And you think gay marriage is a threat to the American home?

[guido]

Ronald Reagan - divorced the mother of two of his children to marry Nancy Reagan, who bore him a daughter only 7 months after the marriage.

Bob Dole - divorced the mother of his child, who had nursed him through the long recovery from his war wounds.

Newt Gingrich - divorced his wife who was dying of cancer.

Dick Armey - House Majority Leader - divorced

Sen. Phil Gramm of Texas - divorced

Gov. John Engler of Michigan - divorced

Gov. Pete Wilson of California - divorced

George Will - divorced

Sen. Lauch Faircloth - divorced

Rush Limbaugh - Rush and his current wife Marta have six marriages and four divorces between them.

Rep. Bob Barr of Georgia - Barr, not yet 50 years old, has been married three times. Barr had the audacity to author and push the "Defense of Marriage Act." The current joke making the rounds on Capitol Hill is "Bob Barr...WHICH marriage are you defending?!?

Sen. Alfonse D'Amato of New York - divorced

Sen. John Warner of Virginia - divorced (once married to Liz Taylor.)

Gov. George Allen of Virginia - divorced

Henry Kissinger - divorced

Rep. Helen Chenoweth of Idaho - divorced

Sen. John McCain of Arizonia - divorced

Rep. John Kasich of Ohio - divorced

Rep. Susan Molinari of New York - Republican National Convention Keynote Speaker - divorced

So ... homosexuals are going to destroy the institution of marriage? Wait a minute, it seems the Christian Heterosexual Republicans are doing a fine job without anyone's help!

 

[LuciaDisturbed]

Very true!

 

[Reba]

So what is the actual correlation?

None.

 

[guido]

The correlation is that Republican's are so adament about "defending the institution of marriage" and "protecting family values" yet we have these shining examples by the people spouting this propaganda. It goes to show that its nothing more than a political ploy. The last time the Republicans attempted the gay marriage debate was in 2004, an election year, and now in 2006, another election year, they're pulling it again. C'mon Reba, you're smarter than that.

 

[Reba]

The correlation is that Republican's are so adament about "defending the institution of marriage" and "protecting family values" yet we have these shining examples by the people spouting this propaganda. It goes to show that its nothing more than a political ploy. The last time the Republicans attempted the gay marriage debate was in 2004, an election year, and now in 2006, another election year, they're pulling it again. C'mon Reba, you're smarter than that.

How does a list of the private lives of select individuals prove that an amendment protecting marriage in America is wrong?

If that exact same list of people strongly supported "gay marriage rights" would that make a difference?

 

[guido]

How does a list of the private lives of select individuals prove that an amendment protecting marriage in America is wrong?

Why do you ask questions that you know the answer to. How are these people "protecting marriage in America" when they've made a mockery of the institution. That is the point of listing their private lives. Jesus speaks out against divorce 6 times in the Bible, and against adultery 12 times, but not once was Jesus quoted speaking out against homosexuality. If these people truly wanted to defend the institution of marriage, they really should start in their home lives.

If that exact same list of people strongly supported "gay marriage rights" would that make a difference?

It would only go to further prove that the institution of marriage amongst male/female couples has losts its meaning. Lest we forget that the average divorce rate amongst American couples is over 50%?

 

[Teresh]

Obligatory fact checking:

Ronald Reagan - Divorced his first wife, Jane Wyman. Was married to Nancy Davis until the time of his death.

Bob Dole - Divorced his first wife, Phyllis Holden. Currently married to his second wife, Elizabeth Hanford.

Newt Gingrich - Divorced his first wife, Jackie Battley, his high school geometry teacher, who was dying of cancer. Divorced his second wife, Marianne Ginther, after she discovered his affair with Callista Bisek. Currently married to Bisek, his third wife.

Dick Armey - I can't find anything that suggests he's divorced... He hasn't been House Majority Leader since 2003 either.

Sen. Phil Gramm of Texas - I can't find anything credible suggesting he's divorced.

Gov. John Engler of Michigan - Divorced and remarried.

Gov. Pete Wilson of California - Can't find anything suggesting he's divorced. He also hasn't been Governor of California for several years.

George Will - Can't find anything suggesting he's divorced.

Sen. Lauch Faircloth - Hasn't been in office since 1999. Can't find anything suggesting he's divorced, either.

Rush Limbaugh - Limbaugh has three marriages behind him, all three are over. He is at the moment not married.

Rep. Bob Barr of Georgia - Barr is currently married to his third wife, Jerri Dobin.

Sen. Alfonse D'Amato of New York - He hasn't been in office since 1999. He is, however, currently married to his second wife, Katuria Elizabeth Smith.

Sen. John Warner of Virginia - Currently married to his third wife, Jeanne Vander Myde.

Gov. George Allen of Virginia - Currently married to his second wife, Susan Brown.

Henry Kissinger - Can't find anything suggesting he's divorced.

Rep. Helen Chenoweth of Idaho - Currently married to her second husband. During the time she was divorced, she had an affair with a married man. She hasn't been in office since 2001.

Sen. John McCain of Arizonia - Currently married to his second wife, Cindy. He opposes the Federal Marriage Amendment, though, so I don't understand why he's listed.

Rep. John Kasich of Ohio - Can't find anything suggesting he's divorced. He might be gay, though.

Rep. Susan Molinari of New York - Currently married to her second husband, Bill Paxon. Resigned from the House in 1996 as the result of the GOP moving too far to the right.

 

[Teresh]

How does a list of the private lives of select individuals prove that an amendment protecting marriage in America is wrong?

It's not "protecting" anything, but that'd a different debate. The point is that its proponents are largely hypocrites.

 

[Reba]

Why do you ask questions that you know the answer to. How are these people "protecting marriage in America" when they've made a mockery of the institution. That is the point of listing their private lives. Jesus speaks out against divorce 6 times in the Bible, and against adultery 12 times, but not once was Jesus quoted speaking out against homosexuality. If these people truly wanted to defend the institution of marriage, they really should start in their home lives.

Interesting. Usually the Christians at AD get slammed for "bringing the Bible into every topic."

I've debated that topic countless times in many other threads. You can look up my responses there.

It would only go to further prove that the institution of marriage amongst male/female couples has losts its meaning....

Lists of people and their marital status, does nothing to to prove or disprove the rightness or wrongness of an amendment. An amendment needs to stand or fall on its own merits.

Instead of allowing "marriage" for homosexual couples, the focus should be on strengthening marriages between heterosexual men and women. Allowing "gay marriage" won't help strengthen straight marriages.

Lest we forget that the average divorce rate amongst American couples is over 50%?

BTW:

Divorce Rate: It's Not as High as You Think
By DAN HURLEY
The New York Times
April 19, 2005

How many American marriages end in divorce? One in two, if you believe the
statistic endlessly repeated in news media reports, academic papers and
campaign speeches.

The figure is based on a simple - and flawed - calculation: the annual
marriage rate per 1,000 people compared with the annual divorce rate. In
2003, for example, the most recent year for which data is available, there
were 7.5 marriages per 1,000 people and 3.8 divorces, according to the
National Center for Health Statistics.

But researchers say that this is misleading because the people who are
divorcing in any given year are not the same as those who are marrying, and
that the statistic is virtually useless in understanding divorce rates. In
fact, they say, studies find that the divorce rate in the United States has
never reached one in every two marriages, and new research suggests that,
with rates now declining, it probably never will.

(read the rest of the article at: http://www.divorcereform.org/nyt05.html )

 

[Teresh]

Instead of allowing "marriage" for homosexual couples, the focus should be on strengthening marriages between heterosexual men and women. Allowing "gay marriage" won't help strengthen straight marriages.

Won't hurt them, either.

 

[Foxrac]

I think guido is anti-homosexual but who knows

btw, I don't understand what she said about it.

 

[Oceanbreeze]

I think guido is anti-homosexual but who knows

You also might've thought the same thing about me when I came out against those who were bashing an AD member for his pro-christian beliefs.

Don't judge a book by it's cover, TrippLa. You could be proven wrong.

 

[Oceanbreeze]

Lists of people and their marital status, does nothing to to prove or disprove the rightness or wrongness of an amendment. An amendment needs to stand or fall on its own merits.

I fail to see how legitimizing gay marriage is wrong? All we're asking for is to give gays and lesbians the same rights as heterosexual married couples have.

I don't see how that threatens the sanctity of marriage at all.

Now, to whether the measure will stand or fall on it's own merits, I agree with you. However, people better prepare themselves for the legalization of gay marriages, because, I believe it will happen. At the very least, we'll have the recognition of domestic partnership.

One thing we must think about, though, is this. We don't want some watered down version. Something like Clinton crafted with gays in the military. "Don't ask, Don't tell." If we're going for the legalizing of gay marriages, that's what we should end up with.

 

[LuciaDisturbed]

I fail to see how legitimizing gay marriage is wrong? All we're asking for is to give gays and lesbians the same rights as heterosexual married couples have.

I don't see how that threatens the sanctity of marriage at all.

Now, to whether the measure will stand or fall on it's own merits, I agree with you. However, people better prepare themselves for the legalization of gay marriages, because, I believe it will happen. At least very least, we'll have the recognization of domestic partnership.

One thing we must think about, though, is this. We don't want some watered down version. Something like Clinton crafted with gays in the military. "Don't ask, Don't tell." If we're going for the legalizing of gay marriages, that's what we should end up with.

I agree.

 

[guido]

I think guido is anti-homosexual but who knows

btw, I don't understand what she said about it.

What the fuck are you talking about? I'm clearly showing my support for same sex marriage, and you're going to claim I'm anti-homosexual? Fuck off.

 

[Foxrac]

Nevermind

 

[Foxrac]

Honestly, Don't be mad... I don't think if you are anti-homosexual or not but this thread is make hard for me to understand, also apologize for make mistake.

 

[vrsterp]

If you don't understand, then why would you post? Especially accusing someone of being something that some would find very offensive?

Jumping to conclusions that are completely irrelevent to the actual original post is not going to get you points. If you're on a "everyone hates gay people" rampage, then fine. But this was not a thread that even came close.

 

[Taylor]

The correlation is that Republican's are so adament about "defending the institution of marriage" and "protecting family values" yet we have these shining examples by the people spouting this propaganda. It goes to show that its nothing more than a political ploy. The last time the Republicans attempted the gay marriage debate was in 2004, an election year, and now in 2006, another election year, they're pulling it again. C'mon Reba, you're smarter than that.

I'm just a little curious but is there any reason you blame the republicans? I hear of democrats getting divorced all of the time....in fact, where I live, its typically democrats who get caught in some sort of scandal. How can the democrats "protect family values" more than republicans when they are just as (if not more) guilty than republicans. Everyone talked about how great Bill Clinton was..then he's cheating on his wife with an intern....and lies about it....why isn't he on your list?

 

[Teresh]

I'm just a little curious but is there any reason you blame the republicans? I hear of democrats getting divorced all of the time....in fact, where I live, its typically democrats who get caught in some sort of scandal. How can the democrats "protect family values" more than republicans when they are just as (if not more) guilty than republicans. Everyone talked about how great Bill Clinton was..then he's cheating on his wife with an intern....and lies about it....why isn't he on your list?

The thread is about coming to the understanding that not even the proponents of "traditional family values" really adhere to them themselves. It's a statement that the people who think they have moral supremacy are really no different than their opponents