Post suggested support for same-sex marriage ban is “pro-marriage”

In an article about the potential political impact from evangelical leader and same-sex marriage opponent Ted Haggard's alleged relationship with a male prostitute, The Denver Post appeared to characterize support for a state constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage as “pro-marriage.”

In a November 3 article about the potential political fallout from evangelical leader and same-sex marriage opponent Ted Haggard's alleged relationship with a male prostitute, The Denver Post appeared to characterize support for a state constitutional amendment seeking to ban same-sex marriage as “pro-marriage.”

The article, by staff writers Karen E. Crummy and Kevin Simpson, reported that -- according to University of Florida political science professor Dan Smith -- “the percolating charges” surrounding Haggard “may have the effect of neutralizing any pro-marriage reverberations from the recent New Jersey Supreme Court ruling." The Post further reported, “That court decision, which mandates legalization of either marriage or civil unions for gay couples, was seized by proponents of the gay-marriage ban as evidence of 'activist judges' threatening traditional marriage.” While the Post article appeared to attribute the “pro-marriage” statement to Smith, it did not quote him directly in that paragraph.

Amendment 43 on Colorado's November 7 ballot seeks to amend the state constitution “by defining marriage in Colorado as only a union between one man and one woman.”

From the November 3 Denver Post article by Karen E. Crummy and Kevin Simpson, “Haggard sex allegations could shape votes, political observers say”:

A recent Denver Post poll showed that voters were ready to ban gay marriage but endorse legal benefits for same-sex couples.

Many voters in Colorado have already cast absentee ballots or voted early, making the controversy somewhat less of a factor, said GOP political consultant Katy Atkinson.

Coloradans for Marriage, which has overseen the campaign for Amendment 43 to ban gay marriage, issued a brief statement.

“This is a difficult situation for Pastor Haggard and his family,” said executive director Jon Paul. “However, we will not let this distract us with our efforts to pass the Colorado marriage amendment to define marriage as a union between one man and one woman.”

But the percolating charges may have the effect of neutralizing any pro-marriage reverberations from the recent New Jersey Supreme Court ruling, said Dan Smith, a University of Florida political science professor. That court decision, which mandates legalization of either marriage or civil unions for gay couples, was seized by proponents of the gay-marriage ban as evidence of “activist judges” threatening traditional marriage.

The allegations regarding Haggard, a key member of the coalition that drafted Amendment 43, raise what Smith called “the H-question: hypocrisy.”

“I'm not sure how that plays out in ballot issues, but as one of the proponents and drafters, it's the scarlet letter H that can affect that campaign,” said Smith, who tracks ballot issues nationwide.