While Fallujah burns

"Senate Republicans this week will launch a series of hearings to promote the value of traditional marriage, a move some Democrats are calling an election year ploy.

According to a GOP memo obtained by The Associated Press, the hearings will represent a 'full-court push to educate the public on the importance of marriage.'

Four committees are expected to hold hearings, beginning Wednesday, with a Health subcommittee's discussion on 'Healthy Marriage: What is it and why should we promote it?'

'All of this could be very good for America to reacquaint itself with the importance of marriage as an institution for our culture and the danger we face as we move away from them,' said Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., who will preside over the first hearing.

Democrats say the publicity blitz smacks of politics.

'This is the kind of silliness the public finds appalling,' said Democratic political consultant Michael Goldman, who teaches media, politics and law at Tufts University. 'Talk about being totally and completely out of step. People don't need Republicans to tell them what a healthy marriage is.' " - Associated Press