Posted by Mark Silva at 3:40 pm CDT
As voters from Virginia to Colorado this fall face ballot measures banning same-sex marriage within their states – and with President Bush repeatedly failing to win support for a federal constitutional amendment – the White House faced questions this week about how far Bush takes the “sanctity of marriage.”
Preserving that sanctity of marriage – the institution of a bond between a man and woman – is a principle the president often cites in support of the marriage amendment. Tony Snow, White House spokesman, was asked Monday if common-law marriage between a man and a woman is also not a threat to the sanctity of marriage. “That’s a good question. I don’t have an answer,” Snow said, promising to return with an answer today. He did: “The reason it hasn’t come up is that I’m not sure there have been any shacking up bans.” As the debate over same-sex marriage has stalled in Washington, 20 states have enacted bans of their own since 1998. Voters in seven more states will face the question in November: Virginia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Idaho and Colorado. A new poll run by the Washington Post finds only marginal support for the same-sex marriage ban in Virginia: 53 percent.
“There’s several state ballots right now, like there were a few years ago, related to gay marriage bans,” a reporter noted in a question for Snow on Monday. “Some of them extend to equal benefits for domestic partners in civil unions. What is the White House’s position on those two issues?”
“We’re going to let the voters of the states decide,” Snow said.
“But what I do want to ask about is your rationale with respect to gay marriage in terms of sanctity of marriage,” the reporter continued.
“What part needs explanation?” Snow asked.
“In relation to your rationale as to how this applies to common law marriage, because that’s outside of a civil union or a marriage, and is that not a threat to the sanctity of marriage?”
“That’s a good question. I don’t have an answer,” Snow confessed. “I’ll try to come back with one tomorrow.”
Today, Snow was gently reminded near the end of another press briefing.
“You said you would follow up on a question yesterday related to common law marriage,” the reporter reminded him.
“Oh, and I forgot to,” he said. “I apologize, I’ll do that….
“Well,” the reporter asked, “it’s the legal reasoning the administration uses for gay marriage bans — repeatedly says that the president believes in the sanctity of marriage and that marriage should be between a man and a woman. Well, my question is that this legal status is — protection under the law is given to unmarried men and women as long as they live together —
“I guess — the reason it hasn’t come up is that I’m not sure there have been any shacking up bans,” Snow said, leaving this question of sanctity and common law unresolved. “But when they arise, it might be time for an official opinion.”
