Ban on same-sex
marriage fails,
but Frist may benefit
By BILL
THEOBALD,Tennessean,com from the Web, June 8, 2006
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Senate
Majority Leader Bill Frist |
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WASHINGTON -- The
constitutional amendment that would essentially ban same-sex marriage failed
Wednesday in the Senate, but the debate may have helped Senate Majority Leader
Bill Frist with conservative voters.
The Tennessee Republican, a possible presidential candidate, has been all over
the national news media in the past few days and has received numerous plaudits
from prominent social conservative groups for bringing the issue to the Senate
floor.
His face is featured prominently on the Web site of the Alliance for Marriage,
the main advocacy group pushing for the amendment to define marriage as only
between a woman and a man.
And Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, praised Frist's
leadership on the marriage amendment when the senator spoke to clergy members
attending the group's recent pastors briefing.
The vote to end debate was 49-48, less than the 60 votes needed to move to a
final vote. The amendment would need 67 votes for final passage.
For the amendment to win approval, two-thirds of the House and voters in at
least 38 states also would have to approve it.
John Green, professor of political science at the University of Akron and an
expert on the influence of Christian conservatives in politics, said the vote
should help Frist.
"Sen. Frist's actions give him real credentials with this group," Green said.
Those voters and their organizational prowess could be key in a Republican
primary, Green said. And, he added, the vote probably wouldn't hurt Frist
in a general election because most voters don't care that much about the issue.
"We must continue fighting to ensure the Constitution is amended by the will of
the people rather than by judicial activism," Frist said after the vote.
He was referring to judges who have overturned state bans on same-sex marriage.
Nine states face lawsuits on the issue. Tennessee is among seven states
with constitutional amendments on the ballot this fall.
Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., also voted yes and offered sentiments similar to
Frist's.
"I believe marriage should be between a man and a woman and that the people, not
the courts, should have the authority to preserve that definition," he said.
Six Republicans voted no, including Sen. John McCain of Arizona, considered by
many to be the front-runner among possible GOP presidential candidates.
That is certain to hurt McCain with social conservatives who already are
suspicious of him.
Opponents said the amendment would for the first time place discrimination in
the U.S. Constitution. They also argued that the matter was best left to
the states.
The House is expected to consider the amendment in July. The last time the issue
came before the House in 2004, all eight members of Tennessee's U.S. House
delegation voted in favor of the amendment.
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