| Baldwin feels that the amendment is clearly a political election tool placed on the ballot at this time to swing the November election and not a substantive initiative based on honest conviction. "There are those who just engage in divisive politics and try to pick issues that divide people," Baldwin emphasized in an interview after the meeting. "We're seeing that in the immigration debate. We see that in this debate over marriage. We have to stop these in their tracks or who knows who the next group will be." Baldwin has observed what these initiatives have done in previous elections, particularly the 2004 election. "These marriage constitutional amendments have been placed on the ballots in other states and the organizers have felt they have served their ends politically by whom they bring out to the polls," Baldwin said. "It encourages other states to engage in the same sort of practice. That's an important reason why Wisconsin needs to fight this back so that we don';t have these divisive tools used in other places that haven't faced them yet." While the proposed constitutional amendment could have a statewide impact on the governor's race in November, it could also have an impact on local races as well, including the Second Congressional District. "The voters will have a clear voice in terms of one candidate who supports the amendment and one who is going to vocally oppose the amendment," Baldwin asserted. "There will be sharp differences drawn in the race for Congress because of that." While Baldwin is one of the few openly gay members of Congress, her concerns about the amendment are philosophical and practical concerns about Wisconsin's future. "Constitutions are foundational documents," Baldwin said. "They set forth the rules of our democracy. But in terms of their treatment of individual citizens, we have used the state constitutions and the federal constitution to expand horizons, aspirations, and rights. The Bill of Rights is where we gave additional groups of people the right to vote, people of color and women, and lowered the voting age to 18 years old. It's where we expand opportunities. And so using the state constitution or the U.S. Constitution in a discriminatory manner is just a break from the tradition that we shouldn't break from." Baldwin also feels that the proposed amendment, if passed, could adversely affect Wisconsin's competitiveness in the national and global economies. "It does harm to our role in this country as one of the leading innovators," Baldwin said. "It does harm in terms of having a cutting edge academic institution and the world-renown research we do here. Any state that essentially by amending its constitution closes its doors to certain people will feel the results and they will harm everyone." Baldwin believes that Wisconsin will be the first state to turn back a "gay marriage" constitutional amendment. "I think the voters of theSecond Congressional District are going to vote to defeat this amendment," Baldwin predicted. "I think the people of this area of Wisconsin understand [the politics] and will act accordingly." |
| Wisconsin Organization for Asian Americans 2006 Unity Potluck Constitutional Politics by Jonathan Gramling |
 |
| U.S. Representative Tammy Baldwin spoke at the WOAA event. |
| On April 29 at its 2006 Unity Potluck, the Wisconsin Organization for Asian Americans (WOAA) weighed the impact of the proposed amendment to the Wisconsin constitution to ban civil unions and marriage rights for same-sex couples that will be voted on during the November election. The approximately 50 people in attendance heard Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin voice her objections to the amendment. |
 |
| Homepage July 12, 2006 Archives |