New Campaign Against Gay Marriage
BLITZER: In our "Security Watch" this Friday, new wrangling over cuts in anti-terror funding in New York City. The Congressman Peter King, of New York, sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff laying out his concerns. King is the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee. And he may be setting a stage for a hearing on funding priorities. Adding to the controversy today, the Homeland Security Department's assessment that New York and Washington, D.C. are at a lower risk for a terror attack. Our national correspondent, Bob Franken, has more on the tough questions for the Homeland Security Department. -- Bob?</s>BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, often the war on terror unifies the country. Not this time.</s>MICHAEL CHERTOFF, SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY: The measure of protection for a community is not driven just by whether that community's politicians control the spending of money.</s>FRANKEN (voice-over): The political leaders of Washington, and particularly New York, are contemplating whatever pressure they can exert to reverse 40 percent cuts in anti-terrorism funds. What is perhaps most troubling to many New Yorkers was the conclusion by Homeland Security that the city had no national monuments or icons to protect.</s>REP. CAROL MALONEY, (D) NEW YORK: I mean have they been to Wall Street? Have they been to the financial district? Have they been to the -- all the important museums and national icons that we have in our city?</s>FRANKEN: Federal funds for the two September 11 targets, New York and Washington, are being cut back this year in favor of smaller cities.</s>CHERTOFF: Some communities are operating from a low level of preparedness. Those deserve extra weight.</s>FRANKEN: Communities, like Omaha, Charlotte, Louisville and Orlando, which has a few icons of its own, that have complained they've been overlooked until now.</s>KEVIN BEARY, SHERIFF, ORANGE COUNTY, FLORIDA, SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT: I'm sure glad to be one of those 46 groups that got it. So show me the money.</s>FRANKEN: But the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee is irate. Peter King, of New York, says he'll try and make someone very sorry.</s>CHERTOFF: I hope that we don't confuse disappointment with grants with a desire to exact retribution.</s>FRANKEN: Attacks can happen, says Chertoff, not just in Washington or New York. But that is where he has to worry about that retribution. -- Wolf?</s>BLITZER: Bob Franken, thank you. And New York lawmakers are protesting their reduction in Homeland Security funds big time. And there's nothing subtle about their new campaign on-line. Our Internet reporter, Abbi Tatton, has more. -- Abbi?</s>ABBI TATTON, CNN INTERNET REPORTER: Wolf, Democratic Senator from New York, Hillary Clinton, and Republican Congressman Pete King, have teamed up to encourage New Yorkers to send post cards of recognizable icons and landmarks to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. To, in their words, remind him that these places exist. The lawmakers have a few examples of their own, like this post card here from Shea Stadium. They write, Dear Secretary Chertoff: "Since its opening, Shea Stadium has attracted more than 73 million fans." They've got more of them -- the Brooklyn Bridge. They write on the back of that one a few facts about that bridge. "Wish you were here, Hillary and Pete." Yesterday, in a speech, Secretary Chertoff defended the funding decision. And he said attacks on him personally is not a way to drive funding decisions. -- Wolf?</s>BLITZER: Abbi, thank you very much. And remember, stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security. There's a developing story we're following. Zain Verjee is joining us now with more. What is going on, Zain?</s>VERJEE: Wolf, a Lear jet has crashed into waters about half a mile off Groton, Connecticut. We want to show you some live pictures from our affiliate WFSB. Officials saying that two people have been killed. Three people have been injured. The plane was apparently coming from Atlantic City in New Jersey. And it was heading to Groton, New London Airport. As you can see from the pictures, the Coast Guard is on the scene. They are working on this wreckage and trying to cut away parts of the plane, and get to any possible victims. The Associated Press, Wolf, reporting that two people are missing. And it appears as though they could be the pilots. A dive team is also there on site. The fire and rescue crew there as well. But the thing is, Wolf, is that the weather is really bad right now. There are reports of rain and storm in the area. It's also quite foggy and that's a little bit difficult for the situation. One more thing is the fire department has transported the three people that have been injured to a hospital. Their condition is described as non-threatening. -- Wolf?</s>BLITZER: All right, Zain. We'll get more information and bring it to our viewers. Thank you. Other news we're following, in the culture wars, just in time for Gay Pride Week, President Bush and republicans are launching a new campaign against same sex marriage. The president plans a big White House push on Monday for a constitutional ban on gay marriage before a senate vote on this very hot button issue. Our congressional correspondent, Dana Bash, is following this story. She is joining us now live from Capitol Hill. -- Dana?</s>DANA BASH, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, senate republican leaders are say a federal ban on same sex marriage is critical because several state laws doing the same are being challenged in court. But activists on all sides of this issue say what is really motivating the senate debate plan for next week is raw election year politics.</s>BASH (voice-over): Republicans gay rights activists are going door to door on Capitol Hill.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Asking Senator Specter to oppose the marriage amendment.</s>BASH: Urging senators to vote against a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.</s>PATRICK GUERREIRO, LOG CABIN REPUBLICANS: Good republicans don't believe you should get distracted from cutting taxes and controlling federal spending and winning the war on terrorism by embracing these kinds of socially extremist views.</s>BASH: To social conservatives, prohibiting same-sex marriage is a top priority. These ads are targeting senators in more than a dozen states.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Homosexual activists don't care if children are deprived of a mom or dad. Only a constitutional amendment can protect marriage from attack.</s>BASH: The Senate vote is expected to fall far short of the two- thirds majority needed to amendment the constitution. But to conservative groups, like the Family Research Council, that's beside the point. They say GOP leaders must debate issues, like a gay marriage ban, if they want disillusioned conservatives to vote in November.</s>PETER SPRIGG, FAMILY RESEARCH COUNCIL: We don't have an interest in reelecting a republican congress if they are not willing to fight for pro-familiar issues.</s>BASH: Social conservatives are frustrated with republicans in Washington and this issue is exhibit</s>A. GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The union of a man and woman deserves an honored place in our society.</s>BASH: In 2004, President Bush and republican congressional leaders talked up a federal ban on gay marriage to galvanize social conservatives in key swing states. Since then the president has been virtually silent. And the rank and file feels abandoned.</s>RICHARD VIGURIE, CONSERVATIVE ACTIVIST: I do. I think it's too little, too late.</s>BASH: Veteran activist, Richard Vigurie, says voting on same sex marriage now looks insincere.</s>VIGURIE: If they will try to mollify the conservatives, placate them at the margins, at the edges. They will try to throw a little bone here, a little bone there. But I just don't see that they really do understand that we are dead serious, that we have been betrayed.</s>BASH: But even for conservatives, this is issue is not clear cut. Some, like Senator John McCain, even Congressman Tom DeLay, for that matter, believe that this is the wrong thing to do. They say that the true Republican position, Wolf, is to let states decide issues like this, not the federal government, and certainly not to amend the Constitution.</s>BLITZER: Dana, very quickly, since it's unlikely to get the two- thirds majority in the Senate, it's clearly not going to go anywhere this year. What about the counter argument that this could backfire against Republicans, against the president, Bill Frist, by suggesting, at a time where there are so many other pressing issues that need the attention of congress, they're focusing in on this, which really has no chance of getting off the ground. What do they say to that argument that it could be counter-productive politically?</s>BASH: That is exactly the argument that certainly opponents of this measure are making. What leaders here say is that this is something that they believe is supported by the issues, the majority of Americans. And what they are hoping, even though they won't get two-thirds, Wolf, is that they will increase the vote. Last time, around 48 senators voted for it. This time they believe they will get at least a majority. They think they will prove their point at least symbolically that most Americans -- at least certainly most of the Senate, even though it won't be a supermajority -- do believe banning same-sex marriage is important.</s>BLITZER: Dana, thank you very much. And Dana will be covering the story for us Monday. We'll have extensive coverage here in the "SITUATION ROOM." The debate over same-sex marriage heating up here in Washington. Up next, much more in our top story. Will the multiple investigations over U.S. troop misconduct in Iraq affect politics back here? Bill Press and Terry Jeffrey, they're standing by to join us live in today's "Strategy Session." And later, Congressman James Sensenbrenner sticks to his guns and comes out a winner. Does he? We'll explain. Sick around. You're in the "SITUATION ROOM."