To the Editor,

In 2004 in an effort to boost support and rally conservative voters, Karl Rove interjected the issue of gay marriage, and the possibility of an unlikely Constitutional Amendment, into that year’s presidential campaign. Before that the issue was largely silent, even among gay rights activists. The campaign was successful and the victorious Bush administration went on to make no attempts at such an amendment, because the votes were already garnered and the support was no longer needed. E

ver since then gay marriage has become the red herring issue that Republicans everywhere use to rally support from a homophobic public. The North Carolina Republican Party has learned this lesson well, and are trying to do the same. With all the issues facing our State conservative leaders have decided to champion a Constitutional Amendment banning gay marriage.

Much of the energy that the Republican dominated legislature has been geared toward strengthening their party stance and insuring they all get reelected. Little energy seems to go in any direction that is practical or necessary for the betterment of the people of North Carolina. So no one should be surprised at this move. But for a moment we should put aside our feelings and opinions on homosexuals, and consider what this means to all North Carolinians, and we will see the issue at hand goes beyond gay marriage and is much more profound.

The North Carolina Constitution, like the Federal Constitution, is a list of rules and regulations to be followed by the government and governing officials. Not on individuals. That is what laws are for. North Carolina State Law already defines marriage as being between one man and one woman. So an amendment is not needed at all as long as that law is on the books.

True, laws can be changed, but so can Constitutions. To pass such an amendment such as this sets a dangerous precedent and changes that very purpose and ideology of what a Constitution should be. It is ironic that those who support this amendment are also the conservatives that claim a fear of big government. The reality is, they only fear big government when it applies to them, not to others. When it is being applied to others, the bigger the better, and they are willing to completely reinvent the governing ideology our system was founded on to create it.

Cory Joe Stewart

Mount Airy