ブッシュ、同性婚を攻撃

米大統領、同性婚問題で共和党の巻き返し図る
2006.10.31
Web posted at: 13:31 JST
- CNN/AP

米ジョージア州ステーツボロ──ブッシュ米大統領は１０月３０日、当地のジョージア・サザン大学で、中間選挙の共和党候補の応援演説を行った。世論調査で共和党の支持率が低下するなか、大統領は従来から取り組みを強調している税金問題やテロ対策に加え、同性婚反対を打ち出した。

大統領は５０００人近い共和党支持者らを前に、「活動家の判事らは数十年にわたり、裁判所命令で米国に見直しを迫ってきた。先週にはニュージャージー州で、結婚制度に疑問を提起する判決がまた出た。われわれは結婚が男女の結合であり、守られるべきだと考える」と述べ、３０秒近く喝采を浴びた。

ニュージャージー州地裁は１０月２５日、同性婚カップルに対して結婚に伴う権利や利益を認めるべきだとの判決を下し、同州議会に新制度を検討するよう指示した。新制度の１つ市民的結合については、ブッシュ大統領も容認する姿勢にあるが、今回の演説では言及せず、ニュージャージー州地裁判決が米国として避けるべきものだとの見解を強調。「法を厳密に解釈する判事を任命し続けなければならない」と述べ、さらに大きな喝采を浴びた。

ブッシュ大統領はニュージャージー州地裁判決の翌日にあたる１０月２６日から、同性婚に関連した発言を行っている。判決は共和党の票読みに重大な影響を及ぼす宗教界の保守勢力にとって試金石と言える問題に関する内容。ホワイトハウス関係者は、大統領が同性婚問題に触れているのは判決に対する反応に過ぎず、他のメッセージが有権者に届いていないためではないと主張した。

しかし大統領はこの後、テキサス州で行った演説でも同じ内容を強調した。大統領の選挙演説の重要な変化の１つであり、共和党の資金獲得で南部を重視していることの表れとみられる。

Bush Hits Hard at Gay Marriage
Tuesday October 31, 2006 12:46 AM
AP Photo GAPM101
By JENNIFER LOVEN
Associated Press Writer

STATESBORO, Ga. (AP) - President Bush has for months cast the midterm elections as a choice about just two issues: taxes and terrorism. Now, with polls predicting bleak results for Republicans, he is trying to fire up his party by decrying gay marriage.

``For decades, activist judges have tried to redefine America by court order,'' Bush said Monday. ``Just this last week in New Jersey, another activist court issued a ruling that raises doubt about the institution of marriage. We believe marriage is a union between a man and a woman, and should be defended.''

The line earned Bush by far his most sustained applause at a rally of 5,000 people aimed at boosting former GOP Rep. Max Burns' effort to unseat a Democratic incumbent. In this conservative rural corner of eastern Georgia, even children jumped to their feet alongside their parents to cheer and clap for nearly 30 seconds - a near-eternity in political speechmaking.

The New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples must be given all the benefits of married couples, leaving it up to the state Legislature to decide whether to extend those rights under the structure of marriage or something else.

One alternative, civil unions, is an idea Bush supports. But he ignored that on the way to portraying the New Jersey decision as the kind of thing America should do without.

``I believe I should continue to appoint judges who strictly interpret the law and not legislate from the bench,'' the president said, earning more applause in the sweltering basketball arena at Georgia Southern University. He pointed to his nominations to the Supreme Court of Chief Justice John Roberts and Samuel Alito.

The gay-marriage theme became a staple in Bush's political remarks last Thursday, the day after the New Jersey ruling on a touchstone issue for religious conservatives who are crucial to Republican electoral calculations. White House deputy press secretary Dana Perino said it was added merely to respond to the ruling - not because his other messages were failing to connect.

But the lines, repeated to great enthusiasm at a second rally later Monday in Texas, mark one of the only substantive changes in the president's stump speech as he turns from raising money for Republican candidates to encouraging the GOP faithful to vote Nov. 7.

To that end, he was focusing on the South.

After campaigning for Burns, trying to win back the seat conservative Democrat John Barrow took from him in 2004, Bush flew to the district vacated by former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas. DeLay resigned in June amid a series of investigations of his fundraising activities.

Organizers said Bush's appearance in a partially filled airport hangar in Sugar Land, Texas, drew over 6,000 to support Republican Shelley Sekula-Gibbs' write-in campaign to replace DeLay. The former Republican party star and Bush ally on Capitol Hill was nowhere to be seen, and the president never mentioned DeLay's name.

The rally finale was Texas-style dramatic, with Bush posing with Sekula-Gibbs with his Marine One helicopter and a multi-color fireworks show in the background.

The election in the reliably conservative district outside Houston is complicated. Republicans were legally barred from replacing DeLay's name on the ballot. So supporters must choose Sekula-Gibbs twice - once for the special election filling out DeLay's term and again for the general election for the next Congress.

She faces former congressman Nick Lampson, who has outraised and outspent her, giving Democrats a chance at a seat long in the GOP's hands. A Lampson victory would also be sweet revenge for an opposition party that DeLay fought at every turn while in office.

On Tuesday, Bush is heading back to Georgia, a state he twice won comfortably. Tuesday's rally, about 130 miles west of Statesboro, is aimed at helping another former GOP congressman, Mac Collins, oust Democratic Rep. Jim Marshall.

After Thursday, the president's schedule remains fluid, as his political advisers balance the need for help in tight races against the president's unpopularity.

Bush pleaded with Republicans not to give up keeping control of Congress - and mocked Democrats.

``You might remember that about this time in 2004, some of them were picking out their new offices in the West Wing,'' he said. ``The movers never got the call.''

Democrats ridiculed him back, for an itinerary that took him to once-solid GOP areas.

``Clearly President Bush is more of a liability than an asset as he's forced to stump for candidates in districts that were once considered safe for Republicans,'' said Democratic National Committee spokeswoman Stacie Paxton.

The president played down the idea that next Tuesday's vote is a referendum on his embattled presidency. ``This is different from a presidential campaign because it's not necessarily a national election, in that each congressional race really depends upon the candidates and how they carry the message,'' he said in an interview on Fox News Channel's ``Hannity & Colmes.''

Bush also rejected the idea he'll become a lame duck after the elections. ``I promise you I'm going to be president up until the very last day, and I've got a lot to do,'' he said.