Posted on 04/27/2009 12:52:48 PM PDT by batter
SALT LAKE CITY -- Republican Gov. Jon Huntsman said Thursday that Utah's constitutional ban on gay marriage is unclear on the issue of civil unions between gay couples, and that a court will probably have to decide if the unions are allowed here.
"I don't know that that bans it specifically," Huntsman said. "I think that ultimately could be a court case and that might be adjudicated in court over time if it ever gets to that level. But that wasn't clear." The Republican governor says that while he supports traditional marriage, he also supports same-sex civil unions.
"To my mind, and to the mind of a lot of Utahns, equate to equal rights to all people, and I stand by that and I will continue to stand by that," Huntsman said in his monthly news conference Thursday.
Huntsman's relatively moderate approach to civil unions was interpreted as a "sign of changing times," by one East Coast columnist. Frank Rich of the New York Times says, in many cases, conservatives are dropping the cause.
The governor stops short of saying that. He does, however, agree with this argument made by Rich: "The general public, including people who consider themselves otherwise conservative, are more concerned about the economy, and jobs, and what's happening in the world at large and less concerned with what's happening in their neighbor's bedroom."
"That part, I agree with," Huntsman said. "I think in today's environment, people expect their elected officials to focus on their immediate needs out there."
Ultraconservatives at Utah's Sutherland Institute also agree with creating priorities, but Jeff Reynolds still says gay marriage is an issue that deserves attention.
"To say that people aren't concerned about gay marriage because of the economy, I don't know if that's true. I think it's in addition to," Reynolds said.
Meanwhile, Will Carlson, public policy director for the gay rights advocacy group Equality Utah, welcomed Huntsman's comments.
"He can be a great ally. It's very heartening to know that he's on our side and he believes in social justice. Having said that, he's the executive branch and we still need to convince the legislative branch that these things are about basic protections and fairness for all Utahns," he said.
For Huntsman, there's little political risk in making such statements, even in one of the nation's most conservative states.
He's one of the most popular governors in state history and has pledged not to seek a third term in 2012. If he were seeking a third term, he likely would have difficulty making it out of the state's GOP convention, which favors ultraconservative candidates.
Huntsman has become increasingly moderate on many issues since taking office and is often defended by Democrats in Utah.
In addition to his support for civil unions, Huntsman has become staked out moderate positions on energy and the environment and has worked to make the state's notoriously quirky liquor laws a little more normal.
Huntsman contends that nationwide, Republicans need to do more to bring in new people to the party if wants to bounce back from the 2008 elections.
"The party isn't moving anywhere right now," Huntsman said.
In Thursday's news conference, the governor also dismissed the claim that he's running for president in 2012.
Remember, he's also Arnold's buddy on global warming.
so this so called republican supports homos in a large Mormon state.
another RINO to get rid of now and I hope this info gets out all over Utah.
You watch the homos now will being throwing money to him to get him reelected and then he will push their civil union
If he believes in being fair then why doesn’t the civil unions apply to normal couples too? Or hasn’t the Gov thought about that question.
I hope many normal couples sue to have civil unions and if the homos want to push their agenda in Utah then every argument the homos use the LDS can use too
The homo groups are now looking to pick off the smaller states to further their agenda. They are I bet in talks with some of these Gov’s and say they will give him a lot of money if the Gov gets their agenda sorted out after the election
The homos have now directed their money to these other states so let it be known to your rep that marriage is between a man and a woman
supports equal rights but hasn’t anyone told this buffoon that by granting civil unions to homos he is not giving civil unions to normal couples
The civil unions is a dud, they say they will be happy if they get that but as soon as they get it they then go for the marriage,i.e. MA,NH,VT
once they get marriage they go for adoption
once they get adoption they go for the schools,ie.e telling kids they are normal and how to do it.
once they get that they then go to get anyone jailed who speaks out against them regardless of the death threats and intimidation by them
do not give them anything other wise the Gov is supporting an unnatural perverted sick act
Wasn’t he a name for POTUS McCain say a couple of weeks back?
This guy is another McCain. He has a rock solid conservative electorate with absolutely no political need to be moderate or centrist about anything. The fact that he extends a hand to the Left is exactly what is worng with our national party leadership. Succesful politics is partisan, just ask the Democrats who know control everything.
(know) - now
Another RHINO tool, who needs to get a dose of reality.
one would think that pandering to the left doesn’t work, I mean it’s only been the last two elections .
bangs head on wall
Get rid of him before he screws things some more. The GOP in Utah should start distancing themselves from this idiot.
Jon-Jon is already being pimped as a 2012 candidate here in Utah. Get ready for the MSM to tout him as such. Good thing is he can split the Romney vote, I suppose.
The sad thing is that I am totally opposed to any form of marriage other than one man and one woman.
That said, I don’t think there should be restrictions on civil union contracts that are handled strictly under contract law. Who cares?
It’s funny that, while those who oppose gay marriage are constantly reminded that there are more important things to worry about, like the economy, it’s the pro-gay-marriage folks that are running around distracting us from the economy and trying to change the laws.
At the end of the 1800’s Utah almost wasn’t admitted as a state due to its stance on marriages between men and multiple wives.
Now in the early 2000’s it’s going to be lawful for gay marriages to take place and Utah will be considered a “progressive” state.
Times have sure changed.
[UTAH] CONSTITUTION
Approved by the electorate on November 2, 2004:
Article I, Section 29. [Marriage.]
(1) Marriage consists only of the legal union between a man and a woman.
(2) No other domestic union, however denominated, may be recognized as a marriage or given the same or substantially equivalent legal effect.
Section 2. Submittal to voters.
The lieutenant governor is directed to submit this proposed amendment to the voters of the state at the next regular general election in the manner provided by law.
Section 3. Effective date.
If the amendment proposed by this joint resolution is approved by a majority of those voting on it at the next regular general election, the amendment shall take effect on January 1, 2005.
The Governor is either just plain stupid, or he thinks he or a court are above the plain language of the constitution. I vote for the former.
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