Constitutional Ban

Urged on by President George W. Bush, the U.S. Senate on Monday debated a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage that both backers and opponents say has little chance of passage.

Bush, speaking out again on the hot-button election-year issue, and other advocates said the amendment would prevent "activist judges" from striking down existing state laws that prohibit same-sex marriage.

Opponents said the measure was a transparent attempt to shore up support among social conservatives before November's congressional election, in a similar manner to the 2004 presidential campaign, when Congress should be dealing with issues like high gasoline prices and the war in Iraq.

"The reason for this debate is to divide our society, to pit one against another," Minority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, said.

"It's this administration's way of avoiding the tough, the real problems that American citizens are confronted with each and every day."

Bush pressed the issue before supporters at the White House.

"State legislatures are trying to address this issue, but across the country they are being thwarted by activist judges who are overturning the express will of their people," he insisted at the news conference.