Yahoo! News - Republicans Endorse Ban on Gay Marriages
NEW YORK - Republicans endorsed an uncompromising position against gay unions Wednesday in a manifesto that contrasts with Vice President Dick Cheney's supportive comments about gay rights and the moderate face the party will show at next week's national convention.

A panel made up largely of conservative delegates approved platform language that calls for a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage and opposes legal recognition of any sort for gay civil unions.

The draft urges a constitutional ban on abortion, echoing a call from previous platforms, and endorses President Bush's restrictions on federal financing of stem cell research. Some Republicans want the restrictions loosened.

Is this what you want Amercia? Leadership that will restrict your freedom? Now that they have solidified the platform, I really, really wish I could be there to protest.

Among the key prime-time speakers at next week's convention are moderate Republicans like former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Bush has walked a fine line in convention planning, trying to woo undecided swing voters by presenting a moderate face of the party in prime time without alienating his conservative base supporters.

Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe said the platform showed Republicans were going to "fake" moderation, "but the American people need to look no further than their platform to see who they really are."

They have made lying an art form, and they will continue to do it at the convention. Let's stick Arnie and Rudy up there to appear moderate while we hide the real agenda of the Religious Right. Wake up people before it's too late. Will the moderates ever have the guts to take back the Republican Party?