Of all the issues facing America today – “war” on terrorism, soldiers dying in Iraq, nuclear showdown in the Middle East, record budget deficits, lack of universal health care, education system in crisis, border security, personal privacy regarding the NSA – this is what Mr. Bush puts as a priority.

President Bush has called for a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriages. Mr Bush used his weekly radio address to deliver a plea for the US Senate to formally define marriage as the union of man and woman. He said the measure was needed because “activist courts” left no alternative. Amending the US Constitution requires approval by two-thirds of the House of Representatives and Senate and three-fourths of the 50 state legislatures. Lawmakers say the amendment is unlikely to pass.

Regardless of your views on gay marriage, this is the most cynical politics the US has seen in modern times. Bush says he’s against a “litmus test” for appointing judges, but he’s in fact set up a “litmus test” for members of Congress with this issue so that conservative politicians can point to folks who voted against this as out of touch, gay-loving liberals who have nothing in common with middle America. The American Constitution is one of the most brilliant documents in the history of civilization. Putting a gay marriage amendment in the Constitution would be like pasting a Garbage Pail Kids sticker on the Mona Lisa.

What a message to send out to budding democracies around the world – choose posturing self-serving wedge topics to polarize citizens to achieve your political ends while creating social discord in the process. Never mind what the polity actually cares about.

We can finally put this to rest – As the decider, Bush is a divider not a uniter.