The end of the 2006 "defense of marriage"

The "Defense of Marriage" Act has failed to garner amendment-level support from the House. This vote was symbolic, as the Senate didn't get it passed either, but the House wasted our time with it anyway. The final vote: 237 hate homosexuals, 187 have no hangups.

Let's ask a Republican Representative, Phil Gingrey of Georgia (who also voted against the Voting Rights Act renewal last week). Rep. Gingrey believes that limiting marriage to a man and a woman “is perhaps the best message we can give to the Middle East and all the trouble they’re having over there right now.”

WHAT?!?!?!

This man is clearly insane. Someone call Bellevue; in the meantime, I'm willing to donate a straitjacket to the cause.

Two Democratic Representatives offer some reason amidst the insanity. Both are from Massachusetts, the only state unafraid of homosexuals - and it should be no surprise that Rep. Barney Frank expressed the question that is on most Americans' minds: “How does the existence of same-sex marriage discourage or retard heterosexual marriage?” Rep. Jim McGovern gave a more lighthearted response: “It’s had no effect on my marriage, except we get invited to more weddings.”