Ald. Munoz blasts Bush for marriage amendment
Ald. Munoz blasts Bush for marriage amendment
By Gary Barlow
Copyright by The Chicago Free Press
Staff writer
Chicago Ald. Ricardo Muñoz (22nd) gave the Democratic Party’s Spanish-language response to President Bush’s weekly radio address June 3 and accused the president of pandering to conservatives by scapegoating gays and lesbians.
“By bringing the Federal Marriage Amendment to the Senate for a vote, the Republican Party hopes to use marriage as an issue to divide Americans and scapegoat Americans based on their sexual orientation for political gain,” Muñoz said.
Muñoz said the president and Republican leaders in Congress should be focusing on issues such as health care and gas prices.
“The American people deserve to have these issues addressed by their elected officials in Congress,” Muñoz said. “But next week, when Congress returns from its recess, it will not be talking about health care or high gas prices or the war in Iraq. Instead, the president and the Republican leaders in Washington will use their power to pander to their conservative base with a divisive measure.”
In his address, Bush focused on the anti-gay marriage amendment, which he and Republican leaders had scheduled for a vote in the Senate June 6.
“Ages of experience have taught us that the commitment of a husband and a wife to love and serve one another promotes the welfare of children and the stability of society,” Bush said.
The president said marriage is “honored and encouraged in all cultures and by every religious faith,” failing to acknowledge the countries that recognize gay and lesbian marriages and the numerous churches that bless those marriages.
Bush said the amendment “is critical to American families.” Muñoz saw it differently.
“This is not a new tactic,” Muñoz said. “In 2004 the Republican Party used the same issue to divert voters’ attention from real issues. And over the past year, the Republican Party has tried to use Hispanics as the scapegoats for the 2006 elections, voting to criminalize immigrants, families, doctors and even clergy. Because scapegoating Hispanics has not been easy, and because they continue to lose support for their failed policies even among conservatives, Republicans in Washington are at it again.
“Using any group of people as scapegoats, be they Hispanic or gay, is not only morally wrong, it is shameful and un-American. America deserves better than this.”
Muñoz concluded by pledging Democratic opposition to the amendment.
“Democrats value all families and are committed to the fundamental principle that every American has the right to live in dignity, with equal rights, responsibilities and protections under the law,” Muñoz said. “Democrats strongly oppose any attempt to write discrimination into law. We will fight this hateful, divisive amendment just as we fought and continue to fight against the criminalization of immigrants.”
Muñoz’s address was broadcast on more than 150-Spanish language radio stations.
Bush also held a news conference in the Rose Garden at the White House June 5 to push the marriage amendment. Flanked by anti-gay leaders, including Alan Chambers and Randy Thomas of Exodus International, an “ex-gay” group, Bush said he was “proud to stand with” them.
“Activist courts have left our country with no other choice” than amending the Constitution to ban gay marriage, Bush said.
By Gary Barlow
Copyright by The Chicago Free Press
Staff writer
Chicago Ald. Ricardo Muñoz (22nd) gave the Democratic Party’s Spanish-language response to President Bush’s weekly radio address June 3 and accused the president of pandering to conservatives by scapegoating gays and lesbians.
“By bringing the Federal Marriage Amendment to the Senate for a vote, the Republican Party hopes to use marriage as an issue to divide Americans and scapegoat Americans based on their sexual orientation for political gain,” Muñoz said.
Muñoz said the president and Republican leaders in Congress should be focusing on issues such as health care and gas prices.
“The American people deserve to have these issues addressed by their elected officials in Congress,” Muñoz said. “But next week, when Congress returns from its recess, it will not be talking about health care or high gas prices or the war in Iraq. Instead, the president and the Republican leaders in Washington will use their power to pander to their conservative base with a divisive measure.”
In his address, Bush focused on the anti-gay marriage amendment, which he and Republican leaders had scheduled for a vote in the Senate June 6.
“Ages of experience have taught us that the commitment of a husband and a wife to love and serve one another promotes the welfare of children and the stability of society,” Bush said.
The president said marriage is “honored and encouraged in all cultures and by every religious faith,” failing to acknowledge the countries that recognize gay and lesbian marriages and the numerous churches that bless those marriages.
Bush said the amendment “is critical to American families.” Muñoz saw it differently.
“This is not a new tactic,” Muñoz said. “In 2004 the Republican Party used the same issue to divert voters’ attention from real issues. And over the past year, the Republican Party has tried to use Hispanics as the scapegoats for the 2006 elections, voting to criminalize immigrants, families, doctors and even clergy. Because scapegoating Hispanics has not been easy, and because they continue to lose support for their failed policies even among conservatives, Republicans in Washington are at it again.
“Using any group of people as scapegoats, be they Hispanic or gay, is not only morally wrong, it is shameful and un-American. America deserves better than this.”
Muñoz concluded by pledging Democratic opposition to the amendment.
“Democrats value all families and are committed to the fundamental principle that every American has the right to live in dignity, with equal rights, responsibilities and protections under the law,” Muñoz said. “Democrats strongly oppose any attempt to write discrimination into law. We will fight this hateful, divisive amendment just as we fought and continue to fight against the criminalization of immigrants.”
Muñoz’s address was broadcast on more than 150-Spanish language radio stations.
Bush also held a news conference in the Rose Garden at the White House June 5 to push the marriage amendment. Flanked by anti-gay leaders, including Alan Chambers and Randy Thomas of Exodus International, an “ex-gay” group, Bush said he was “proud to stand with” them.
“Activist courts have left our country with no other choice” than amending the Constitution to ban gay marriage, Bush said.
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