Gay marriage a Democrat-killer?

A Sacramento Bee political columnist says SF mayor Gavin Newsom gave Bush and the Republicans a "gift" by forcing the gay marriage issue during an election year.

I disagree. Opposition to Bush et al. has to be about something. If the Democratic race is just a contest to see who can beat Bush by being most like him, you're going to see a record low turnout in November and a Bush re-election.

That said, Kerry's voting record could be a lot more liberal. Though he got a 92% approval rating from a progressive group, Kerry voted for the war, for "no child left behind," for the Patriot Act, for national ID cards, and many other questionable ideas.

But to get back to the gay marriage thing: Here's a transcript from CNN that pretty much sums up the arguments -- and clarifies the basic discriminatory, homophobic basis of the right wing, in their own words.