OFFMEN International

Washington - With the situation in Iraq all but stable, high gasoline prices weighing on the minds of US consumers, large federal deficits, a national debate over immigration reform and a crisis brewing over Iran's nuclear programme, President George W Bush chose to defend the institution of marriage in his weekly radio address.

The address, and a subsequent televised speech on the same issue Monday, is part of an effort to shore up Bush's conservative base ahead of congressional elections in November.

The president's approval rating has hovered just above 30 per cent in recent weeks, as the war in Iraq and high gas prices weigh on the minds of Americans.

The majorities that Bush's Republican Party enjoys in the US House of Representatives and Senate are expected to shrink in November and it is possible, though not certain, that opposition Democrats will win control of one or both chambers of Congress. This would likely put an end to Bush's agenda and make him much less effective in his last two years in office.

To get his core supporters involved, Bush picked gay marriage as an issue to speak out on. The US Senate is currently debating whether to amend the US Constitution to define marriage as the union between a man and a woman.

You know, years and years ago, I wouldnt have had a problem with this, but now that I have a kid a lot of my views inside myself have changed: some for the better some for the worse, on a social scale. I think supporting marrage between a man and a woman is a good thing. A child needs both and man and a woman in their lives to grow properly....in my humble opinion. I dont really care about the gay bullshit per say but more about the union between man and a woman. Just my 2 cents....I am sure this will piss some of you off, but if you cant stand up for w hat you believe in, you might as well not stand at all.....