Posted on 12/10/2006 10:25:50 AM PST by Jeff Fuller
"BOSTON --Gov. Mitt Romney's beliefs on gay issues are under scrutiny after the re-emergence of a letter he wrote during his 1994 run for U.S. Senate in which he promised a gay Republicans group he would be a stronger advocate for gays than Sen. Edward Kennedy. . . "
Read Comment #1 below to see how this is all "smoke and mirrors" by the Globe and NYTimes and how Romney has been consistantly against gay marriage and consistantly anti-discrimiation of gays.
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
Bottom line . . . Romney has always been opposed to gay marriage and civil unions and he has always been against discrimination (and therefore "unequal or lesser rights") of gays and lesbians. Those are the facts, no matter how anyone else tries to paint them. These pieces take Romney's statements wildly out of context and try to get the reader to believe that there is no room for someone to be against sexual-orientateion discrimination and in favor of preserving the traditional family unit.
BOSTON --Gov. Mitt Romney's beliefs on gay issues are under scrutiny after the re-emergence of a letter he wrote during his 1994 run for U.S. Senate in which he promised a gay Republicans group he would be a stronger advocate for gays than Sen. Edward Kennedy.
One paragraph and one lie already . . . Romney never promised to be "a stronger advocate for gays" than Teddy . . . he promised to be a more effective leader and a more respectable voice against gay-discrimination. Romney IS an effective leader and he made some good points about Romney, as a Republican, could be a more effective voice among possible Senate colleagues than Teddy on these issues.
I think the gay community needs more support from the Republican Party and I would be a voice in the Republican Party to foster anti-discrimination efforts.
SEE, IT'S ALL ABOUT ROMNEY BEING ANTI-DISCRIMINATION . . . NOT about him wanting to grant special rights and priviledges to gays.
Romney even ended his interview:
I believe that while I would further the efforts Ted Kennedy has led, I would also lead the country in new and far more positive ways in taxing and spending, welfare reform, criminal justice and education. That's why I believe many gay and lesbian individuals will support my candidacy and do support my candidacy.Romney wasn't trying to be more "pro-gay" than Kennedy, and he realized that it was these other issues would draw some gay voters to him.
GAY MARRIAGE ISSUE CLARIFICATION:
A follow-up piece from today's Globe continued the deception:
The Times story follows a Globe story published yesterday that reported that Romney told a Boston-area gay newspaper in 1994 that legalizing gay marriage should be left up to individual states, contrasting with his more recent position that marriage should only occur between men and women and his support of a federal constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriages.
What Romney actually said:
On whether he supported the civil marriage rights of same-sex couples:“I line up with Gov. Weld on that, and it’s a state issue as you know — the authorization of marriage on a same-sex basis falls under state jurisdiction. My understanding is that he has looked at the issue and concluded that certain benefits and privileges should be offered to gay couples. But he does not feel at this time that he wishes to extend legalized marriage on a same-sex basis, and I support his position.”
On whether he’d want more studies done on the marriage issue:
“That will occur at the state level. I’ll let the governor in Massachusetts, and the governors of others states, as well, study it, evaluate it, discuss the alternatives with psychologists and social workers and health care specialist and so forth to gather information and consider it in a very reasoned way. I have confidence the governor will take the right action.”
So, Romney made a statement of fact, that states DID AND DO decide marriage laws (the laws being proposed/ratified by the executive and/or legislative branches). Nowhere did he state his opinion on whether or not it SHOULD be a state's right's issue (as the Globe falsely stated). I believe that, down deep, Romney wishes this issue could have remained just a states issue . . . however, when activist judges started deciding to make up laws (instead of interpreting them) a new course of action was needed to protect the institution of marriage and the children it produces . . . Romney has picked up the gauntlet in this cause and been a stalwart in defending marriage and fighting against activist judges.
SELLING THEIR SOULS:
I got a kick out of this last paragraph in today's follow-up article:
In a recent posting titled "The Mitt Romney deception" that touches on Romney's gay rights positions, local conservative activist Brian Camenker wrote: "Despite recent statements across the country by Governor Mitt Romney claiming he's pro-life, pro-family and a committed conservative, a broad investigation of his actual statements, actions, and public positions over the years indicates that he has spent his entire career speaking and governing as a liberal."
The "Mitt Romney Deception" is really entertaining--a production of MassResistance . . . a group that has long called Romney "The Father of Gay Marriage." I've blogged on that pitiful piece here. It bases most of it's content on statements/headlines from liberal media sources (Boston Globe, Bay Windows, Boston Phoenix). I just think it's SCARY when MassResistance (ultra right wingers) and the Boston Globe (out in left field) our QUOTING EACHOTHER as authoritative sources. I guess when it comes to being "anti-Romney" they've both got it down pretty good.
Homosexual Group, the Log Cabin Republicans, endorsed Romney in 1994 & 2002. Romney accepted $10,000 from the Log Cabin Republicans.
"With strong, early endorsements, LCR played a key role in helping to elect Republican governors in two overwhelmingly Democratic states. Governor George Pataki (R) was resoundingly elected in New York, while Mitt Romney easily defeated his Democratic opponent to win in Massachusetts.... LCR strongly endorsed Romney’s 1994 U.S. Senate bid in Massachusetts, and in his gubernatorial race, Romney hired LCR leader John Spampinato as a senior campaign aide." Citation from Log Cabin Republicans of Georgia, Nov. 6, 2002
Mitt Romney's Pro-Gay Stance
Today's New York Times pokes a big hole in Mitt Romney's efforts to portray himself as the conservative alternative to John McCain:
Mr. Romney’s standing among conservatives is being hurt by a letter he sent to the Log Cabin Club of Massachusetts saying that he would be a stronger advocate for gay rights than Senator Edward M. Kennedy, his opponent in a Senate race, in a position that stands in contrast to his current role as a champion of a state constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.
“We must make equality for gays and lesbians a mainstream concern,” Mr. Romney wrote in a detailed plea for the support of the club, a gay Republican organization.
http://www.humanevents.com/rightangle/index.php?id=18724&title=romney_s_pro_gay_stance
I like your tag line, but after Mike's announcement shouldn't you change it to Draft Pence in '08?
Are you saying that homosexuals should have fewer rights than heterosexuals? Please explain how you criticize Romney for promoting equal rights and fighting discrimination. All along Romney's been publicly outspoken against gay marriage and civil unions . . . he just emphasized his anti-discrimination stance (that is what ALL politicians do--emphasize areas of common ground)
Sad if some think gays SHOULD be discriminated against in the areas Romney emphasized.
Romney supports having gays serve openly in the military.
The military doesn't want that.
Finally the truth seems to be getting out about Romney and his liberal record.
"Sad if some think gays SHOULD be discriminated against in the areas Romney emphasized."
There is no need for new laws to give people the rights they have had all along. Homosexuals are not discriminated against, and never have been. They enjoy all the freedoms every other American does. Homosexual rights laws are the giving of "special" rights, not afforded others, that is what is discrimination. Rights are not dispensed on the basis of who one has sex with. And they are "hate crimes laws" Also, Romney is against the Boy Scouts being able to restrict their membership of Scout masters who are homosexual.
Yeah thats just we need.
Gay men sharing pup tents with young boys.
Romney never said he was in favor of Gay Scoutmasters.
Sorry if you read into his 1994 senate race debate response that way. He was even asked to clarify his response (it was a bit ambiguous--speaking off the cuff like he did) and he would not go on the record as being in favor of Gay Scoutmasters.
He essential said that gays shouldn't be excluded for Boy Scouts en bloc (leaving room for them to serve on committees or for "sexually confused" boys to still be Boy Scouts.) It's a tough issue . . . but Romney said that most importantly, he thought that the BSA should be able to make its own decision on the matter (the conservative principle at the time which, fortunately, prevailed).
Sorry to rain on your "Romney wants gay Scoutmasters to sleep in tents with boys" parade (you don't even know the rules of camping for the BSA do you?--no leaders sleeping in tents with the boys.)
I replied to both you and JRochelle in one comment . . . no personal attack was meant and sorry if that wasn't clear.
Still, I'd like to see your source/quote where Romney says "he didn't believe BSA should discriminate against homosexuals for scout masters." There is something close . . . but, to my knowledge, he never included scout masters specifically in such a comment and I think too many people are reading between the lines.
"He essential said that gays shouldn't be excluded for Boy Scouts en bloc (leaving room for them to serve on committees or for "sexually confused" boys to still be Boy Scouts.)"
Romney for presdient? No (deleted) way. I am beyond disgusted at having to vote for a RINO, waffler, shiney used car salesman type politician, someone who really owes the Saudis, etc. Are there any conservatives that can run? Or is the RNC determined to become "DNC lite"?
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Nicely said... If this statement you mentioned is TRUE... It's curtains for Romney. This sort of reminds me of how the big guns in the Catholic Church reacted to the perverts abusing children, especially in Massachusetts... Always taking the side of the abusers and ignoring the MOST IMPORTANT THING: THE CHILDREN.
As far I am concerned I don't want a queer three blocks away from the Boys-Scouts. Rotten role model for a kid, just for starters...
This guy has already enough baggage, the wrong baggage to do him in.
Hmm - All of those perjoratives weren't being applied to Romney. I was thinking of many other politicians with "R" next to their names. If the shoe fits...
OK, he didn't FLIP FLOP, maybe a little AC-DC'd ?
Romney a liberal? I think he is pragmatic and the most conservative governor the state of Massachussets has ever had. Not sure how a letter from 1994 factors into this but I think it is on the low end of the scale of what is to be considered.
"There's never an egg-timer around when you need one."
(From the movie, The American President)
Your flailing around is getting embarrassing, Jeff.
Romney endorses every element of homosexual activists' left-wing agenda except "marriage," and you say anyone who disagrees with his views is an "extreme right winger."
Guess that pretty well wraps up your win-it-by-appealing-to-social-conservatives strategy.
It's true, El Patriota, and it's on videotape which you'll be seeing on a TV screen near you, assuming Romney's still in the race.
Romney: "I feel that all people should be allowed to participate in the Boy Scouts regardless of their sexual orientation."
BOSTON GLOBE
October 27, 1994
KENNEDY, ROMNEY CONTINUE TRADING CHARGES OVER FACTS
by Peter G. Gosselin, Globe Staff
...Meanwhile, Romney came in for some fire of his own, not from the Kennedy camp but from an organization on whose executive board he sits -- the Boy Scouts of America.
A Boy Scout spokesman said the Republican candidate may have run afoul of the group's strict rule that board members support Boy Scout policies, including its ban on homosexuals.
Asked about the policy in Tuesday's debate, Romney said, "I support the right of the Boy Scouts of America to decide what it wants to do on that issue."
But he then added, "I feel that all people should be allowed to participate in the Boy Scouts regardless of their sexual orientation."
"From where I'm sitting, that doesn't appear to be a consistent statement," said Richard Walker, the Boy Scouts' national spokesman. "His second statement seems to be inconsistent with our policy and as a member of the executive board he is expected to support our policy."
------
Now sit back and enjoy Jeff and other Romney rationalizers chase their tails explaining how the word "all" in Romney's sentence does not include Scoutmasters, and how protecting 13 year old boys from exposure to adult males who engage in homosexual behavior doesn't matter to social conservatives anyway.
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