News

Log Cabin Launches Print Ad Campaign Against Anti-Family Federal Marriage Amendment

Advertisement Makes Light of Recent Senate Floor Exchange Between Vice-President Dick Cheney and Senator Pat Leahy

July 6, 2004

(Washington, DC) – Log Cabin Republicans are using humor in a new print advertisement against the anti-family Federal Marriage Amendment. The ad makes light of the recent confrontation on the Senate floor between Vermont Senator Pat Leahy and Vice President Dick Cheney. The ad's headline reads, "Dick Cheney and Pat Leahy agree on something." Log Cabin Republicans Executive Director Patrick Guerriero says, "In the past, both men have said the issue of marriage should be left to the states. Passing any anti-family Constitutional amendment would be a mistake for this nation – big time!"

You can view the advertisement at www.logcabin.org. It runs in the July 6, 2004 edition of Roll Call. The same advertisement also will be placed in upcoming editions of Roll Call and The Hill. The United States Senate is scheduled to consider the anti-family Federal Marriage Amendment during the week of July 12th.

Log Cabin's print advertisement plays off the recent verbal altercation on the Senate floor between the Democratic Senator and Republican Vice-President. Witnesses say Cheney ended a combative exchange with Leahy by telling the Vermont lawmaker to, "f--- off" or "go f--- yourself." It's clear Cheney and Leahy don't agree on much, but they agree that marriage should be a state issue.

During his 2000 debate with Senator Joe Lieberman, then Vice-Presidential candidate Dick Cheney referred to the legal recognition of same-sex relationships. Cheney said, "That matter is regulated by the states. I think different states are likely to come to different conclusions, and that's appropriate. I don't think there should necessarily be a federal policy in this area."

Senator Leahy expressed similar sentiments during a June 22, 2004 Judiciary Sub-committee hearing on the amendment. "Marriage is and always has been a State issue, and it should remain so," Leahy said. "Republicans from both the conservative and moderate wings of their party oppose this amendment, which only damages and divides our nation to play politics at the expense of groups within our society. Tolerance is an American ideal, and the Constitution should reflect and enhance that ideal, not undercut it. It has been our long tradition to use the constitutional process to expand rights on extremely rare occasions, and never to restrict them. We should not abandon that tradition for short-term political gain," continued Leahy.

"Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist knows this amendment does not have anywhere near the 66 votes required for passage, so why is he wasting time on an already crowded Senate calendar with this divisive debate?" asked Patrick Guerriero. "America and the Republican Party should be focused on improving homeland security, winning the war on terror and continuing to improve the economy. Instead, a small but vocal segment of the GOP wants to desecrate our founding document with an amendment that would make some Americans second-class citizens."

This print ad campaign is part of Log Cabin's $1,000,000 effort to defend the Constitution. This campaign includes a television ad, prints ads, the most intense lobbying effort in its history, and the grassroots mobilization of Log Cabin members across America. "We will win this fight because hope, inclusion and equality will defeat the forces of fear, discrimination and exclusion," concluded Guerriero.