Tuesday, August 31, 2004
Calder Clay Supports Federal Marriage Amendment
Calder Clay:
Ultimately same-sex couples that succeed in gaining recognition in states like Massachusetts will bring suits in other states arguing that the U.S. Constitution requires their new state to recognize their status.
We must take action before this question is left up to the Supreme Court.
Clay, Marshall spar over marriage amendment
Don Schanche Jr.,Macon Telegraph:
Calder Clay and U.S. Rep. Jim Marshall, D-Ga., both say they oppose same-sex marriage. The question Monday was who opposes it the most.
At a morning news conference, Clay, a Republican, challenged Marshall to co-sponsor the Federal Marriage Amendment, which would define marriage as a union between a man and a woman.
"For over a year now Jim Marshall has not signed on to this critical piece of legislation," Clay told a crowd outside the Bibb County Courthouse. "His inaction on the Federal Marriage Amendment indicates one of two things: Either this issue does not warrant his attention or he is philosophically opposed to the concept of a constitutional amendment protecting marriage."
Marshall responded that he does support the amendment. Marshall put his comments into a letter to Clay, calling it the 2,034th letter in favor of the marriage amendment that he has written.
Marshall recently voted for a bill to prevent federal courts from hearing challenges to the Defense of Marriage Act, which put a heterosexual definition of marriage into the nation's laws.
In the letter, Marshall enclosed a wallet-size card outlining his support for the amendment, so that Clay could more "accurately and fully" describe Marshall's position next time he discusses it.
Rufus Mongtomery, Clay's campaign manager, called Marshall's answer a "typical, look-down-your-nose" response. But he said Clay gets credit for prompting Marshall to talk about his position.
At the news conference, Clay displayed an easel with a poster-size petition in support of the constitutional amendment. He and his wife, Kathy, stepped up to sign it, followed by a band of supporters. Clay called it the beginning of a grass-roots effort.
Ultimately same-sex couples that succeed in gaining recognition in states like Massachusetts will bring suits in other states arguing that the U.S. Constitution requires their new state to recognize their status.
We must take action before this question is left up to the Supreme Court.
Clay, Marshall spar over marriage amendment
Don Schanche Jr.,Macon Telegraph:
Calder Clay and U.S. Rep. Jim Marshall, D-Ga., both say they oppose same-sex marriage. The question Monday was who opposes it the most.
At a morning news conference, Clay, a Republican, challenged Marshall to co-sponsor the Federal Marriage Amendment, which would define marriage as a union between a man and a woman.
"For over a year now Jim Marshall has not signed on to this critical piece of legislation," Clay told a crowd outside the Bibb County Courthouse. "His inaction on the Federal Marriage Amendment indicates one of two things: Either this issue does not warrant his attention or he is philosophically opposed to the concept of a constitutional amendment protecting marriage."
Marshall responded that he does support the amendment. Marshall put his comments into a letter to Clay, calling it the 2,034th letter in favor of the marriage amendment that he has written.
Marshall recently voted for a bill to prevent federal courts from hearing challenges to the Defense of Marriage Act, which put a heterosexual definition of marriage into the nation's laws.
In the letter, Marshall enclosed a wallet-size card outlining his support for the amendment, so that Clay could more "accurately and fully" describe Marshall's position next time he discusses it.
Rufus Mongtomery, Clay's campaign manager, called Marshall's answer a "typical, look-down-your-nose" response. But he said Clay gets credit for prompting Marshall to talk about his position.
At the news conference, Clay displayed an easel with a poster-size petition in support of the constitutional amendment. He and his wife, Kathy, stepped up to sign it, followed by a band of supporters. Clay called it the beginning of a grass-roots effort.
