This morning, George Bush declared that he thinks states should have the right to declare whether or not they should civil unions. However, the Musgrave (Hate) Amendment that the President supports EXPLICTLY prohibits civil unions.
Here's the text of that amendment.
"Marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman. Neither this constitution or the constitution of any state, nor state or federal law, shall be construed to require that marital status or the legal incidents thereof be conferred upon unmarried couples or groups."
The Amendment clearly says "no state law...shall be construed to require...the legal incidents (of marriage)."
He's lying so he can pander to the middle a week before the election. The only problem for him is that it takes a long time to run back to the middle when you've spent four years running to the right.
I'm a second year law student and this is just my interpretation of the amendment. If you think I'm reading the amendment incorrectly, I'd love to hear it.