Bush courts conservatives on marriage issue

? Cheered by conservative supporters, President Bush gave a push Monday to a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage as the Senate opened debate on an emotional, election-year measure that has little chance of passing.

“Our policies should aim to strengthen families, not undermine them,” Bush said in a speech. “And changing the definition of marriage would undermine the family structure.”

All Senate Democrats, except Ben Nelson of Nebraska, oppose the amendment, and critics say Bush’s efforts are primarily aimed at energizing conservative voters for the November elections. Together with moderate Republicans, the Democrats are expected to block a yes-or-no vote, killing the measure for the year.

The amendment would prohibit states from recognizing same-sex marriages. To become law, it would need two-thirds support in the Senate and House, and then would have to be ratified by at least 38 state legislatures.

Bush said a constitutional amendment is needed because laws that state legislatures have passed defining marriage as being between a man and a woman are being overturned by a few judges.

President Bush speaks to religious leaders and supporters of a ban on gay marriage at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington. Bush rallied support for a ban on gay marriage Monday as the Senate opened a politically charged, election-year debate on a constitutional amendment to prohibit same-sex weddings.

“When judges insist on imposing their arbitrary will on the people, the only alternative left to the people is an amendment to the Constitution – the only law a court cannot overturn,” the president said.

Bush also rebuffed critics who argue that the amendment conflicts with the GOP’s opposition to government interference and the importance of states’ rights.

“A constitutional amendment would not take this issue away from the states, as some have argued,” Bush said.

“It would take the issue away from the courts and put it directly before the American people.”