Romney: I Am Not Anti-Gay

AP ^ | 5/24/07 | BRENDAN FARRINGTON

[f150sound]

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) - Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said Thursday that his opposition to same-sex marriage should not be interpreted as intolerance of gays, who served in his administration when he was Massachusetts governor.

In a brief interview with The Associated Press, Romney elaborated on comments he made during a campaign event dubbed "Ask Mitt Anything" in which an audience member questioned whether pastors should preach that homosexuality is a sin. Romney said the government shouldn't tell pastors what they can say.

Afterward, Romney said he would not preach the same message.

"I don't think that a person who's running for a secular position as I am should talk about or engage in discussions of what they in their personal faith or their personal beliefs is immoral or not immoral," the former governor said in the AP interview.

[gidget7]

“Respectable for their different choices. Kumbaya!”

Indeed! And he must have a lot of respect for the lifestyle, since he appointed an openly gay judge to the bench in MA.

[VegasBaby]

“Indeed! And he must have a lot of respect for the lifestyle, since he appointed an openly gay judge to the bench in MA.”

So if a judge is a constructionalist and happens to be gay, that disqualifies him/her from the bench? Personally I would take a gay constructionalist judge over a straight liberal judge any day of the week.

[traditional1]

[Old_Mil]

In general, what you say when you're running for a higher office isn't as important as what you do when you're occupying a lower one.

[Finny]

...feelings of tolerance for people with differences from myself and feel that way with regards to those who are gay," he said.

In other words, let's all pretend to embrace it culturally as a "normal" and moral, if different, choice. I reject that. I think a lot of America rejects it. I know Christianity rejects it and has done pretty well over the last 400 years by keeping it in a closet and discreetly looking the other way. Islam rejects it too, but a lot more brutally!

[ansel12]

The 19th amendment brought a close to the type of campaigning that appeals to many of us.

[sirchtruth]

I honestly belive that Mitt Romney is a good person with a good heart, and if it came right down to it, I would vote for him in the general election. Needless to say, I am often conflicted when this topic comes up.

Don't be conflicted. It's very simple and biblical. Christ loves the sinner, hates the sin. That's what God teaches. It's a kin to a child who wants to touch a hot stove. What's you're reaction going to be?

I would dare say there would be some likeness to the same way God reacts when we want to touch a hot stove! The point is you're not going to follow this destructive path, or anyone who wishes to venture down it! And I would hope you would warn others of the impending doom which would follow if they chose to proceed...If Romney want to support gay behavior as a socialtal acceptable lifestyle are you going to support him in that vien?

[Old_Mil]

But being a Christian, I can not hate my friends for their lifestyle. They are kind people. Nor can I hate my relative. He is a good person.

Being a Christian, you do understand that the position you are taking here stands in opposition to the doctrine of the religion you claim. Homosexuality in and of itself is, according to the Bible, not only enough to disqualify someone as a good person - it is enough to prevent someone from entering heaven.

[f150sound]

Is that a real flyer?

[Mr. Blonde]

Adn what are you hoping he would say? "I plan to govern only with the interests of people like me in mind. If you are gay, black or a woman, well you can go to hell. And don't get me started on you gay, black women you aren't a part of Mitt Romney's America."

Hopefully that wouldn't even get him very far with the base. I certainly want someone in office who understands this country contains all kinds of people with all different types of beliefs. And I would hate for it to not be that way. Things would be way too boring.

[gidget7]

You shouldn’t “hate” gays, of course! Christians do not hate gays. We don’t want their “morals” legislated to force us to accept them as ours either. Nor laws that tell us we cannot say anything about it except total acceptance. The only reason this issue is at the forefront is because homosexual activists have put it there. It was not an issue until they did.

It has absolutely nothing to do with hate, or any other “feeling” for that matter. It IS about legislating where there is no need, and by doing so forcing the rest of us to accept what we know in our core being is unacceptable. It’s about decorum, and acceptable public behavior, acceptable subjects being brought up to children in schools (and the truth about those subjects as opposed to what is not true), and all people being held to the same standards of the afore mentioned issue. It’s about expecting gays to be held t and to behave in the same manner that is acceptable for the rest of society.

Again, it has nothing to do with hate, or even dislike. We don’t hate them, we disapprove yes, but we disapprove of what our own children do at time. That does not mean we don’t love them, does it?

[VegasBaby]

Thank you. I’m glad to sometimes see rational people here on FR. I don’t care how conservative a candidate is, he/she has to govern everyone the same.

[JRochelle]

Yes, sad to say it is very real.

[gidget7]

“So if a judge is a constructionalist and happens to be gay, that disqualifies him/her from the bench? Personally I would take a gay constructionalist judge over a straight liberal judge any day of the week.”

As has been stated already, it’s a matter of judgment. A Judge, especially is expected to believe and live, with exceptional judgment. Someone who practices homosexual behavior lacks sound judgment. That is just the plain truth. As for as you "either or" scenario, it should never be a choice in the first place.

[sirchtruth]

The 19th amendment brought a close to the type of campaigning that appeals to many of us.

WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE RIGHTS? I don't think I'm quite connecting. Are you saying that a woman's right to vote is on the same moral ground as gay's right to have sex?

[TheLion]

Yeah right....he is going to come out and say he is anti- gay and get trampled in the polls. Ever hear of politics?

[Old_Mil]

...that is very much a legit flyer. Every bit as much as this gay youth parade photo is legit.

All three of the media anointed front-runners have one thing in common: they have the gay agenda's stamp of approval.



The Governor's [Romney's] Commission was perhaps the largest government-sanctioned promoter of the homosexual agenda to children in the United States. This entity spent millions of state tax dollars promoting the gay-lesbian-bisexual-transgender (GLBT) radicalism in Massachusetts schools by inundating them with GLBT speakers, presentations, films, books, parades, dances, posters, handouts, and help establishing GLBT clubs on campus. These events provided a model for homosexual activists around the country.

[airborne]

Homosexuality in and of itself is, according to the Bible, not only enough to disqualify someone as a good person - it is enough to prevent someone from entering heaven.

I know.

And I have explained, as part of our discussion, that I believe that very thing.

But they are friends. And he is my blood.

What would you have me do?

I told you I was conflicted.

[JasonC]

So, interpreting his comments quoted in the article, he believes that secular leaders should not have moral opinions. He believes having moral opinions is an illegitimate thing for a secular leader to do. He believes morality should be a strictly private affair. He is for the separation of morality and state.

And I am for the separation of Romney and state.

Men so shallow and thoughtless and unwilling to stand up for truth or decency, on principle not on this specific issue, do not belong in public office, and certainly not on the Republican ticket.

[TheLion]

Which candidate would come out and say he is anti-gay? I would like some of what you are smoking.