her husband's campaign and to talk about education. The trip took her to California where gay couples have been lining up to get marriage licenses in San Francisco. On the East Coast, Massachusetts' highest court recently ruled that the state constitution permits gay marriages. At the White House on Wednesday, President Bush said, "I'm troubled by what I've seen" in Boston and San Francisco. But he declined to say if he would support a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriages, as conservative supporters expect him to do. While declining to express her own opinions about gay marriages, Mrs. Bush said, "It's an issue that people want to talk about and not want the Massachusetts Supreme Court, or the mayor of San Francisco to make their choice for them. I know that's what the president thinks. "I think people ought to have that opportunity to debate it, to think about it, to see what the American people really want to do about the issue." Mrs. Bush's demeanor is quiet and matter-of-fact, yet she sometimes serves as the president's flak jacket when she's on the road, especially now as his approval ratings are drooping amid Democratic attacks during the primaries. She defended her husband's credibility and took a shot at Democrats who allege he skipped out on his National Guard duty. "I think it's a political, you know, witch hunt, actually, on the part of Democrats," she said. The president served honorably in the Texas Air National Guard during the Vietnam War and did report for duty in Alabama where he was briefly assigned, she said. "He knows that he served honorably," she said. "He knows that he showed up the whole time." She says she has been hurt by allegations that he lied to the American people about his Guard duty, and by contentions that he misled the public about the extent of Saddam Hussein's weapons when U.S.-led troops went to war in Iraq. "Nobody likes that part of campaigning -- the personal attacks," Mrs. Bush said, sitting on a couch in the private section of her plane. "I certainly don't like it." On another political subject, asked whether the president's brother, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, will ever run for president, she replied, "I doubt it, but I have no idea." Mrs. Bush said she and the president have been feeling a bit "nostalgic" as they watch the Democratic candidates campaigning in the snows of New Hampshire and Iowa. "That's a much more upclose and personal campaign because you get to actually be with so many of the voters," she said. "We both miss that." And she said that despite the lack of privacy that comes with being first lady -- a title she finds "too artificial" -- she doesn't feel as if she must constantly bite her tongue to keep her opinions to herself. "I'm actually very disciplined," she said. "I don't really have to watch everything I say because I'm pretty well-behaved." At Limerick Elementary School in Canoga Park on Wednesday, where she was promoting reading, Mrs. Bush said it appears that Sen. John Kerry will be the Democratic presidential nominee. "I assume he will be," she said. "They've had a big primary," she said about the Democratic candidates. "They've spent $100 million dollars -- all of them together -- campaigning around the United States running ads. In general, I think they campaigned against my husband rather than each other." At the school, the first lady sat in on a class held by the reading intervention program and listened as students played word games and practiced verb tenses. She encouraged them to read more than they watch television. She also held a round-table discussion with teachers about the program. "I'm very interested in what you all are working on, and I want to commend you for it," said Bush, a former educator who has been active in literacy issues since moving to the White House. * Associated Press Writer Tim Molloy contributed
to this story.
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- U.S. President George W. Bush has addressed the contentious topic of same-sex marriage in his annual speech to the nation, saying, "our nation must defend the sanctity of marriage." 02-17-2004 He stopped short of endorsing a constitutional amendment that would ban marriages for gay and lesbian couples, as social conservative groups had hoped. Instead, Bush said, "if judges insist on forcing their arbitrary will upon the people, the only alternative left to the people would be the constitutional process." The president's comments, made during his State of the Union speech, said the issue stems from "activist judges" who have "begun redefining marriage by court order, without regard for the will of the people." The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled in November that the state "failed to identify any constitutionally adequate reason" to prohibit same-sex marriages, and gave the state Legislature six months to rewrite the marriage laws for the benefit of gay and lesbian couples. That has raised fears among conservatives that other states might be required to recognize same-sex marriages performed in Massachusetts, as states now routinely recognize heterosexual marriages performed in other states. After a court in Hawaii struck down a ban on same-sex marriages in 1996, Congress passed the Defense of Marriage Act, which President Clinton signed into law. Bush noted the law in his address and, in a move not typical for the president, mentioned Clinton by name. The law defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman, and barred federal recognition of same-sex unions performed in any state. Hawaii voters later amended their state constitution to overturn the court's decision. At least 37 states followed suit with their own defense of marriage acts, refusing to recognize same-sex unions performed in other states. But supporters of same-sex marriage say such laws are unconstitutional because the "full faith and credit" clause of the Constitution requires states to recognize one another's legal proceedings. They also point to a 1967 Supreme Court decision that struck down state laws banning interracial marriages. Some social conservatives, afraid courts might strike down defense of marriage acts, want to amend the U.S. Constitution to explicitly allow states to refuse to perform or recognize same-sex marriages. White House lawyers have been studying the legal implications of the Massachusetts decision in light of the federal Defense of Marriage Act and a possible constitutional amendment. To the dismay of some social conservatives, Bush has so far not endorsed an amendment. Bush's comments Tuesday fell short of an endorsement, and instead characterized an amendment as a possible course of action. Bush also attempted to keep his comments on the point of same-sex marriage and away from the broader subject of civil rights for gay and lesbians. "A strong America must also value the institution of marriage," he said. "I believe we should respect individuals as we take a principled stand for one of the most fundamental, enduring institutions of our civilization." Before changing topics, Bush said, "The outcome of this debate is important -- and so is the way we conduct it. The same moral tradition that defines marriage also teaches that each individual has dignity and value in God's sight." In an October 2000 debate, vice presidential candidate Dick Cheney said the issue should be left to the states to resolve. "I think different states are likely to come to different conclusions, and that's appropriate. I don't think there should necessarily be a federal policy in this area," said Cheney, who is now vice president. "People should be free to enter into any kind of relationship they want to," said Cheney, whose daughter, Mary, is a lesbian. "Should these relationships be treated the way traditional marriage is? That is a tougher problem. I try to be open-minded as much as I can." Bush opposed the notion of same-sex marriage during a presidential debate the same year. In July 2003, Bush said he wanted to "codify" his belief that marriage should be limited to unions between a man and a woman. A spokesman said a constitutional amendment was being debated. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee has endorsed a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage. Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota has said he believes the Defense of Marriage Act provides enough protection for the definition of marriage and that an amendment is not necessary. Same-sex marriage has the support of none of the major Democratic presidential candidates, including Howard Dean, who as governor of Vermont signed a bill authorizing civil unions for gay and lesbian couples. The candidates are united in opposing a constitutional amendment, and they have expressed varying degrees of support for creating civil unions, which would provide legal rights and recognition to same-sex couples that are similar to marriage. CNN's John King and Dana Bash contributed to this report.
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