The same-sex marriage debate Legislation is deeply rooted in language and the ongoing process of interpretation. Laws are created in response to cultural and social needs, desires, and norms, and are restructured and interpreted as these desires and standards change over time. The importance of the words chosen and the syntax used to translate society's standards into legislation are amplified over time because they are continually deconstructed, examined and analyzed. As these laws are enforced and questioned by society, politicians must examine them and then change them through discourse and dialogue. As current feelings towards marriage are shifting and changing, politicians must begin to examine our nation's legislation that dictates how marriage works in our country. They must attempt to create a policy that is ethical and constitutional while at the same time accurately representing the views of the majority. The issue of same-sex marriage has become prominent in recent elections due to the actions of courts and local officials in both California and Massachusetts. . President Bush has proposed an amendment that would limit marriage rights to only heterosexual couples in all states. Many government officials believed this was unnecessary due to the success of the Defense of Marriage Act of 1996, which John Kerry, who would run against George W. Bush in 2004, spoke out against. The law passed both the House and the House of Representatives. Senate with overwhelming majorities. Because of the media attention given to the same-sex marriage debate this election year, voters of both parties have examined the arguments made by both Bush and Kerry for and against legislation restricting marriage rights . By examining... middle of the paper... the human element of the marriage debate, liberals like John Kerry can appeal to that portion of the American population who is concerned about the preservation and expansion of citizen rights but The approach conservative to exploit the weaknesses and fears of the conservative heterosexual faction of the American population, can offer a scapegoat. Many people believe that this issue was brought into the spotlight to distract people from the deplorable state of Bush's war in Iraq. It gave the conservative base an enemy to mobilize against. It provided conservatives everywhere with a cohesion that was lost to the state of war. By examining how each candidate structured their argument considering same-sex marriage legislation, it is possible to better understand the interaction between the two sides on a national and personal level..