I see Gay people

So we've decided to placate a small but vocal segment of our society by discriminating against another small but vocal segment of our population.

I know. Most states have already passed bans on gay marriage. So, that reflects the will of the people, right? Well, people have been wrong before.

But, if so many states already have these bans, and the insidious Defense of Marriage Act allows said states to ignore the marriage laws of other states that allow gay marriage (Massachusetts, anyway), why, exactly do we need a Constitutional amendment?

As wrong-headed and bigoted as these bans are, they work fine without writing discrimination into the Federal Constitution as well. In fact, you might expect the States Rights, Limited Federal Powers Republican party to leave the issue to the states on principle.

Why, oh why, then, is the federal government all in a tizzy about gay marriage?

Let me check my calendar. Oh, yes. An election year. And really, what principle is higher than getting reelected?