Posted on 04/21/2015 6:54:23 PM PDT by markomalley
Where do we stand on this so far among the GOP field? Rubio’s a yes, Santorum’s a no, Cruz is noncommittal, Walker said he’s already attended a gay-wedding reception but not an actual ceremony. Anyone I’m leaving out? People are dismissing it as a gotcha but I think it’s interesting as a gauge of whom each candidate’s trying to appeal to. The only real surprise among the five who have already answered is Cruz, whom I would have guessed would be a “no” to please social conservatives.
Free advice from Ben Domenech to the 300 Republican candidates who haven’t yet gotten this question: Use it to make a point about religious liberty.
[J]ust like the 2012 contraception question, it’s not about a pressing policy issue. It’s about trying to find a subject where the natural voter’s response is “what? Don’t be ridiculous”, but Republican candidates’ responses will be a fifteen minute discourse on the finer points of Griswold v. Connecticut.
“Would you attend a gay wedding” is a matter of personal conscience. But that’s why it’s such an obvious opportunity for turning the question back on the actual policy battle at issue, a bit of ju jitsu I haven’t seen from any of the respondents yet. The whole point is that it’s your decision whether to attend or not. Conservatives and (most) libertarians believe people ought to be able to decide whether to freely associate with others themselves, not be dragooned by the force of government into mandatory associations as the secular left maintains. The entire point of religious freedom laws in Indiana and elsewhere is that we want to give people who say “I cannot in good conscience participate in this ceremony” the right to defend themselves in court based on their deeply held beliefs. That used to be a bipartisan principle, and now it’s effectively a monopartisan one – but it’s the right principle. A Republican Party unwilling to defend it has been reduced from a party founded on the idea that no man should work and toil and earn bread where another eats it… to one only ready to smash their clay fire pots and raise a sword in the air for the cause of the Keystone Pipeline and the Medical Device Tax.
As I say, I’m not surprised Perry’s willing to attend. He became more of a “values” candidate near the end of his 2012 campaign as a last gasp to try to get back into the race, but this time he’s running as a jobs-creating executive who’s done his homework on national policy and is ready to lead. The last time he said something that offended gay-rights activists, in July 2014, he quickly walked it back so that he wouldn’t get typecast by the national media as a guy whose appeal lies mainly among social conservatives. From now on he’s the “economy candidate” who happens to also be a full-spectrum conservative. Is that enough to make a dent in the polls after the big 2012 fizzle? Watch the second clip below before you answer.
WWTCD?
Santorum’s a no...
That would be my answer too.
I’m so sick of these diversions. Let’s talk economy, or foreign affairs. That’s what this country needs right now, not some mamby-pamby gay rights enabler. The media do this to make the GOP candidates look either bad, or soft on social issues. Don’t fall for it ... stick to the issues that matter most at this point.
I would never attend a Gay wedding, Even if I was asked.
I don’t have any gay friends, nor would I want to have any.
I don’t have any liberal or black friends either, come to think of it, I’m stuck with my family and that sux.
Maybe I’m the outlier here but this is soon irrelevant.
Why in the hell when we have ISIS IN our borders, out of control national debt, runaway illegal immigration, etc. does anyone, and I mean anyone, give a damn which weddings the President would attend?
Republicans once again dancing to the narrative drums of the mainstream media.
Never been asked but I know my wife’s friend who was asked and she declined and told the homosexual that marriage is between a man and a woman.
Of course Perry would attend. Most liberals would.
Because America has her head so far up her own ass that not only is it shocking, it’s also a threat to her survival.
What Pubbies should say is what Walker said when asked a stupid question. Just say not relevant or next question please.
Bye lil rickie. NO MO HOMO
Which couple would you prefer babysit your 5 year old son for a week presuming all you know about them is one is two homosexual men and the other couple is married and heterosexual? And why?
I reject the premise of the question. Homosexual marriage doesn’t exist, so there would be no wedding to attend.
I can think of two reasons:
What is wrong with these people ,who cares what you do
Iran is getting nuclear tipped ICBMs, the debt bomb is unrelenting, ISIS is on the move, and what is this? Who cares?
Rick Perry is using tact to deflect use of the Alynsky Method to demonize his true thoughts on the issue. He is making appearances that he open to the Queer Nation. He knows the opposition—the enemy—is using the Totalitarian Mindset against anyone who has different thinking. They are living in an Orwellian world view, allied with the State Owned Media, where no one dares to challenge them. Our task is to dismantle this Lernaean Hydra that has set its claws into America’s foundation. How do you do this? By not making the victim aware they are under attack. Let them smoke their pipe thinking life is great on the Good Ship Lollipop: Whoop! The Lernaean Hydra just lost a head!
Why in the hell when we have ISIS IN our borders, out of control national debt, runaway illegal immigration, etc. does anyone, and I mean anyone, give a damn which weddings the President would attend?I've heard Cruz answer this question and it made me smile. He explains who cares and why in this audio clip from an interview by Hugh Hewitt on 4/16/2015:
Exactly. It is not so much this particular question that troubles me .. it is the general idea that the MSM throw out bait and some stupid politicians (Republicans) stay on defense and go for it and play their silly game.
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