ROMNEY SOFTENS TONE ON GAY MARRIAGE: From the Boston Globe

Governor Mitt Romney, who set off an uproar in Massachusetts with his recent remarks about gay marriage to out-of-state Republican activists, last night appeared to soften his tone, adding language to his stump speech about the need to respect modern families that come in many forms.

Still, speaking before nearly 600 people who attended a fund-raiser for Michigan's GOP state senators, Romney restated his view that "every child deserves a mother and a father," and praised Michigan voters for their recent approval of a measure banning gay marriage.

Romney's remarks highlighted the careful line he is attempting to walk as he tests the waters for a potential 2008 run for president, aiming at conservative Republicans who vote in GOP presidential primaries.

Massachusetts gay-rights supporters complained that Romney was belittling gay parents last month when, in describing legalized same-sex marriage in Massachusetts, he told a South Carolina GOP audience that, "Some are actually having children born to them." Activists staged a protest at the State House.

Last night, as he has in recent speeches in Missouri, South Carolina, and Utah, Romney noted that gay marriage is legal in the Bay State, and bemoaned the fact that the state may have to replace "mother" and "father" on birth certificates with "parent A" and "parent B." But he also added an explanation that, "I'm not saying this should be about discrimination."

"Americans respect all people. We also recognize that there are many settings where children are raised," he said, citing grandparents and same-sex couples as examples. "But we choose to recognize one setting as the ideal."

more
posted by Eve at 7:38 PM | link

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home