Massachusetts court brings same-sex marriage to political forefront
Bush, Kerry weigh in
By Bill Schneider
CNN Political Unit
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A file photo of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.
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Massachusetts is the first state to rule that gay couples have a right to marry. CNN's Maria Hinojosa has more.
Ohio's governor is expected to sign into law a bill banning same-sex marriages, stoking the debate over the issue.
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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A whole new controversy burst upon the political scene this week. How did it get there? Through the political Play of the Week.
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court this week informed the state Legislature that nothing short of full-fledged marriage for same-sex couples would meet the requirements of the state constitution.
The 4-to-3 decision is creating a political uproar in Massachusetts and beyond.
"No one had any real doubts about the results in Massachusetts. And this means now that the battle is moving national," said Matt Daniels, president Alliance for Marriage.
It's forcing politicians everywhere to deal with a divisive issue they want to stay as far away from as possible.
Like, say, Sen. John Kerry, who's from Massachusetts.
"I personally believe the court is wrong," said Kerry, the front-runner in the Democratic race for the presidential nomination.
Now wait a minute. In 1996, President Clinton signed the Defense of Marriage Act, which banned federal recognition of gay marriages. Kerry voted against it.
"I voted against gay bashing," Kerry said, explaining his vote on "Wolf Blitzer Reports."
Meanwhile, President Bush is under pressure to back a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages -- a potential move that could damage his image as a compassionate conservative.
"If judges insist on forcing their arbitrary will upon the people, the only alternative left to the people would be the constitutional process," Bush said in January's State of the Union address.
This week, the curtain came up on a new act in the nation's long-playing culture wars.
On the right are folks like Daniels.
"This is about redefining marriage for our entire nation against the will of the people," said Daniels.
And on the left are activists like Evan Wolfson, executive director of Freedom to Marry.
"When the dust settles, people are going to see what the Massachusetts court said, that allowing marriage equality will help families while hurting nobody," Wolfson said.
But the dust is not likely to settle anytime soon.
This is a political Play of the Week with the potential for a very long run.
Guess where the Democratic convention is being held this summer?
Massachusetts!
And the Republican convention is in New York City, which has a large, activist gay population.
This issue is not likely to fade away soon.
