Planks on abortion, marriage, too much for some Maine delegates

NEW YORK — Planks in the Republican platform that call for constitutional amendments to ban gay marriages and abortions are too extreme for some members of Maine´s delegation at the party´s national convention.

The platform adopted Monday, which also expresses opposition to civil unions for gays, drew protests from a party activists who support gay and abortion rights. That resulted in language stating the GOP is open to diverse views.

Delegates Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe, Maine´s U.S. senators, both said they oppose constitutional bans on abortion and gay marriage.

"I don´t support gay marriages, but I think the matter should be left up to individual states," said Collins, adding that the changing the Constitution is premature and divisive.

http://news.mainetoday.com/apwire/D84RKM2G1-245.shtml

This looks like a job for

OBVIOUSMAN!

Gee. Thanks, Senator Collins, for actually making a public statement of what should be common sense. It galls me that someone actually has to SAY this, let alone a senator. It's even worse that the hard righties, upon hearing it, scoff. What a bunch of maroons.

...they just want them to accept what is there without debate, without changes, without discussion. Too bad, some of the flock are not sheep but rams! Come on over and vote for Kerry/Edwards.

and willpower they still think for themselves?

They must've somehow managed to pass on the coolade... even McCain is shilling wholeheartedly.

Switch parties, and become the most powerful people in Washington.

If Snowe and Collins just switch to IND, then they would hold the balance of power in the Senate. Even after the election, probably.

They have broken ranks enough that it's not too far-fetched. And they would help their own re-election bids in the process. Because distancing yourselves from the NeoCons is the new Republican survival tactic.

>>Bennett said he believes the language in the platform is more of an expression of President Bush´s beliefs than that of rank-and-file Republicans.

"People don´t really expect candidates to fully adhere to the platform. It´s a summary of a party´s center gravity," Bennett said.<<

Someone forgot to tell George Bush, because he expects party minions to toe the party line.

Delegates to the Republican National Convention approved the party's platform on August 31, 2004 as follows:

Security

Support the war in Iraq and government anti-terrorist efforts.
Implement further bio-defense tactics to become less vulnerable to biological attacks.
Strengthen national border control to stop illegal crossings through better tools, technology and sufficient force.
Establish minimum safety requirements at critical infrastructure such as chemical plants.
Increase the quality and quantity of human intelligence collection and investing more in technology.

Civil rights

Support a constitutional amendment that would prevent legal same-sex marriage. Oppose legal recognition of gay unions, including shared employee benefits.
Oppose abortion and support parental notification laws.
Fight the approval of judges the Republican Party calls activist to prevent rulings in areas such as same-sex marriage, abortion rights and the use of the Pledge of Allegiance.
Oppose federal licensing of gun owners and national gun registration.
Reject quotas and preferences based on skin color, ethnicity or gender.
Further efforts to require welfare recipients to work.
Double the funding for education on abstinence as a family planning method.
Work for the return of voluntary school prayer to schools.

Economy

Strengthen and enhance Social Security and increase private investment options.
Extend tax deductions to the insurance premiums associated with Health Savings Accounts.
Prevent taxes on families from rising, make the tax relief of 2001 and 2003 permanent and simplify tax code.
Address the alternative minimum tax as a second tax system for individuals.
Limit government spending.
Enact fundamental reforms to transition the Amtrak passenger rail system into operational self-sufficiency.

Energy

Work for an energy policy that increases production and conservation.
Remove unnecessary barriers to domestic natural gas production and support development of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Education

Reform high schools and early education, expanding on efforts in elementary schools under No Child Left Behind.
Make it easier for professionals to enter the classroom through alternative methods of teacher certifications.

Health Care

Reduce the cost of health care by aiding small businesses in offering coverage to employees, providing access to coverage for the self-employed and reducing lawsuits through litigation reform.
Endorse limits on stem cell research.