Let It Go

Another Speech:

Today President Bush called for a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. While the Bush administration was busy crafting this announcement a suicide bomber killed or wounded forty people in Iraq. While the Bush administration was rallying support for an amendment, Al Qaeda operative Ayman al-Zawahri released a tape promising to unleash more terrorist attacks on the United States.

Unfortunately the President chose to prioritize an issue threatening to divide Americans at a time when more pressing concerns demand that we stand united.

Should we become embroiled in a contentious constitutional debate while our enemies plan attacks? Should the president expend the time and energy necessary to alter the US constitution when so many Americans remain jobless?

I ask all Americans to do what this President cannot: put aside our differences, and stand together for the future of our nation. We may differ on the means, but we must focus upon our shared goals: defeating terrorism and restoring our economy.

This president chose to champion a policy that distracts from these goals. This president chose a path that will surely pit brother against brother.

We cannot move forward with a policy that turns American against American. It is unrealistic to believe that we can reach a consensus on same sex marriage. Some of us will go to the grave unwavering in approval, others ardently against.

But we can all agree that same sex marriage didn't topple skyscrapers. Same sex marriage didn't send thousands of jobs overseas. Same sex marriage won't bankrupt social security.

From inception, from Calvinist to Quaker, this nation succeeded by placing purpose above personal. Let us set aside differences so that we may achieve our most important goals rather than grind to a halt bickering over less substantial concerns. Let neighbor look upon neighbor and say, "Whatever our differences, whatever your race, ethnicity or sexual orientation, we have no choice but to share a future. You are welcome here."

For or against, every American must find the tolerance necessary to move forward together. If you are married, its not the place of government to judge the success of your marriage. If you are divorced it is not the place of government to judge the reasons for your divorce.

As president, I will devote my full attention to repairing social security, fighting terrorism, and creating jobs. There isn't time to manufacture divisive issues that impede progress. We are a forward looking nation and it is time to move forward. Let this issue rest.