Iowa Public Television

Washington Week

Episode #4403

The gay marriage debate was front and center this week, as the Senate debated a constitutional amendment. Some Democrats argue that the legislation was pushed for largely political reasons in this high-stakes election year. Gebe Martinez of The Houston Chronicle has been following the debate and will break down the arguments on both sides of the issue, analyze the outcome of the vote, and consider the wider political implications of the story. Some call gay marriage a "wedge issue"; others regard it as a vital moral issue. Either way, it is just one aspect of a wide-ranging debate on values that the two presidential campaigns have been waging this week. The Kerry-Edwards campaign has sought to seize some ground on social issues while the Bush-Cheney camp has repeatedly branded the opponents as "out of the mainstream." What's behind the rhetoric and how are potential voters responding? Karen Tumulty of TIME Magazine has the story. And in the business world, there have been big developments in the ongoing story of corporate responsibility. Ken Lay was indicted last week and Martha Stewart soon will be sentenced. Jeff Birnbaum of The Washington Post will take a look at the political impact of big-name corporate scandals. [26 minutes]

This episode has not aired in the past few months on Iowa Public Television.