Posted on 01/10/2015 4:31:17 PM PST by Morgana
Less than a month after announcing a possible bid for U.S. president, Jeb Bush is taking criticism from social conservatives after he called for respect of gay marriages in response to a court decision allowing the unions to proceed in Florida.
Earlier this week, the probable Republican presidential candidate told The New York Times, "We live in a democracy, and regardless of our disagreements, we have to respect the rule of law.
I hope that we can show respect for the good people on all sides of the gay and lesbian marriage issue including couples making lifetime commitments to each other who are seeking greater legal protections and those of us who believe marriage is a sacrament and want to safeguard religious liberty.
The Times notes that those comments came a day after Bush told The Miami Herald that marriage "ought to be...a state decision."
"The state decided. The people of the state decided. But its been overturned by the courts, I guess," Bush told the Herald.
Bush's comments drew harsh criticism from Family Research Council president Tony Perkins, who wrote on Facebook, "If we are going to allow the courts to decide what our nation's public policies are going to be on 'controversial' issues why do we need a president? What good is a Congress? Heck we can save a lot of money and send them all home!"
Perkins asked whether Bush "hold[s] the same view of the Court's 1973 decision declaring a constitutional right to abort an unborn child?"
Bush's position on marriage straddles a difficult line for the possible presidential candidate, who had a socially conservative record as Florida governor but is trying to soften both his image and that of the GOP. During his first, and failed, gubernatorial campaign in 1994, he wrote that "[h]omosexuality is wrong, but it is also wrong to discriminate against homosexuals in employment, housing, etc., solely on the basis of sexual preference."
However, wrote Bush, government should not enforce non-discrimination. "Or, to put it another way, should sodomy be elevated to the same constitutional status as race and religion? My answer is No. We have enough special categories, enough victims, without creating even more."
A spokesperson for Bush told Buzzfeed this week, This opinion editorial from 20 years ago does not reflect Gov. Bushs views now, nor would he use this terminology today.
"Gov. Bush believes that our society should have a culture of respect for all people, regardless of their differences, and that begins with preventing discrimination, including when it comes to sexual orientation, the spokesperson added.
That would probably bring an irreversible split in the party and the creation of the TeaParty. Or what ever we call ourselves.
2016, 2020 and probably 2024 will see Democrat presidents with the weakened Republican party savaging the Conservative Party worse than the Democrats ever have. but by 2028 with 12 years of growth and electing a solid conservative candidates, I can see victory for a solid conservative majority for a long while.
“We have to respect the rule of law.”
By “the rule of law” Jebediah means: the decisions of federal district court judges appointed by Obama overturning laws passed by state legislatures and electoral referendums.
That’s not what the SCOTUS meant when they wrote, “We are a nation of laws, not men.” US v. Nixon, 1974
Maybe Jeb’s door swings both ways and that’s kewl.
Respect them as they go after Christians for their personal religious belief. A business is private property, but Bush won’t fight for a return to freedom of association or get the feds out of our lives.
Obama is a nightmare where you wake up to either Romney or Bush as our candidate against Hillary Clinton. It’s like tossing a flaming matchbox into a puddle of kerosene.
Please wake me up I want to get off.
It must be in his families genetics to hate Judeo/Christian Conservatives and instead pander to homosexuals. His brother did no less and sad to say even some innhere called it good. Remember "W"s slighting of Focus on The Family? Remember where he went instead? To the Log Cabin Republicans that's where.
Christian business owners are now being blackmailed and extortion being done against them if they don't pander to the Homosexual Mafia's demands of their blasphemy marriages and be catered to them by Christians. An outrage no founder would have allowed. Jebthro forgets one of the reasons this nation was founded was so Judeo/Christian's living here could worship The Lord GOD our Creator without threat of/or government persecution or retributions forcing a violation of their moral conscience before GOD.
Last of all.
Hey Jebthro. We live in a Republic not a Democracy. Our nation is not meant to be ran solely on public opinion of the hour.
We have to support the nominee no matter what....he’s better than the alternative...if you don’t vote Republcan you hate America...supreme court nominees...did I miss any?
No primary vote for Jeb from me after this.
Not a Jeb supporter, but if I recall correcly what he said was people need to respect their views and they need to respect the views of others. That said, he’s getting hammered by both sides.
There isn’t even respect for heterosexual marriage in today’s culture.
JEB I’ll respect gay marriage right after I respect Obama...STFU and FU JEB...
the thing is Homosexuals don’t return the respect since they seek to force Christians to agree with their sexual practice.
Jeb, I’m urging you to respect the Lord and His word.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.