====== FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ======
America First Party
1630 A 30th Street #111
Boulder, Colorado 80301
http://www.AmericaFirstParty.org
Tuesday, July 13, 2004
Pure Politics Play Devalues Marriage
Boulder, CO - The America First Party denounces the damage being done
to the sacred societal bedrock institution of marriage this week. By
holding a debate and vote on the Marriage Protection Amendment, Senate
Republicans are playing politics with this important issue instead of
actually taking steps to protect marriage between one man and one
woman.
National Chairman Dan Charles stated, "The traditional marriage must be
defended if our civilization is to survive. Rather than take the
necessary steps to defend marriage, President Bush and Senate
Republicans are playing politics with the issue by calling for a vote
on a flawed Constitutional Amendment that will not and ought not
pass. They are doing this to create an issue for the November
elections, not to protect marriage."
National Press Secretary Romelle Winters added, "Unfortunately the
flawed Marriage Protection Amendment does not protect marriage. It
should be renamed 'The Marriage-in-Name-Only Protection Amendment'. We
are proud to stand with Concerned Women for America and Justice Roy
Moore against this amendment. This is the wrong solution to the problem
of judges dictating to other co-equal branches of government--and the
cowardice shown in response."
Mr. Charles continued, "Our nation's Founders made amending the
Constitution a long and slow process. Rogue judges will destroy
traditional marriage before this amendment can finish that
process. Steps can be taken now to defend marriage legislatively
without the need to amend the Constitution. First, the Defense of
Marriage Act should be re-passed, with additional language to remove it
from federal court jurisdiction under Article III, Section 2 of the
Constitution. Second, in accordance with Article IV, Section 4,
Congress should pass a law limiting the power of both federal and state
courts to order legislation be passed. Finally, Congress should pass a
law removing marriage and domestic partnership from the jurisdiction of
the full faith and credit clause, just as an authority to solemnize
marriage or practice medicine does not cross state lines."
National Secretary John Pittman Hey added, "President Bush waited until
after he announced the start of his re-election campaign to speak up in
defense of marriage. So far, he's been all talk and no action. He could
bring this judicial tyranny to a screeching halt today if he really
wanted to. If Bush really cared about traditional marriage, he would
order federal prosecutors and marshals to enforce the Supreme Court
precedent of Reynolds v. United States, which upheld the traditional
definition of marriage and proclaimed it as essential to the
preservation of a republican form of government. Instead, Bush is
stringing the issue along to inflame his conservative base and ensure
his re-election. He's teasing the electorate and playing games with an
issue vital to the survival of our nation. That's the craven act of a
political wheeler-dealer, not the principled leadership of a
statesman."
Contacts:
Dan Charles, National Chairman, 1-866-SOS-USA1, ext. 4
Romelle Winters, Press Secretary, 1-866-SOS-USA1, ext. 2
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