David Koch breaks from GOP on gay marriage, taxes, defense cuts

Politico ^ | 8/30/12 8:09 PM EDT | Kenneth P. Vogel

[Olog-hai]

Billionaire industrialist David Koch, who is helping steer millions of dollars to elect Mitt Romney and congressional Republicans, on Thursday told Politico he disagrees with the GOP’s stance on gay marriage and believes the U.S. needs to consider raising taxes to balance the budget.

Koch, who is serving as a delegate to the Republican National Convention from New York, spoke to Politico after delivering brief remarks at a reception held in his honor him by Americans for Prosperity, the political advocacy group he chairs and has helped fund.

The 1980 vice presidential nominee for the socially liberal—but fiscally conservative—Libertarian Party, Koch told Politico, “I believe in gay marriage”, when asked about the GOP’s stance on gay rights. … Koch said he thinks the U.S. military should withdraw from the Middle East and said the government should consider defense spending cuts, as well as possible tax increases to get its fiscal house in order—a stance anathema to many in the Republican Party. …

[Mrs. Don-o]

Thanks - I see your point. I think I am still too ignorant to form a coherent opinion. I’ll keep my eyes open for information, though.

[nickcarraway]

I also don’t believe the federal government should have a say in marriage at all..leave it to the states

I'm just curious if marriage has ever been state issue. It would be your contention that a man who was married to a woman in Ohion and a woman in Florida would not be committing a crime? And what about taxes?