No surprise: Gay marriage ban loses

Gay Marriage Amendment Fails in U.S. Senate
Reuters
Wednesday, June 7, 2006; 10:42 AM

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A constitutional ban on same-sex marriage failed to pass the Senate on Wednesday but Republican leaders planned to take it up in the House, keeping a national spotlight on the divisive issue.

The 49 to 48 vote fell short of the 60 votes needed to end debate, thwarting President George W. Bush and the mostly Republican senators who argued that the Constitution must be amended to prevent judges from striking down existing state-level bans on gay marriage. [Russ Feingold and Herb Kohl both voted no.]

Democrats said the vote was an attempt to muster conservative support ahead of the November congressional elections and divert public attention from more pressing issues like the war in Iraq that reflect poorly on Republicans.

Well, duh! Dana Milbank explains in the WashPost:

For Foes of Same-Sex Marriage, It's the Thought That Counts

There's violence in Iraq, corruption in the House and anxiety in the markets. Somebody needs to create a diversion.

"The gays are aggressive! Gays have called war! Gays are attacking traditional marriage!"

Bishop Harry Jackson was shouting these words outside the Capitol yesterday morning, at a rally for a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.

"Marriage is under attack!" cried out Sen. Wayne Allard (R-Colo.), also at the rally.

"We can have anarchy!" warned Rep. Katherine Harris (R-Fla.).

No doubt Jackson, Allard and Harris are sincere in their views about marriage. But the urgency of their alarm is a bit suspect to anybody with an eye on the electoral calendar.

Read it all.