Posted on 02/22/2007 8:19:37 PM PST by EternalVigilance
As I speak to some of the smaller grassroots conservative groups around the country, they keep bringing up this idea that Mitt Romney did not do enough to stop gay marriage in Massachusetts. The headlines read that Romney fought it as Governor and came to Washington DC to testify in front of the Senate to support of a federal marriage amendment. But these groups tell a different story. I bring this up because it is a common concern I hear from folks who at least say they are in the know in Massachusetts. Below is a column yesterday from Don Federer, an Orthodox Jew who is active in the pro-family movement. He lays out the case against Romney on marriage. It's a little long but worth the read.
If you’re confused by Romney’s evolving position on abortion (with many missing links), consider Mitt’s shifting stand on marriage. In January, Romney was Ozzie and Harriet on the campaign trail. “I opposed then and I do now, gay marriage and civil union (sic.),” Romney alleges. “I am proud of the fact that my team did everything within our power and within the law to stand up for traditional marriage." Well, not quite everything.
As a candidate in 2002, he opposed a defense-of-marriage amendment to Massachusetts' Constitution, which preceded the decision of its high court mandating same-sex marriage. (It was, Romney sniffed, “too extreme.”) As governor, there were any number of things he could have done to stop same-sex marriage after the Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) discovered a right to same lurking in an 18th century constitution. Article V of the document drafted by John Adams provides, “All causes of marriage, divorce and alimony… shall be heard and determined by the governor and council,” meaning the courts can’t change the definition of marriage. Yet, as the Commonwealth’s chief executive officer, Romney never attempted to enforce that provision against a clear case of judicial usurpation. Article X of the constitution declares: “The people of this Commonwealth are not controllable by any other laws than those to which their constitutional representative body have given consent.”
The state’s constitutional representative body never consented to gay marriage. The Massachusetts legislature never passed enabling legislation, as mandated by the court. Romney could have simply rejected the decision on the grounds of either constitutional provision. Instead – echoing his earlier pro-choice position – Romney chose to do nothing.Or, Romney could have used a “bill of address” to try to remove a gang of judicial autocrats who were forcing their radical views on the state. He didn’t. (Mitt currently travels around the country railing against activist judges. Talk is cheap.)
So, what did the champion of traditional marriage do? The court ordered the legislature to pass a law providing for same-sex marriage within 180 days. The legislature did nothing. When the time limit expired, Romney acted as if the legislature had acted and told town clerks to issue marriage licenses to gays. He further ordered justices of the peace whose conscience wouldn’t allow them to perform such ceremonies to resign. Except for offering lip-service to traditional marriage, Romney did exactly what gay activists wanted him to do -- nada.
Doesn't EV's tag suggest to you his prejudice?
Dont even bother responding, just wait until Duncan Hunter quits or is exposed, then we can laugh at them together.
Not to me, it's not even about Romney?
I'm sorry, I guess I don't understand your question.
I always read between the lines.
Good. We're doomed without millions of conservatives who do the same.
It's easy to be a Monday morning quarterback. Mitt acted to avoid a fight with the courts.
If you want, I can put my anti-Romney tagline back.
Don't want anyone to feel slighted or anything...
Yes, indeed. And ain't the internet great! Gives little ol' you and me the chance to inform folks even if we don't have barrels of money to spread around like Mitt!
EV is worried about destroying the GOP. This party is filled with fake conservatives. The GOP deserves to be destroyed along with the Yellow dog Democrats. This country needs a party more responsive to the working class. Dump the idle rich and and the idle poor together where they can waste their lives and spare ours.
I don't know about the quotes here so I won't dispute them however I do live in Massholechusetts and I can give my impression of Romney when he was Governor.The guy wasn't a liberal,however he was a politician in a VERY liberal state and played the game accordingly.He kept state taxes down in spite of a Democrap legislature that had other ideas,and he tried with little success,until a woman got killed that is, to get control of the "BIG DIG" project that the Dukakis\Kennedy cabal initially setup to keep any government oversight out of.Romney did come out in support OF "gay" unions,something I disagreed with, though he was against same sex marriage.I don't believe he supported abortion though like many politicians from BOTH parties he did say he would honor the law that upheld Roe vs Wade !!!
Por los pasados dias circumstancias fuera de mi control me han mantenido incomunicado y se me habia hecho imposible regresar al blog. Gracias a Dios ya estoy de regreso para ponernos al dia en todo lo referente a nuestro proximo Presidente en el 2008 el Gobernador Romney.
Jose D. Pietri
I think he is against Civil Unions, but at one time a Constiutional Amendment was being thrown around that banned Gay Marraige and established Civil Unions because it was believed that it would get more support in the legislature. So Romney backed the Amendment. That amendment ended up failing, and he then proposed the current amendment that is up for a vote that bans Gay Marriage only.
Mitt is pretty damn impressive as a speaker. He is talking generalities in this speech, but it is probably the nature of the event.
Thanks....
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