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==Political considerations==
===Bush administration's stance===
Early in January of 2005, Bush told the [[Washington Post]] that although he still supported the amendment, he would not lobby heavily for the passage because he believed that until a federal court overturned the [[Defense of Marriage Act]], there would not be enough votes for passage. [[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]] [[Dick Cheney]] has neither endorsed or condemned the FMA, arguing that same-sex marriage is an issue for the states to decide.<ref>Kaufman, Marc; Allen, Maike. (25 August 2004) [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A29862-2004Aug24.html "Cheney Sees Gay Marriage as State Issue"] ''[[Washington Post]]''. Accessed 30 June 2006.</ref>
On [[January 25]], [[2005]], according to the [[New York Times]], Bush told a privately invited group of [[African-American]] [[community]] and [[religion|religious leaders]] that he remained committed to amending the Constitution to "ban same-sex marriage".<ref>Bumiller, Elizabeth. (26 January 2005) [http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/26/national/26bush.html "President Discusses Issues With Black Leaders"] ''[[New York Times]]''. Accessed 30 June 2006.</ref> Over the course of the next two days, it was revealed by the Washington Post and [[USA Today]] that the Bush Administration had paid columnists to promote its views on marriage. The [[Department of Health and Human Services]] paid [[Maggie Gallagher]] $21,500, and [[Michael McManus (columnist) | Mike McManus]] $49,000, to write syndicated news columns endorsing the FMA.<ref>(26 January 2005) [http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-01-26-bush-columnists_x.htm "Bush to agencies: Don't hire columnists to promote agendas"] [[Associated Press]]. Accessed 30 June 30 2006.</ref><ref>Drinkard, Jim; Memmott, Mark. (27 January 2005) [http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-01-27-hhs_x.htm "HHS says it paid columnist for help"] ''[[USA Today]]''. Accessed 30 June 2006.</ref> Additionally, Gallagher also received $20,000 in 2002 and 2003 to write a report on government initiatives to strengthen marriage. McManus leads a group called "Marriage Savers" that works with other organizations to promotepromoting marriage as defined between a man and a woman.{{Fact|date=September 2007}}
The FMA has also been divisivea insomewhat Presidentdivision Bush'sissue within the [[Republican partyParty]], dividing them by region; Northeastern Republicans aregenerally opposed tooppose the amendment while Southern and Midwestern Republicans support it.{{Fact|date=September 2007}}▼
[[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]] [[Dick Cheney]] (whose daughter, [[Mary Cheney]], is lesbian<ref>Kramer, Linda. (4 May 2006) [http://people.aol.com/people/article/0,26334,1191271,00.html "Mary Cheney Opens Up on Dad, Gay Marriage"] ''[[People magazine|People]]''. Accessed 30 June 2006.</ref>) has declined to endorse or condemn the FMA, maintaining that same-sex marriage is an issue for the states.<ref>Kaufman, Marc; Allen, Maike. (25 August 2004) [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A29862-2004Aug24.html "Cheney Sees Gay Marriage as State Issue"] ''[[Washington Post]]''. Accessed 30 June 2006.</ref>
▲The FMA has also been divisive in President Bush's Republican party, dividing them by region; Northeastern Republicans are opposed to the amendment while Southern Republicans support it.
===Influence on 2004 presidential election===
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