Mary Jane Collipriest, spokeswoman for Bennett, said the senator believes traditional marriage must be defended — but "he's carefully reviewing the implications of the proposed federal marriage amendment . . . and exploring all options to determine the most prudent course."

Bishop said he is "sad that activist judges have forced Congress to defend traditional marriage" — and would vote for a constitutional amendment if it comes to a vote. But he said he likes another proposal for Congress to use a little-used constitutional power to ban courts from reviewing certain issues, and ban review of definition of marriage.

"I favor the least drastic method needed," Bishop said.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, said the Constitution is about to change no matter what — "either through an amendment, or by the ruling of four activist judges in Massachusetts who are going to impose gay marriage on everyone. . . . I'd rather have the elected representatives make the decision."

His committee plans its first hearing on it next week. "It's going to be a very tough fight because Democrats don't seem to want any amendment, and they are happy with the decision of the four activist judges in Massachusetts," he said.

Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, is a Democrat supporting Bush's call. "I believe steps should be taken to preserve the integrity of the Defense of Marriage Act. I support a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman," he said.

Meanwhile, Bush outraged gay groups.

"Not since the days of Jim Crow segregation has our nation faced the prospect of discrimination written into law in such a shameful way," said David Tseng, executive director of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays.

Likewise, Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., accused Bush of playing election-year politics and told the Senate, "By endorsing this shameful proposal, President Bush will go down in history as the first president to try to write bias back into the Constitution."

The likely Democratic presidential nominee, Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., said through a spokeswoman he opposes same-sex marriage, but he also opposes an amendment against them — saying it should be an issue left for states to decide. Kerry voted eight years ago against the Defense of Marriage Act.

Democratic National Committee Chairman Terence McAuliffe said, "It is wrong to write discrimination into the U.S. Constitution and it is shameful to use attacks against gay and lesbian families as an election strategy."

Meanwhile, conservatives hailed Bush.