Here's a news update;

"Prime Minister John Howard denied he was targeting gay people when he signalled a ban on same sex marriages, saying he was just stating what most people thought."

Well, that's alright then.

Except that it's not. I think that both clauses of that sentence are untrue. I mean, who else is a ban on same-sex marriage going to effect OTHER than gay people? And - not that I believe you should simply base amendments to laws on what most people think, since laws have to be, like, fair and lawful - I also dispute the idea that most people don't support gay people having the same right to marry as heterosexual people, so I don't think he can make that argument either. See, ninemsn does polls on its website each day. For instance, today's poll is "Do you think Craig Stevens did the right thing in stepping aside for Ian Thorpe?" Anyway, a few days ago, the poll was about gay marriage. Tens of thousands of people had voted and there was a clear margin in favour of recognising same-sex marriage and rejecting John Howard's proposed amendment to the Marriage Act. So hah! I'm going to claim that as proof. 'Ear-to-the-ground', down with what 'real people' are thinking, proof. Suck on that, Johnnie.