BUSH [video clip]: This week, the Senate begins debate on the Marriage Protection Amendment. And I call on the Congress to pass this amendment, send it to the states for ratification, so we can take this issue out of the hands of overreaching judges and put it back where it belongs, in the hands of the American people.
GIBSON: That was President Bush a few hours ago announcing his support for a constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriages.
Will the move help him with the GOP base voters? Let's ask Susan Turnbull, vice chair of the Democratic National Committee, and Gary Bauer, a former Republican presidential candidate and current president of American Values, a D.C.-area nonprofit organization. So, Gary, if I can start with you.
BAUER: Sure.
GIBSON: This came up short last time. And all the nose counters say it's going to come up short this time. So what is the point of trotting this out again?
BAUER: Well, there's a couple of points, John. First of all, it's going to get more votes this time than it did the last time. And second of all, the point is that it's important. You know, the American people think it's important. Voters in 19 states have gone through extraordinary lengths to collect in some cases hundreds of thousands, totally millions of signatures to put this issue on the ballot in those states, and in every one of those states, the American people voted overwhelmingly to keep marriage in the United States between a man and a woman. I'm glad the president has thrown his weight behind this proposal again. I think he has done the right thing, and, quite frankly, I'm surprised that Democrats really want to stand in the way or be perceived by the public as not being sympathetic.