From Deseret News archives:
GOP takes firm stand against gay unions
Activists outraged; draft also urges ban on abortions
A panel made up largely of conservative delegates approved platform language that calls for a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage and opposes legal recognition of any sort for gay civil unions.
The GOP's full platform committee, seeking to appease party members who support gay or abortion rights without embracing their positions, adopted language later that states Republicans "respect and accept" dissenting views.
"We are the party of the open door," said Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, who led platform deliberations on social issues.
But activists who support gay and abortion rights said they felt shut out and sharply criticized their party for adopting a hard line in advance of a convention next week that will seek support from swing voters and more liberal Republicans.
Christopher Barron of Log Cabin Republicans, a GOP gay-rights group, was livid after the panel endorsed the first-ever call for a constitutional gay-marriage ban in a GOP platform and went beyond that to oppose legal recognition of any same-sex unions.
Giuliani, former New York mayor, and California Gov. Schwarzenegger are among moderate Republicans accorded prominent convention speaking slots.
Gary Bauer, who has campaigned for the marriage amendment and against abortion rights as president of the group American Values, said the platform draft solidifies the GOP as the "party of hearth and home."
The draft urges a constitutional ban on abortion, echoing a call from previous platforms, and endorses President Bush's restrictions on federal financing of stem cell research. Some Republicans want the restrictions loosened.
Andrea Lafferty of the Traditional Values Coalition advised the network of conservative churches not to worry about the religious right's exclusion from prime time next week, given the advances against gay rights.
"Don't be distracted by Schwarzenegger or Giuliani or even the vice president," she said. "It is what George Bush says that counts, and he has been faithful and fearless on this important issue."
She dismissed the other side as "RINOs" Republicans in Name Only.
Comments
New York City's emergency services police patrol Madison Square Garden Wednesday. The city has increased security as it prepares to host the Republican National Convention. Some 250,000 anti-war demonstrators are expected to march Sunday. Throughout next week, protests are expected by abortion-rights advocates, labor unions, environmentalists and even librarians.
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- Iran okays 10 enrichment sites 9:57 a.m.
- UAE to back banks amid meltdown 9:48 a.m.
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- Senate opens health care debate 9:30 a.m.
- Long road out of recession 9:24 a.m.
- Cougars beat Utes in overtime 1:11 a.m.
- UVU beats SUU; USU wins big 12:57 a.m.
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
- Cougars beat Utes in overtime
- Cave to be sealed with body inside
- BYU is champion of the state
- Credit Coug defense for win
- Cougar defense rose to occasion
- Field goals, penalties doomed Utes
- Jones' joy for life remembered
- Predicting the unpredictable: BYU wins
- Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
- Cougars beat Utes in overtime
414 - Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
260 - Thunder rolls by Jazz
136 - Cave to be sealed with body inside
115 - Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
115 - Editorial: Poor welcome for Palin
113 - Rivalry Week is highly profane
89 - Hall's legacy measured today
75 - Y. focused on 10-win season
73 - Letters: C02 causes warming
71
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