The news coverage of the effort to protect the institution of marriage from redefinition by liberal activist judges is stunning in its cynicism. This story describing the U.S. Senate’s failure to pass by a two-thirds vote a proposed constitutional amendment is typical.
The coverage assumes that proponents of the marriage amendment are motivated by election-year politics, while opponents are pure defenders of the Constitution. This subtle bias infects much of the mainstream media’s coverage of politics. Conservatives are presumed to be politically motivated, while liberals are presumed to be motivated by principle. Often the reverse is true.
On this issue, let’s be clear — many people believe liberal judges should not have the authority to redefine marriage for the nation. They believe marriage should be preserved as the union of one man and one woman. And they are willing to enter the political arena, usually reluctantly, because this principle is so important and so foundational.
