CLEVELAND, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- Sen. John Edwards called President George W. Bush's proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage unnecessary according to the letter of the law.
"There is absolutely no purpose in the law and in reality for this amendment. It is nothing but a political bill. And it's being used in an effort to divide this country on an issue that we should not be dividing America on," Edwards, D-N.C., said during Tuesday's vice presidential debate in Cleveland.
Speaking on the Massachusetts Supreme Court decision to permit same-sex marriage, Edwards defended the position of the Democratic presidential candidate, John Kerry. Edwards said Kerry thinks marriage should be defined as between a man and a woman, but also said he believes gays and lesbians should be treated respectfully and deserved benefits, including visitation rights at hospitals.
Vice President Dick Cheney, who said four years ago, "Freedom means freedom for everybody" with respect to gay rights, said Tuesday he believes marriage should be regulated on the state level but that he supports President George Bush's policy and thinks the Massachusetts Supreme Court decision was "the wrong way to go."
