"From where Winston stood it was just possible to read, picked out on its white face in elegant lettering, the three slogans of the Party: WAR IS PEACE, FREEDOM IS SLAVERY, IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH." George Orwell, "1984"
As Orwell explained in his classic novel, "1984" changing the words used by a society is a powerful tool for tyranny. With "The Amend the Code for Marriage Equality Act "(H.R.2976), Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA) is trying to enforce the recent Supreme Court ruling that same sex marriage is the law of the land by legislating the federal government to strike the words "husband" and "wife" everywhere they're found in the entire Federal code, replacing them with more gender-neutral terms such as “spouse” or “married couple.”
According to the statement released by Rep. Capps
The Amend the Code for Marriage Equality Act recognizes that the words in our laws have meaning and can continue to reflect prejudice and discrimination even when rendered null by our highest courts,” Capps said. “Our values as a country are reflected in our laws. I authored this bill because it is imperative that our federal code reflect the equality of all marriages.”
The ultra-liberal Capps is also using the bill to prepare for the possible presidency of Monica Lewinsky's ex-boyfriend's wife:
She said her bill would also have other benefits if it became law. In one example, she noted that U.S. law says it's illegal to threaten the president's wife, but says nothing about the president's husband.
"Capps' bill would update the code to make it illegal to threaten the president's spouse," her office said.
Capps might also be thinking of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, who still seems like a lock to win the Democratic nomination. If she were to win the White House, former President Bill Clinton would become what some have suggested might be called the "first spouse."
First spouse may be tough to get used to, people are so used to calling him Bubba.
Rep. Capps has convinced 24 other members of Congress to co-sponsor H.R.2976. Representatives: Ami Bera (D-CA), Donald Beyer Jr. (D-VA), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Mark DeSaulnier, (D-CA), Donna Edwards (D-MD), Eliot Engel, (D-NY), Sam Farr, (D-CA), Alan Grayson (D-FL), Raul Grijalva, Raul (D-AZ), Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX), Michael Honda, (D-CA), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Rick Larsen (D-WA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Sander Levin (D-MI), Alan Lowenthal (D-CA), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Patrick Murphy (D-FL), Eleanor Holmes Murphy, (Non-voting DC), Norton, (D-DC-At Large), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Adam Smith (D-WA), Mike Thompson (D-CA), and Niki Tsongas D-MA.
In a related story, there no truth to the rumor that Rep. Capps' is about to propose another bill that will change the words, "history" to "theirstory," "heredity" to "weredity," and "shellfish" to "themfish." It's a good thing the rumor was false because many leaders in the Middle East were getting upset about what was rumored to be Ms. Capps new word for Sheik.