WASHINGTON (AFP) - President George W. Bush (news - web sites) will not actively seek to ban gay marriage in the United States during his second term in office, a stance certain to anger the social conservatives who helped re-elect him.
The Washington Post asked Bush if he would aggressively lobby senators during his second term in office to pass an amendment outlawing marriage in all 50 states.
"I do believe it's necessary," Bush said Sunday. But he went on to imply that pursuing it in the US Senate, which must approve a constitutional amendment by 67 of its 100 votes, would be futile.
Many Senators think the Defense of Marriage Act, an existing law that allows states not to recognize gay marriages enacted in other states, is sufficient, according to Bush.
"The point is, is that Senators have made it clear that so long as DOMA is deemed constitutional, nothing will happen. I'd take that admonition seriously," Bush told the Post.
Bush voiced active support for a gay marriage ban during the 2004 presidential camaign, whipping up support from social conservatives including Evangelical Christians who turned out in droves to re-elect him.
Immediately after his election victory his top political strategist said the president would "absolutely" continue his fight on the politically and socially divisive issue.
"Without the protection of that amendment, we are at the mercy of activist federal judges or activist state judges who could, without the involvement of the people, determine ... that marriage no longer consists of a union between a man and a woman," Karl Rove told Fox News.
