http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/News/St.+Louis+City+/+County/567C3D6B9789764386256EAB00443D43
Post-Dispatch Political Correspondent
06/06/2004
"Liberals have a long history of using the courts to get what they're denied" through more legitimate means, Blunt said, in his first detailed comments since the state Supreme Court ordered last week that a proposed constitutional amendment banning gay marriage be placed on the August ballot.
The court overruled Blunt's plan, backed by Republican leaders, to put the measure on the November ballot. The party said it would reach more voters. He said his office received the proposal too late to legally put it on the August ballot.
Blunt is complying, but he made clear that if he's elected governor he'll do his part to try to put a stop to such judicial actions that he said run counter to the public's wishes. "Don't despair," he exhorted supporters Friday night.
Blunt's comments, reprised Saturday morning, were typical of the outspoken rhetoric - especially on cultural issues like gay marriage, abortion and religious expression - that fueled the fervor of more than 1,000 Republicans attending the state party's convention.
The session is held once every four years to approve a platform and
select delegates for the national presidential convention, to be held this
year in New York.
State Republican Party chairwoman Ann Wagner of St. Louis County said she
shared Blunt's anger. "It's a shame that our sitting governor and his
party want to defeat this measure, want to defeat the sanctity of
marriage," she said.
State Democratic Party spokesman Mike Kelley replied in a telephone
interview that the party had no stand on the proposed constitutional
amendment but supported the judges' decision.
"Republicans always get nervous when judges actually interpret the
law rather than follow extremist political beliefs," he said.
A parade of Republican convention speakers - including Marc Racicot, the
national Bush-Cheney campaign chairman - touted the nation's improved
economy and defended President George W. Bush's policy in Iraq. U.S.
Senate Majority Whip Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., drew one of the loudest
ovations when he asserted that the media was inaccurately portraying
Bush's record because "all the media want the president to
lose."
But most of the convention's energy and debate centered on the social
issues. "I think the grass roots is greatly concerned about the state
of marriage in America," said John Weir, a Republican committeeman
from Jefferson County who argued unsuccessfully in favor of a resolution
that would have discouraged "no-fault divorce."
The platform committee, headed by lawyer Thor Hearne of St. Louis County,
easily got convention approval of a document stipulating more than 100
positions, including:
An end to most abortions, and "the appointing of federal and state
judges (who) respect the sanctity of innocent human life."
Approval of a federal constitutional amendment "clearly stating that
only marriages between a man and woman will be valid and recognized."
Restitution for crime victims.
Calls for the end of the power of a governor to withhold money
appropriated by the Legislature for public schools, and for the
elimination of some of the state tax hikes approved in 1993 to raise more
money for schools.
Outside the hall, members of a local veterans group were distributing free
posters that said "In God We Trust" and listed the Ten
Commandments.
National Democratic Party chairman Terry McAuliffe said in a telephone
interview that such a focus was part of the Republican "tried and
true tactics of trying to divide America. We're not going to fall for
it."
But U.S. Rep. Kenny Hulshof, R-Columbia, and state chairman for the
Bush-Cheney campaign, said it was understandable and proper for social
issues to play such a strong role at Republican conventions. His speech
Saturday reflected that sentiment, especially when he emphasized his
opposition to gay marriage.
"It seems as if what's rallying the other side is their dislike of
the president," Hulshof said. "We have to be equally motivated.
Social issues help galvanize the grass-roots conservatives who are so
important to our party."
Phyllis Schlafly, founder of the conservative Eagle Forum and Republican
delegate from Ladue, is among them. "I think the cultural issues are
very important in this election, and they're very favorable to
Republicans," she said.
Schlafly added that she shared Blunt's disdain for "activist
judges," and said her latest book - due out next month - will focus
on what she called "the judicial supremicists."
Reporter Jo Mannies
E-mail: jmannies@post-dispatch.com
Phone: 314-340-8334