Hatch calls marriage issue “critical”

Proposed amendment to define marriage

The resolution is S.J. Res. 1 ”Marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman. Neither this Constitution, nor the constitution of any State, shall be construed to require that marriage or the legal incidents thereof be conferred upon any union other than the union of a man and a woman.”

Today is the day that U.S. Senators are expected to vote on ending the debate on the constitutional amendmnent defining marriage or taking it to a vote. U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch is a co-sponsor of the amendment. Both Hatch and Bennett say they are opposed gay marriage.
In today’s Salt Lake Tribune, Hatch is quoted as citing the constitutional amendment as “critical”:

Hatch also is outspoken on the amendment, calling it a “critical issue” for the country.
He took to the Senate floor Tuesday saying that while the Senate may not be able to agree to adopt the change, Americans have already “arrived at consensus” to ban gay marriages. He bashed “renegade judges” that have allowed such unions.

I concur with Senator Harry Reid’s (Nevada) comments:

“It is clear the reason for this debate is to divide our society, to pit one against another,” Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid said this week on the Senate floor. “This is another one of the president’s efforts to frighten, to distort, to distract, and to confuse America.” Reid said it was a distraction from real issues of high gas prices, the war in Iraq and the national debt.

(However, it is important, and perhaps even puzzling, to note that Reid did vote for a state constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage in his state but is against amending the U.S. Constitution.)

I would like to add to that list, poverty and hunger issues, homelessness, and lack of health care for millions of Americans.