To answer your question, how would granting gay and lesbian couples the benefits and protections of marriage  diminish the sanctity of my own 22 year old hetero marriage. It wouldn't. Another question to consider is; How would the consequences of passing this amendment effect the intimate lives of gay people and what would it feel like? Also, how would passing this amendment have an effect on straight people? How are "christians" perceived when they would seek to destroy the possibility of two people who want to be married to each other?

Florida has laws banning same-gender marriages in the state and recognition of any from any other state or country. So this amendment isn't about protecting the sanctity of hetero marriages in our state. What Stemberger, and supporters of the so-called marriage protection amendment are attempting to do is oblivious. Defying the "Separation and State" by writing their religious views of bigotry and discrimination into our states constitution. They constantly deny it, but, let there be no doubt that the wording of the amendment was carefully selected. It was calculated choice to allow them to come back in the near future to challenge domestic partnerships. In an effort to strip existing benefits, protections and rights granted by domestic partnerships. However, this will not only effect same-gender couples, it will adversely effect hetero couples as well.

I believe Floridian's aren't as stupid as Florida4Marriage, the GOP, Stemberger and Liberty Council think they are. They're smart enough to see through this smoke screen of bigotry and discrimination against their gay and hetero fellow citizens and will not vote to pass this amendment.

Brendan to answer your question, should my 28 year committed and loving relationship with my life partner ever became a marriage, civil union or whatever it may be called. Would it diminish the sanctity of your 22 year or any other hetero marriage? The answer is absolutely not, Massachusetts and Vermont has proven this to be true. Hetero marriages haven't imploded, if anything, same-gender marriages/civil unions have lowered the 50% plus divorce rate in those states.

Too bad Mr. McLaughlin answered the question for Mr. Stemberger when the latter was choking on the question "How will two guys getting married threaten MY marriage"? Mclaughlin threw him the "slippery slope" rope just in time!
And speaking of choking, that FORCED SMILE on Stemberger's face looked like he was choking on a chicken bone. God, I hope this state overwhelmingly votes this piece of crap amendment down, but I'm not optimistic; people love to bash the gays and we're only 10% of the population....

Anyone who follows politics knows this amendment is about firing up the bigots and bible-beaters to vote because that demographic votes Republican. It worked for Bushie and brought us 8 years of pure hell. I hope the electorate has had enough of this born-again B.S. and will send a message to the evangelical movement: out of the voting booth and back to the pews with you! You're too delusional to lead the country...

It is unbelievable that people spend time and energy trying to quash things that don't fit in their "mold" of the world.  Hate begets hate and love begets love.
Life is too short to continue discriminating and spreading ill will.
Soldiers, Sailors, Airman and Marines are dieing every day for civil freedoms around the world and hate campaigns like these only serve to diminish those brave individuals' sacrifices.

Stop the madness.  Put those energies toward spreading compassion.

Tim Russert you're Not! A 'Moderator' does not allow his own views to come into play, which yours were quite evident. Just because a group finally stands up to another groups belief system does Not make them 'intolerant, Bible-bashers, ultra right-wing, bigoted', etc folks. precisely what they're being accused of IS what the accusers Are = Totally Intolerant !! If the shoe fits, take it off. Even my teenagers saw the one-sidedness of the whole program. Yes, Floridians are smarter then the brain-washing, biased media makes us out to be. So, let your voice be HEARD !
The very foundation of Every culture/nation is the strong family unit. Now, re-define it, and one has a very weak, penetrable society. Study history, it does repeat itself !

Interesting that Rivkah commented that history repeats itself.  Every time in history that people have begun ruling civil society with their religious beliefs, it has turned out disasterous.  When it gets extreme, people revolt, blood is shed, and it leads to disenchantment with religion and/or severe restrictions placed upon religious groups.  And yet, people still think that they can impose their religious beliefs on others because they believe it to be God's will.  Jesus never took this approach; quite the opposite, but yet some Christians always believe that their tactics are God's will.  It reminds me of Mahatma Ghandi's response when someone asked him what he thought about Christianity.  He said that he liked our Christ, he didn't like our Christians, they are so unlike our Christ.

I just have a deep gut-conviction that same-sex marriage is an elemental distortion of the laws of nature that would lead us in a direction that would only further weaken the flimsy moral fabric of this country.  Partner benefits?  Maybe.  Marriage?  NO.  Redundant, turgid expression of opinion?  Perhaps....

I am not going to comment on my opinion on the amendment.  My comment is about Brendan.  A good moderator would not make comments such as, "I would have to argue that...." That indicates that it is your personal view.  Why not say, "Some may argue that..." or "how do you respond to those who say..." It is one thing if you were a publicly proclaimed liberal or conservative like many well-known talk show hosts but since the setup for the show is to act like a moderator than do so.

You know, first it is said that gays lead promiscuous lives, but when they want to pledge their lives to another, the religious right doesn't want that either. This is America, and while they enjoy certain freedoms because of that, at the same tiime, they think they have the right to restrict others' freedoms. If your marriage is that fragile, your gay neighbor is not going to affect that one way or the other. He was not very well spoken and his arguments bordered on idiotic. By the way, I am not gay, yet I don't see any way they can affect my marriage.

From a legal standpoint this issue is addressed by current Florida law.  

Despite the fact that I hold a Canadian same-sex marriage certificate I disagree with this amendent on the shear grounds that it is a waste of time, money and energy.

Why do we need ANOTHER state law (separate from the national law) to define marriage?  Seriously??? Is this the best use of legislation?