i believe the gays should be able to get married for the simple fact that you can’t help who u fall in love with. they are people just like us, and even though we may not like the same thing we still are people of the world and we should be treated equal. Some of ya’ll may be referring to the bible, but GOD said a sin is a sin,so even if it is wrong to be gay,it is wrong for people to steal,lie,cheat,kill,etc. So I think that the people of the world should stop judging homosexuals because of what they do different from us who are straight. i feel that if they are able to adopt child, then they should be able to get married. u can’t control the way people feel about each other,so why not let them be together in the way that they want.

OKAY NOT SAYING IM GAY OR ANYTHING BUT IF YOU ARE IN LOVE WITH SOMEONE NO MATTER WHO OR WHAT IT IS, U SHOULD BE ABLE TO BE WITH THEM, SO IF U WANNA STOP GAYS THEN WHY DONT WE STOP STRAIGHTS!!!!!!!!!!!! PPL WHO ARE AGAINST GAYS SHOULD GO JUMP OF A BRIDGE BC IT IS NOT NICE, MAKING PPL NOT BE ABLE TO BE WITH THE PERSON THEY LOVE IS REDICULIOUS AMAJUN IF U COULDNT BE WITH THE ONE U LOVE.................SO IF ITS AGAINST UR RELIGON SCREW U!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GAYS SHOULD BE ABLE TO ELOPE N BE IN LOVE, SO f*** U IF U DONT APPRECIATE OTHERP PPLS LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANX
PEACE OUT

i think that all people who are against same sex marraiges are fucking idiots!
why should it matter if the peson loves the same sex? as long as the person is happy with there life it doesnt matter.
so all of you homophobic people can shove it up your asses! your just scared of your own self because you are all immature self centered and narrow minded bastards!!
and for your imformation not everyone is religious or believes in the bible so the whole adam and eve doesn work so drop it Larry Anklam!!
your a fucking idiot larry! why do you care if someone else marries into the same sex? it is absolutley none of your fucking busness!
its people like larry who make this world a fucking shit whole!! because they dont except people for who they are! im sorry for my language i normaly dont use profanity, but when itt comes to a topic like this i cant help myself.
its just AMAZING that this is really an issue with America! another thing, america is a free contrie right? well thats what they tell you but then why is same sex marrraiges illigal? and why is this an issue? i believe that everyone needs to get over the fact that people are “different”.

As a person who knows the constitution, it is unconstitutional, and goes against the five freedoms. It is peoples’ rights as citizens to be married to whom so ever they please. Just because theres “adam and eve” doesn’t mean all people who are wanting to get married to the same sex believe in that religion. The state government needs to stop meddling.

I am against gay marriage because god made a adam and eve not a adam and adam or a eve and eve.

I think gay marriages are not a big deal as people make it be. I mean i’m acutally bi-sexual. I like both and i don’t see as a problem!!!!!!!

Charles, in #6541, wrote: “It should be about doing and saying what is right, not what is politcally expedient.”

The problem is, of course, obvious. People do not agree “what is right.” And never will. I consider love and cohabitation between same sex partners as predictable and unremarkable. But then, I understand something about the ubiquitous nature of variation in living things - that exceptions to every rule are not only to be expected, but ESSENTIAL to the survival of all species. Few things that resist adapting to changing conditions survive for very long. Gays and lesbians play a role in a changing society even if we don’t understand what that role might be. Perhaps we don’t need more than 6 BILLION people on this planet??????

Most of those who exist with a rule book in place of a heart, brains or insight, simply can’t deal intelligently with exceptions to the rule. “Change” to them is something to be resisted, rejected, inhibited or otherwise stopped using whatever means is required to do so.

So, it’s back to tyranny of the majority, or at least, the majority of voters who vote. And since so many whose “values” are brainwashed into them will vote AS DIRECTED by despots such as Falwell and Robertson, there isn’t much hope that Feingold will become POTUS.

But perhaps someday it will dawn on those we hire to administer our country’s affairs that who we love and what we do consensually in the privacy of our intimate affairs is simply not in their mandate to control.

That said, “marriage” should be something relegated to a religious ceremony and not have any recognized standing in law. Being “married” should have no more legal effect than being “baptised” or “confirmed.” Leave it up to individual religions to decide who is eligible for marriage in that faith.

The ONLY legal status that should be considered by lawmakers for tax and other purposes should be CIVIL UNIONS (between any two people of legal age) (and I’m not absolutely convinced civil unions should be limited to just TWO people… what business is it of mine if the guy or gal next door wants to be hooked up with more than one other person?… right, NONE! Just so long as we, the people, don’t end up with the bill, WHO CARES?)

It MAY be according to how he prefaces his message.If he says that he is aware that others disagree, but he is determined to bring back honesty and integrity to Washington (no small task), his considered opinion is very simple; homosexuals are American citizens, and, as such, must have the same rights as other citizens. Our Constitution does NOT mention gays.Article X of The Bill of Rights states that those powers not delegated to the United States, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.(State’s Rights) How is it that someone born with a spina bifida or clef palate, can, with surgery, be accepted, BUT someone born with a different sexual orientation is tabu? Those who squawk the loudest about this are probably in denial about their OWN sexuality.

Larry, civil unions is the compromise the Democrats should be coalescing on.  This is the time where they need to unite, and continuing to push for things the rural American voter has PLAINLY STATED won’t fly is just political suicide. 

That said, I admire Feingold for standing up for his principles, but the people who agree with gay marriage and would stand with him is a small percentage of the electorate.  It was a long fight for civil rights for African-Americans, it’ll take a longer time for gays.  The time isn’t right--back down, Feingold!

Kudos Sen. Feingold!!! You’ve got my vote.

Bravo to Feingold.

I don’t think his decision to support gay marriage is politically foolhardy in the least. In fact, I think quite the opposite.

Bush for example, has seldom had a policy that Americans agreed with, yet, until recently, he had high, to average approval ratings.

Why?

Look at any poll, and it is because people once thought he was trustworthy. Even when they disagreed, they liked him.

Using one’s political persuasion against them, is only negative if that candidate tries to deny who they are.  Kerry is one example. The new McCain is another.

Feingold is unlikely to have that baggage to deal with, in the way that Hillary and others do.

Regardless of whether he runs, or even wins, he took a principled stand, and I think he deserves all the credit in the world.

“Sorry Russ, but marriage is between a man and a woman---its Adam and Eve---NOT Adam and Steve.  Civil Unions are a YES, but Marriage for gays is a NO!”

What people don’t seem to understand about Russ Feingold is that if taking a strong, principled stand conflicts with “electability”, he’ll stick with his principles every time.  As for electability, I have never before seen a presidential candidate like Russ, so I am not willing to predict how people will react.  After observing him for a long time in Wisconsin, and seeing him overcame many other issues that supposedly doomed his reelection as Senator, I would not count him out.

Go Feingold...too many politicans shut up about the important issues and succumb to political and lobby pressure. GOOD FOR YOU to speak out for gay rights.

I agree that this move is very risky given the so-called “values” voters, but if anybody can work to frame the debate in such a way that points out the utter intolerance and fear-mongering of the religious right, Feingold may be the man.

I’ve been so impressed by his unflinching move for censure and the eloquence with which he defends it.

He just makes sense, and I can only hope that more people will realize that he is the type of person we need leading this country, even if you’re not on board with everything he believes.  He’s the best President material I’ve seen in a long time (setting aside his electability).

I find this very heartening. I’d like to think that my reality-based cynicism hasn’t completely depleted my stores of idealistic optimism.

man i want to be gay if i lkie girls then i do no one can stop that. i know people walk around and see us holding hands they don’t like it.but we should have the same rights as everyone else.i don’t like men they make me sick i can’t stand them.
so thank you for your time but thats all i have to say.

Love Susra

What about the novelty of a politician speaking honestly and leading for a change?  I’m fed up with the double speak and nastiness of today’s political environment and politicians.  It should be about doing and saying what is right, not what is politcally expedient.  We need a real leader and Russ Feingold gets my respect, even if I don’t always agree with his positions.  What is it that they say ... If the leaders lead the people will follow.

No, a very smart political move, after McCain’s reversal on the so-called “Religious Right” was widely seen as a smarmy political ploy.  Now that McCain is Jerry Falwell’s b*tch, Feingold would let the two of ‘em make it legal. Isn’t that special?

Bravo for Feingold.  Too bad, though—he would have made a good President.

Wether or not Feingold can win on the national level, I’m proud to see a democrat who’s not afraid to be liberal.

At last!  A politician who is unafraid to state rational positions on issues!  Can this really be happening?  Cheers for Senator Feingold--may he live long and prosper!

Geeze don’t democrats want to win? The gay marriage issue is a sure loser in middle America!
Don’t come out against just don’t come out for it. Hey lets get a dem elected by whatever means, and then unlike Bush do the right thing. But first things first>

Bad move, at least electorally.  People will support a civil union policy, but gay marriage support will motivate the “values voters” to come out in droves.  Talk about handing the opposition a stick to beat you with.