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What I HAVE heard is that it should defend the people of the US’s view of marriage (which may or may not be derived from the bible and the OT).

What would be other candidates for source of such a view (especially since (I think) we have already established elsewhere that the difference between marriage and civil union is a religious or spiritual one)?

I understand your reasoning (to a certain extent) about the source and purpose of many rules in OT not even wildest of present evangelists think about trying to promote. But, most of 'supporters of moral values' do cherry-picking among them (as Heather noticed). Don't you think that OT law either should or should not be invoked uniformly when discussing modern day morality, and especially modern day law?

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Though underlying principles can be derived from the law [...]

Forgive me for repeating myself, but what underlying principles can be derived from the law banning two different kinds of crops side by side, or cloth from two different kinds of thread? On the other extreme, how about enslaving neighboring nations? Does that mean that it is still OK for one nation to consider itself above the other? OK, let's say that it was 'authorised' for 'greater good' of spreading the faith. When does such 'temporary license' expire? What about selling one's daughter?

Again, I don't intend disrespect for your beliefs. I am genuinely puzzled, and you are one of very few persons who were willing and able to provide some insight into this, for me so strange, worldview.
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