Obama Blamed For Gay Marriage Defeat

Video: Maine voters shot down gay marriage - KXAN.com

U.S. President Barack Obama has been blamed for the defeat of a gay marriage law in Maine. How you ask? Gay rights activists claim Obama, who recently signed legislation into law to protect homosexuals, didn't do enough. Are they serious.

One would think the currently prevailing liberal theme in political circles in Washington, would have helped, but the people, also known as the voters, have spoken and they do not want gay marriage.

U.S. President Barack Obama

The Judiciary Report is not in favor of gay marriage anywhere. Gay marriage is a bid at turning society upside down to suit someone's personal sexual choices. The Bible clearly notes marriage is between a man and a woman. Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve.

Furthermore, why do gays want to marry each other. The rate of domestic violence, dysfunction, suicide and depression is highest in gay relationships.

Gay leaders blame TV ads, Obama for loss in Maine

SAN FRANCISCO — Stunned and angry, national gay rights leaders Wednesday blamed scare-mongering ads — and President Barack Obama's lack of engagement — for a bitter election setback in Maine that could alter the dynamics for both sides in the gay-marriage debate.

Conservatives, in contrast, celebrated Maine voters' rejection of a law that would have allowed gay couples to wed, depicting it as a warning shot that should deter politicians in other states from pushing for same-sex marriage.

"Every time the citizens have voted on marriage, they have always sided with natural marriage," said Mathew Staver, founder of Liberty Counsel, a Florida-based Christian legal group. "Maine dramatically illustrates the will of the people, and politicians should wake up and listen."

Gay activists were frustrated that Obama, who insists he staunchly supports their overall civil rights agenda, didn't speak out forcefully in defense of Maine's marriage law before Tuesday's referendum. The law was repealed in a vote of 53 percent to 47 percent.

"President Obama missed an opportunity to state his position against these discriminatory attacks with the clarity and moral imperative that would have helped in this close fight," said Evan Wolfson of the national advocacy group Freedom to Marry. "The anti-gay forces are throwing millions of dollars into various unsubtle ads aimed at scaring people, so subtle statements from the White House are not enough."

The White House, asked about the criticism, had no immediate comment...

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Maine voters overturn state’s new same-sex marriage law

November 4, 2009 - PORTLAND, Maine - Maine voters overturned the state’s same-sex marriage law yesterday, delivering a potentially crushing blow to gay-rights advocates after a year when their cause seemed to be gaining momentum with legislative and legal victories in four states...

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Congress Passes Gay Rights Bill

Congress has passed a gay rights bill that, "Extends hate crime protections to gays." It also includes crimes, "Based on gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.

Republicans were concerned and rightfully so, that said bill would attempt to regulate speech regarding gays and violate people's Constitutional right to freedom of religion and freedom of speech, as homosexuals have attempted to use existing legislation, to unlawfully silence those that peacefully disagree with their lifestyle choices.

It was stated, "At the urging of Republicans the bill was changed to strengthen free speech protections to assure that a religious leader or any other person cannot be prosecuted on the basis of his or her speech, beliefs or association."

Congress extends hate crime protections to gays

WASHINGTON — Physical attacks on people based on their sexual orientation will join the list of federal hate crimes in a major expansion of the civil rights-era law Congress approved Thursday and sent to President Barack Obama.

A priority of the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., that had been on the congressional agenda for a decade, the measure expands current law to include crimes based on gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. The measure is named for Matthew Shepard, the gay Wyoming college student murdered 11 years ago.

To assure its passage after years of frustrated efforts, Democratic supporters attached the measure to a must-pass $680 billion defense policy bill the Senate approved 68-29. The House passed the defense bill earlier this month.

Many Republicans, normally staunch supporters of defense bills, voted against the bill because of the hate crimes provision. All the no votes were Republicans except for Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., who supported the hate crimes provision but opposes what he says is the open-ended military commitment in Afghanistan.

"The inclusion of the controversial language of the hate crimes legislation, which is unrelated to our national defense, is deeply troubling," said Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala...

The FBI says more than half of reported hate crimes are motivated by racial bias. Next most frequent are crimes based on religious bias, at around 18 percent, and sexual orientation, at 16 percent.

At the urging of Republicans the bill was changed to strengthen free speech protections to assure that a religious leader or any other person cannot be prosecuted on the basis of his or her speech, beliefs or association.

"Nothing in this legislation diminishes an American's freedom of religion, freedom of speech or press or the freedom to assemble," said Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md. "Let me be clear. The Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act targets acts, not speech."

That didn't convince Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., who said the bill was a "dangerous step" toward thought crimes. He asked whether the bill would "serve as a warning to people not to speak out too loudly about their religious views."

Tony Perkins, president of the conservative Family Research Council, said the measure was "part of a radical social agenda that could ultimately silence Christians and use the force of government to marginalize anyone whose faith is at odds with homosexuality."

The defense bill is H.R. 2647.

On the Net: Congress: http://thomas.loc.gov

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