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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2009
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19

Gay Marriage Is New GOP Litmus Test for Supremes

Same-sex unions replace abortion debate as heated issue

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(Newser) – Abortion has long been the hot-button issue at Supreme Court confirmations—but this year, gay marriage is taking over, conservatives say.  Senate Republicans believe that questioning over the matter could be the new litmus test to help reveal a candidate's overall philosophy, reports the Washington Post. “It may reflect the degree to which they think that they're not bound by the classical meaning of the Constitution” and whether “a personal agenda” will take precedence, said a key senator.

In the past 30 years, the abortion debate has been the centerpiece of questioning at confirmation hearings. Now, the conversation is shifting as conservatives try to prevent a ruling like Roe v. Wade in the future. “I don't think members of the court, or any of us, ever want to see a decision like that again,” said a GOP senator.

President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden meet with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky about the upcoming Supreme Court appointments.
President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden meet with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky about the upcoming Supreme Court appointments.   (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)
President Obama is considering California Supreme Court Associate Justice Carlos R. Moreno and more than five other people as nominees for the Supreme Court, according to a source.
President Obama is considering California Supreme Court Associate Justice Carlos R. Moreno and more than five other people as nominees for the Supreme Court, according to a source.   (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, pool)
Sen. Jeff Sessions, ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, left, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell talk to reporters outside the White House earlier this week.
Sen. Jeff Sessions, ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, left, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell talk to reporters outside the White House earlier this week.   (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)
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19 comments
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IN RESPONSE:
skeptik
May 17, 09 12:49 PM CDT
Actually the age of the voter has more to do with the support of gay rights than their "snobbery and elitism"- majority of americans over 50 (who as a group are more likely to vote in any given election) are horrified by the thought, majority of americans under 30 are much more tolerant. So eventually the older generation will die off and the future generations will look back & wonder what all the huge fuss was about.
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Corona_Kinq
May 17, 09 1:18 PM CDT
Democracy protects against the tyranny of the majority. You don't have "national referendums" to determine equality amongst people.
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-1
IN RESPONSE:
SPH
May 17, 09 3:17 PM CDT
If you knew anything about the Constitution of the Untied States you would surely know there is no provision for a "national referendum" short of the election of the President....In fact now that several states allow same sex marriage, it is only a matter of time before the congress invoke Article 4 section 1 and render the various state constitutional amendments against same sex marriage void and moot....Read the document before you spout your drivel....Your ignorance is truly phenomenal....
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shonangreg
May 17, 09 5:11 PM CDT
CK said: "...then let us have a national referendum and decide this question once and for all with results to be enshrined in the Constitution...." Then, an hour later, CK said: "Democracy protects against the tyranny of the majority. You don't have 'national referendums' to determine equality amongst people." ................. CK, I was right in the Dick Cheney article, http://www.newser.com/story/59211/bless-you-dick-cheney.html you ARE trying to be a troll to make conservatives look bad. ........... You not only are wrong on almost everything you say, still, but you're also contradicting yourself in your own posts! ............... You're joining OBB and NoNuts in irrelevancy here . . .
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+2
kokuaguy
May 17, 09 6:53 AM CDT
At 1:30 a.m. Hawaii time I'm number one on Newser with 1200 points. I assume my points will have fallen off enough by the time that jemikeos gets started again in Chicago that he will soon knock me back down to Number 2. Whatever- it was fun to be on top for awhile. ;^) Reply
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