The Federal Marriage Amendment didn’t even come up for a vote. Only 48 senators voted for ending formal debate and putting the amendment up for a vote; 50 voted to block the amendment. (Kerry and Edwards were on the campaign trail.)
Republicans who voted to block the amendment: Susan M. Collins (Maine), Olympia J. Snowe (Maine), John E. Sununu (N.H.), Lincoln D. Chafee (R.I.), Ben Nighthorse Campbell (Colo.) and John McCain (Ariz.).
Democrats who voted to vote on the amendment: Zell Miller (Ga.), Ben Nelson (Neb.) and Robert C. Byrd (W.Va.). Boo on you. I don’t know why Zell Miller even bothers calling himself a Democrat anymore, seeing as how he’s speaking at the Republican National Convention. What a joke. At least he’s retiring.
Anyway, at least this is over, for now.
A major milestone. But it’s only just beginning!
What will happen to their spousal rights when a same-sex married couple moves from MA to a different state?
How will the States react?
Instead of Red vs Blue, are we gonna have Gray vs Lavender?
Will JFKII have to call in the National Guard? ;)
it’s a bit more nuanced than the way you put it. 50 DIDN’T vote to block the actual FMA, they voted AGAINST ending debate and voting on FMA. Robert Byrd is vocally AGAINST FMA – and wanted to have a vote so as to show that FMA can’t win (in his opinion) and to rob the Republicans of the cry “the Democrats wouldnt even allow a vote on this important issue” Byrd’s stance on FMA is very close to McCains – he feels the Constitution shouldn’t be toyed with like this, and that it is the perogative of the States, NOT the federal government, to define marriage. This seems to be the tactic that most gay-rights group think can win at this time in our country’s history.
Thanks for the clarification, BJ.
(Who made up all these stupid Senate rules, anyway? :) )