The rather simplistic suggestion that the outrage from us "liberals" toward President Bush is based only on a general disliking of the man himself is pretty
naive. Sure, it's easy to disregard my criticism of the president's stance on gay marriage as nothing more than meaningless liberal angst. But when the president starts tossing around your civil rights like a political football, and threatens to make discrimination against you the law of the land, you cannot begin to understand the anger this generates.
My right to be treated as something more than a second-class citizen is at stake here.
What's at stake for Mr. Bush? A second term in office.
It's been true of almost every president, Republican and Democrat alike. Not one policy decision is made without considering the impact it will have on your chance at re-election. Most political analysts will agree: November's election could very well be decided in the south. Bush knows that without the backing of the Christian right, he will not do as well in the south as he needs in order to win the election.
Instead of allowing the matter to play out in the legal system, a course that a number of Republicans are said to prefer, Bush has chosen to pander directly to
his right-wing base--a group whose support he will rely heavily upon for re-election. That, my friend, is a political ploy.
Respond to this posting
Back to top