House Proceeding 07-18-06 on Jul 18th, 2006 :: 1:20:19 to 1:25:35
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1:20:19 to 1:20:31( Edit History Discussion )

Barney Frank: heard talk about activist judges, federal judges. no federal judge has been involved here. there is not a pending decision that's now enforced by a single federal judge. that doesn't stop people

1:20:19 to 1:25:35( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Barney Frank

also see Federal_Marriage_Amendment

1:20:26 to 1:21:10( Edit History Discussion )

Barney Frank: from massachusetts, mr. frank, is recognized for four minutes. mr. frank: mr. speaker, as i listen, i am struck anew by the ability of preprogrammed rhetoric to resist the facts. we've

1:20:31 to 1:20:42( Edit History Discussion )

Barney Frank: from invoking it because facts are irrelevant to this kind of rhetoric. in fact, this amendment is being described in ways that are not accurate. it is not an amendment to prevent judges,

1:20:42 to 1:20:54( Edit History Discussion )

Barney Frank: activist judges, pacifist judges, any kind of judges from deciding. it's an amendment to prevent anybody from deciding. in the state of massachusetts, we have had same-sex marriage for over two

1:20:54 to 1:21:06( Edit History Discussion )

Barney Frank: years. none, none of the negative consequences that people have predicted came true. in consequence, i believe the political community of massachusetts is prepared to say if two men love each other

1:21:06 to 1:21:18( Edit History Discussion )

Barney Frank: and are prepared to be committed to each other legally as well as emotionally, that's rather a good thing and we will say it's ok. if the voters of massachusetts in a referendum in 2008, which

1:21:18 to 1:21:28( Edit History Discussion )

Barney Frank: we might have, were to ratify same-sex marriage, this amendment would cancel it out. it has nothing to do with activist judges. it has to do with a decision that says no state by any political

1:21:28 to 1:21:39( Edit History Discussion )

Barney Frank: process can make that decision. the legislature of california, not judges in california, voted to allow two women who love each other to be legally responsible for each other. and that

1:21:39 to 1:21:52( Edit History Discussion )

Barney Frank: -- if it were to be ratified by a governor after the next election would be canceled out. so this is not an amendment about activist judges. this is an amendment that says no state by whatever process

1:21:52 to 1:22:02( Edit History Discussion )

Barney Frank: including a referendum, can make this decision. now why? i also feel strengthened in my advocacy of the cause when people won't tell me their real arguments against it. i think this is motivated,

1:22:02 to 1:22:12( Edit History Discussion )

Barney Frank: frankly, by a dislike of us who are gay and lesbian on the part of those who are the main motivators. you know, we're told don't take things personally, but i take it personally. i take it personally

1:22:12 to 1:22:24( Edit History Discussion )

Barney Frank: when people decide to take political batting practice with my life, when people decide that they will demonize, not just me, i'm old, i'm over it, but young people, young people just starting

1:22:24 to 1:22:35( Edit History Discussion )

Barney Frank: out who find themselves for reasons they can't explain attracted to someone of the same sex and that demon -- and are demonized in this house of representatives as if they're a threat to marriage.

1:22:35 to 1:22:46( Edit History Discussion )

Barney Frank: that is the biggest nonsensical statement of all. yes, marriage between a man and woman who are in love is a good thing. how does allowing two men who love each other to become legally committed

1:22:46 to 1:23:02( Edit History Discussion )

Barney Frank: endanger these marriages of 37 or 38 years? let me tell you the logical structure or the illogical structure of the argument on the other side, people will remember the commercial for v-8

1:23:14 to 1:23:27( Edit History Discussion )

Barney Frank: juice years ago in which a cartoon character feeling poorly drank various juices to see if he could be energized. none of them worked, tomato, apple, pineapple juice didn't work and then someone

1:23:26 to 1:23:44( Edit History Discussion )

Barney Frank: And then someone gives him v-8 and the cartoon character gets pumped up literally and steam comes out of his ears and he says to himself wow, i could have had a v-8, Note in the record that I just struck myself in the forehead for emphasis. That's what happens in the commercial.

1:23:40 to 1:23:49( Edit History Discussion )

Barney Frank: heterosexual, they feel this physical and emotional attraction to each other and then they read in the paper that in the state of massachusetts that it is possible for there to be a same-sex

1:23:44 to 1:23:59( Edit History Discussion )

Barney Frank: apparently there's the same thing, there's these 38 to 42-year long marriages all over the place, there are happily married men all over America and they're content with their wives, they're

1:23:49 to 1:24:00( Edit History Discussion )

Barney Frank: marriage and how is their marriage endangered? apparently people happily married in indiana and nebraska and kansas and mississippi read that we have had same-sex marriage quite successfully in

1:24:00 to 1:24:16( Edit History Discussion )

Barney Frank: massachusetts and they look in the mirror and they say, wow, i could have married a guy. so apparently same-sex marriage is the v-8 juice of america. and apparently there are people who fear

1:24:16 to 1:24:26( Edit History Discussion )

Barney Frank: that knowing that two men who love each other want to be committed to each other somehow will dissolve the values of matrimony between two heterosexuals. it is nonsense. i will do my friends the credit

1:24:26 to 1:24:35( Edit History Discussion )

Barney Frank: of acknowledging they don't believe it. there are political motivators here -- there are people genuinely concerned -- mr. mcgovern: i yield the gentleman an additional 30 seconds. mr. frank: that

1:24:35 to 1:24:46( Edit History Discussion )

Barney Frank: there will be negative consequences. i hear that every time we deal with discrimination. when we dealt with the american disabilities act, with gender, with ethnicity, with age. i understand their

1:24:46 to 1:24:55( Edit History Discussion )

Barney Frank: fears. we have had same-sex marriage in massachusetts for over two years. thousands of loving men and women have been able to come together and express their commitment to each other and

1:24:55 to 1:25:09( Edit History Discussion )

Barney Frank: no one, not even the most dedicated opponent has been able to point to a single negative consequence. so i understand the people who are afraid. we have disproven the fears and what is left

1:25:09 to 1:25:18( Edit History Discussion )

Barney Frank: is only dislike of many of us, and it simply is not appropriate to score political points by demonizing or seeking to minimize the lives of your fellow citizens. the speaker pro tempore: the

1:25:18 to 1:25:35( Edit History Discussion )

Barney Frank: gentleman's time has expired. the gentleman from georgia. mr. gingrey: mr. speaker, i have no other speakers on my side, and while i'm going to reserve the balance of my time for closing,

1:25:35 to 1:25:45( Edit History Discussion )

Phil Gingrey: i want to respond and give myself as much time as i might consume to the gentleman from massachusetts, for whom and whose intellect i have a deep respect, and i think he knows that. let me just

1:25:35 to 1:26:59( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Phil Gingrey