Gay marriage tops GOP platform

By The Dallas Morning News and The Associated Press

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Sure enough, supporters of abortion rights and gay rights protested yesterday after a platform committee made up largely of conservative delegates approved language that calls for a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage and opposes legal recognition of any sort for gay civil unions.

The panel also supported the call for a constitutional ban on abortion. Another group of delegates endorsed President Bush's restrictions on stem-cell research.

"It's certainly not going to help bring moderates into the party," said Jennifer Blei Stockman, national co-chairwoman of Republican Majority for Choice.

Republicans said their party is committed to protecting marriage and the unborn, but they added that all views are welcome.

"It shows our diversity," said Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee, the platform committee chairman. "It's our strength."

The committee is expected to ratify a final report today.

Presented with a 93-page draft proposal, platform committees worked on wording in five sets of meetings: Winning the War on Terror, Ushering in an Ownership Era, Building an Innovative (and) Globally Competitive Economy, Strengthening Our Communities and Protecting Our Families.

While about half of the platform draft deals with national security and foreign policy, the last meeting drew the most attention.

"We are not even asking for a pro-choice platform," Stockman said. "We are asking the party to recognize the full range of views on family issues."

The Log Cabin Republicans, a gay-rights group, criticized the endorsement of a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. They cited this week's opposition to such a move by Vice President Dick Cheney.
 
"This call for a constitutional amendment is not only dividing our party and our country," Log Cabin political director Christopher Barron said. "It's dividing our president and vice president."

Others said it's important to take a stand against abortion and to back the premise that marriage is between a man and a woman. They said critics are out of step with today's GOP.

"I just think they're a very weak presence at this convention," former presidential candidate Gary Bauer said.

Others Republicans criticized the platform for not cracking down on illegal immigration.

The platform "goes against everything the American people believe should happen with our immigration policy," said Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado.