This is gratifying. According

Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

This is gratifying.

According to this post on the Democratic Underground website, there are already at least 34 senators on record opposing a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriages.

And if that’s true, then it’s game, set, match, since the amendment would require supermajorities in both houses of Congress unless the president wants to have the states call for a constitutional convention on banning gay marriage.

Now, I haven’t fact-checked each name on the list. But I did a quick spot-check of a few names that I was surprised (and gratified) to see on the list, and they all checked out.

What most caught my eye is that, according to the list, there are eight Republicans who have already come out against: Alexander, Chafee, Collins, Hagel, Lugar, McCain, and Snowe. John Breaux (D-LA) — one name that I confirmed — is down as opposing as well.

Late Update: My own research seems to show that at least one of the Republicans noted, McCain, has left some room for possibly supporting an amendment, but appears to be signalling opposition.

Here’s what the Arizona Republic said today about McCain’s stance …

“Marriage should be limited to a man and a woman,” Sen. John McCain said after President Bush’s announcement Tuesday that he backs such an amendment.

But McCain, a Republican, said, “My preference is for the states to resolve the issue,” and “I will reserve judgment on a constitutional amendment until I am able to carefully review the language.”

Sounds like he’s against. But we’ll see.

On the other hand, even Senator George Allen (R-VA), who’s generally considered to be allied with the religious right, seems to be expressing some skepticism. “I am going to listen to all the analyses of why the statute we have on the books will not hold up,” he tells the Times in Thursday’s paper.

Latest Editors' Blog
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Associate Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: