John Cornyn: “I want to address the motion to proceed to the amendment now pending before the body, the Federal marriage amendment.…”

“I want to address the motion to proceed to the amendment now pending before the body, the Federal marriage amendment. One of the arguments that I hear again and again--I guess I am so shocked and amazed that somebody would actually make the argument that I perhaps have not done a very good job in responding to it. For the record, I think it is important to respond to the argument that has been made twice this afternoon on the floor by the Senator from Wisconsin and the Senator from Maryland, that the constitutional amendment process is for expanding and not limiting rights. In other words, they think the only permissible purpose of a constitutional amendment is to expand, not limit individual rights, presumably including the right to same-sex marriage. These are the same people who accuse supporters of wanting to 'write discrimination into the Constitution.' I find the argument disturbing and offensive, but I also find it somewhat revealing.”