Conservative talk show host blasts Wisconsin marriage amendment

You know the fundie gay-bashers have overreached when the conservatives dog your attempt at "protecting marriage." In Wisconsin, a state that has a chance of turning away a marriage amendment at the polls this fall (it would be the first state to do so), the tide is clearly turning, and now Republicans are scared they could lose this one.

In his CNI newspapers column, Charlie Sykes of Newsradio 620 WTMJ realizes that by banning civil unions the bible beaters in Wisconsin have misjudged the opposition to a hate amendment.

Legislative Republicans thought they had an electoral magic bullet when they voted to put an amendment banning gay marriage on the November general election ballot. The constitutional amendment would allow them to highlight a popular issue, motivate a big conservative turnout, and help Republicans up and down the ballot stem what appears to be a Democratic tide in 2006.

...the first defeat of a ban on gay marriage anywhere in the country – could actually embolden Wisconsin’s courts to do what conservatives most feared: legislate it from the bench.

..."Only a marriage between one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state. A legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals shall not be valid or recognized in this state."

Had Republicans stopped at the first sentence, the debate would have been squarely and unambiguously on he issue of gay marriage and the amendment likely would have passed easily. But they didn't, and that decision has shaped the current debate and changed the political dynamic.

But they did, and it's too damn bad isn't it, Sykes. Now you and your fellow conservatives have to live with the fact that you're about to "let the people decide" on a matter of civil rights for a group of taxpayers, and it may not go your way.

Quite frankly, the people shouldn't decide, but that battle will be fought another day.

He's not the only one scared -- Wisconsin tourism officials concerned about marriage amendment. If the amendment passes, a good number of businesses and tourism folks are concerned about a backlash.

Wisconsin's tourism secretary, Jim Holperin, also said he believed enactment of the measure Nov. 7 would have an impact.

"It will hurt this state's reputation of being inclusive, tolerant and welcome to all," he said.

...The executive director of the Cultural Alliance of Greater Milwaukee, which hosted the national Americans for the Arts national convention here in June, said he doubted the group would come back to the state if the amendment was approved. "It would certainly discourage a return visit," Tony Forman said of the event which drew nearly 1,000 people. Neilson said it had an economic impact of $1 million to $1.5 million.

Visit FairWisconsin and help them defeat this measure at the polls.

H/t, Americablog