To Senator Russ Feingold: "I Do"

As Jon Stewart pointed out last night, "the last time Bu$h resurrected any support for the Marriage Amendment was two years ago (before the last elections)." So the fact that we're seeing it now has nothing to do with chance or marriage and everything to do with elections.

With Republicans facing a tough uphill run to maintain their seats amid growing scandals and corruption charges, Bu$h brings out the 2000 pound elephant called 'the Marriage Protection' amendment. But instead of taking it directly on, Democrats have argued against it on procedural grounds, leaving Republicans on their moral high horse er elephant.

But yesterday, on the Senate floor, Senator Russ Feingold, began by framing the issue for what it is:

"This is pure politics, an election year gambit. Mr. President, we should not play politics with the Constitution. Nor should we play politics with the lives of gay and lesbian Americans who correctly see this constitutional amendment as an effort to make them permanent second-class citizens."

Senator Feingold did eventually made all the appropriate procedural anti-amendment arguments but also went on to say:

"I happen to believe that two adults who love each other and want to makea lifelong commitment to each other, with all of the responsibilities that thatentails, should be able to do so, regardless of their sex."

Today the amendment was defeated but theirs always the next election. Hopefully by then, we're prepared to do more than just react.