Charles: “The Log Cabin Republicans have rejected Romney because of his strong stance against issues they hold dear, and have even run ads against him for being against them.”
This would be after ENDORSING him in both of his previous campaigns for public office, in recognition of his ENDORSEMENT of homosexual activists’ political agenda.
Romney letter to Log Cabin Repubs soliciting their endorsement:
http://www.boston.com/news/daily/11/romneyletterbaywindows.pdf
Romney 2002 meeting with Log Cabin Republicans, after which they unanimously endorsed him:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/08/us/politics/08romney.html?hp
Talk about fish in a barrel...
Oddly, in 2002, when they endorsed him, he was already stating for the record that he was against BOTH gay marriage and civil unions. And he never said he was FOR either of those in 1994, and in fact when Weld came out for them Romney didn't follow his lead.
Anyway, Romney represents the mainstream of conservative thought on gays and lesbians.
Here is what John Hindraker and the folks at Powerline had to say about this issue when it came up in 2006:
I suspect that much mainstream news analysis is filtered through the false assumption that conservatives generally hate homosexuals. Thus, if a Republican politician is friendly toward gays, appoints gays to office, speaks of protecting their civil rights, etc., this is viewed as somehow at odds with, say, opposition to gay marriage. It isn't. I think a large majority of conservatives have no ill will toward homosexuals, while at the same time believing that gay marriage would be an unwise social policy. I know that some accuse Romney of flip-flopping on gay marriage, and I haven't investigated to figure out whether that charge is true or not. In general, though, his attitude toward homosexuals sounds like it is in tune with what I described as the majority conservative view.
(1) Romney changed the Massachusetts marriage certificates from "Husband and Wife" to "Partner A and Partner B" in order to facilitate same-sex "marriage". Here is the new Massachusetts marriage certificate that Romney had changed (Note: “Party A/Party B” where it used to read “Husband/Wife”.)
(2) Romney threatened to fire any Justice of the Peace who refuses to perform same-sex "marriages", according to an April 25, 2004 Associated Press news article.
(3) Romney held "training sessions" for Town Clerks, telling them that the law had changed and that they must perform same-sex marriages. Here are the slides from those sessions.
(3) The Goodridge decision by the Supreme Judicial Court did not "order" the Governor to do anything. But Romney acted anyway. (The ruling did NOT change any laws. The Court had decided that not allowing same-sex marriage was "unconstitutional" but also acknowledged that only the Legislature could change the marriage laws. However, the Legislature did nothing.)
(4) As the New York Times recently reported, Romney met with the homosexual group "Log Cabin Republicans" while campaigning for Governor in 2002. When the subject of same-sex marriage was brought up, says the Times, "according to several people present, he promised to obey the courts’ ultimate ruling and not champion a fight on either side of the issue." (“'I’ll keep my head low,' he said, making a bobbing motion with his head like a boxer, one participant recalled.")
Thus, Romney received an endorsement from the group.
Here is how Romney responded:
(1) He said that Gregg is "slightly delusional". An interesting way for a presidential candidate to respond to a media figure.
(2) Instead of responding to the question about marriage certificates, he discussed what he did regarding birth certificates -- as if that's what Gregg had asked about.
(3) Romney said he was just giving the Justices of the Peace "information." But according to the Associated Press report, he ordered them to resign if they refused to comply. He gave them no choice.
(4) Romney claims that the SJC did "require" Justices of the Peace to perform same-sex marriages, and that the Goodridge decision made same-sex marriage "legal". In fact, the Court only rendered an opinion and suggested that the Legislature act on it. The Massachusetts Constitution does not allow the Court to either (1) make law or (2) order another branch to do anything. See legal discussion. (Furthermore, the Legislature never did change the Mass. marriage statute, which only authorizes "husband/wife" marriage.)
(5) Probably the reason that homosexual groups protest Romney so much (and not the other Republicans) is that they believe he double-crossed them (see NY Times article above).
(6) Romney refers to Gregg as "the folks on the right wing." Actually, that's how he's always felt about conservatives. At least he's being honest here. (If Romney is running as a conservative, isn't that the same thing as "right wing"?)