Frank rips into Massachusetts groups trying to ban same-sex marriage

[davidinalameda]

http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid23911.asp

Massachusetts could face an "angry, divisive" fight if a proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage reaches the 2008 state ballot, Rep. Barney Frank says.

The congressman blamed backers of the initiative petition for trying to provoke a new fight despite a lack of controversy over same-sex marriage. "Basically, they're the disturbers of the civic peace," the Democrat said in a wide-ranging Associated Press interview Thursday. "We now have social peace in Massachusetts. They're the ones who want to stir it up.... This is a nonissue in Massachusetts."

The Massachusetts Family Institute said the 124,000 certified signatures it gathered for the petition, nearly double the number required, was a sign of strong public support for outlawing same-sex marriage. "All they want is an opportunity to vote on the definition of marriage," said the group's president, Kris Mineau. "Now that the people have spoken, the good congressman has decided this is a divisive issue."

Before the amendment can be placed on the state ballot, it must be approved by at least 50 lawmakers during two separate sessions of the state legislature. "I think by 2008, people will say, 'Do we really need to have an angry, divisive debate over a nonissue?'" Frank said. "The question for the 50 legislators is, Do they want to make this a front-page issue again, leading the TV news?"

[donco6]

1. It's not about debate, Congressman.

It's just about power and imposing one's will on others. That's all these RW Bible thumper types care about.

Any folks from MA here? I'm wondering what the mood is over the gay marriage issue these days. My friend's mom lives in Lawrence and he says she hasn't heard anything about it for quite a while.

[TaleWgnDg]

2. Indeed. Silence. Why silence? Because it's as Barney Frank . . .

Indeed. Silence. Why silence? Because it's as Barney Frank . . . says, "It's a non-issue. It's over. Done." Folks in Massachusetts realize that the sky hasn't fallen. Nothing negative has happened due to same-sex marriage in Massachusetts. Nothing at all.

So why are the rightwingers attempting to raise hate and discontent and the eeewwwwwwwwwwwww-factor again? Simple, really. Because it raises money, fills coffers w/ homophobic ignorant lists of donors, has a cohesive collective effect on the homophobes, and people actually make a living out of this B.S. across the country. It's a snake-oil industry. And, it sells.

"Guns, gays, and God! Ya-hoooooooo!"




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[Brian_Expat]

3. Ahhh, thanks for nothing Barney

You weren't there when the seven Goodridge couples (two of whom I consider friends) decided to start this battle.

You said it was the wrong battle at the wrong time, too much too fast, not that important to gays, etc.

Now, when it's obvious the anti-gay side is going to lose, you let loose your fury against them.

It's good to know we've got "brave" folks like Frank on "our" side.