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Gay Marriage Is New GOP Litmus Test for Supremes

Same-sex unions replace abortion debate as heated issue

By Matt Cantor, Newser Staff

Posted May 17, 2009 6:21 AM CDT

(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... Read full story »

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Gay-Marriage Ban Returns to Court in California

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(NEWSER) - California’s ban on gay marriage gets another day in court: The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals will hear arguments related to August's ruling that Prop 8 is unconstitutional today, likely moving the issue closer to the Supreme Court, the Wall Street Journal reports. There won’t be new evidence or witnesses presented to a trio of judges, who will focus on legal issues involved—including whether backers of the ban have legal grounds to fight a lower court’s decision that called it unconstitutional. More»

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(NEWSER) - Nobody expects Sonia Sotomayor to have serious trouble winning confirmation to the Supreme Court; the hearings that start today will be battles for American hearts and minds, with both parties seeing them as an opportunity to position themselves on key issues, the Washington Post reports. Aiming to ignite their base, conservatives will try to show that Sotomayor’s “empathy” for various groups precludes fair judgment; Democrats, meanwhile, hope that aggressive Republican questioning will speed the departure of Latinos from the GOP. More»

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Gay Marriage Is New GOP Litmus Test for Supremes

Same-sex unions replace abortion debate as heated issue

gay rights • abortion • gay marriage • Senate • abortion rights • justice • debate • US Supreme Court

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More Newser Stories

Rudy Tries Candor On Tough Issues

'I should honestly tell you the things I can evolve on, and the things I can’t'

Gay-Marriage Ban Returns to Court in California

Prop. 8 case could set stage for Supreme Court battle

NY Senate Race Gets Ugly Fast

Incumbent Kirsten Gillibrand, challenger Harold Ford Jr. out for blood

She's Catholic, Too, You Know

There's zero scrutiny of Sotomayor's religion because she's pro-choice

Both Parties Will Use Sotomayor to Push Agendas

Parties hope to inspire support through questioning

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