To arms! To arms! The gays are coming!

So State Sen. Scott Fitzgerald, a prime Republican sponsor of the constitutional amendment to ban gay marriages and civil unions in Wisconsin, says this issue is "not a fight the Wisconsin Legislature picked," the LaCrosse Tribune reports.

It's just part of a "raging national debate" that began when the Massachusetts Supreme Court legalized gay marriage, he claims.

Right. Wisconsin Republicans were forced to raise the issue. It's not political, even though the Rs admit they are are carefully timing the referendum to be on the ballot in November 2006, in hopes it will do some damage to Gov. Jim Doyle and other Ds.

Can you say hypocrisy? Better yet, can you say bullshit?

This issue was not forced on Wisconsin Republicans. It's one they eagerly seized, as a way to mobilize the wingnut elements of their base (which are legion, apparently.)

The "gotta-do-it" argument of Fitzgerald and other Republican sponsors of the hate-gays amendment falls on its face when you consider one simple fact:

Gay marriage is already against the law in Wisconsin. There is no need to pass another law, and certainly no need to pass a constitutional amendment -- unless the Rs are afraid that sometime in the future the voters might be more enlightened and tolerant and decide to change the law.

The amendment is politically-motivated and will appeal to people by playing on their fears, asking them to follow their worst instincts and vote for intolerance and prejudice.

Fitzgerald and his Republican cohorts may try to hide behind the Massachusetts decision. They need some excuse, because the truth -- that this amendment is fueled by hate, fear, prejudice and politics -- is too embarrassing to admit.

Joshua Freker at No on the Amendment has more.