Romney’s De-evolution Flip Flop Flopsweat

Sometimes wedge issues can give you the mother of all wedgies.

“Well, when these issues were raised in my state of Massachusetts, I indicated my view, which is I do not favor marriage between people of the same gender, and I do not favor civil unions if they are identical to marriage other than by name,” Romney said during a visit to Fort Lupton. “My view is the domestic partnership benefits, hospital visitation rights, and the like are appropriate but that the others are not.”

Mitt Romney, 2012

I have the same view on marriage that I had when I was governor. I believe marriage is a relationship between a man and a woman.
...
This is a very tender and sensitive topic as are many social issues, but I have the same views I’ve had since running for office.

Mitt Romney, 2012

To the Members of the Log Cabin Club of Massachusetts:

I am writing to thank the Log Cabin Club of Massachusetts for the advice and support you have given to me during my campaign for the U.S. Senate and to seek the Club’s formal endorsement of my election. The Log Cabin Club has played a vital role in reinvigorating the Republican Party in Massachusetts and your endorsement is important to me because it will provide further confirmation that my campaign and approach to government is consistent with the values and vision of government we share.

I am pleased to have had an opportunity to talk with you and to meet many of you personally during your September meeting. I learned a great deal from those discussions and the many thoughtful questions you posed. As a result of our discussions and other interactions with gay and lesbian voters across the state, I am more convinced than ever before that as we seek to establish full equality for Americas gay and lesbian citizens, I will provide more effective leadership than my opponent.

I am not unaware of my opponent’s considerable record in the area of civil rights, or the commitment of Massachusetts voters to the principle of equality for all Americans. For some voters it might be enough for me to simply match my opponent’s record in this area. But I believe we can and must do better. If we are to achieve the goals we share, we must make equality for gays and lesbians a mainstream concern. My opponent cannot do this. I can and will.

We have discussed a number of important issues such as the Federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which I have agreed to co-sponsor, and if possible broaden to include housing and credit, and the bill to create a federal panel to find ways to reduce gay and lesbian youth suicide, which I also support. One issue I want to clarify concerns President Clinton’s “don’t ask, don’t tell, don’t pursue” military policy. I believe that the Clinton compromise was a step in the right direction. I am also convinced that it is the first of a number of steps that will ultimately lead to gays and lesbians being able to serve openly and honestly in our nation’s military. That goal will only be reached when preventing discrimination against gays and lesbians is a mainstream concern, which is a goal we share.

As we begin the final phase of this campaign, I need your support more than ever. By working together, we will achieve the goals we share for Massachusetts and our Nation.

Sincerely,

W. Mitt Romney

Mitt Romney, 1994

Still, by his own lights, Mittens is consistent. He’s been straddling this issue his whole political career, managing to piss off both social conservatives and conservative gay rights campaigners. Nowadays, it’s far easier just not to talk about it.

Posted by YAFB on 05/10/12 at 08:56 AM • Permalink

...and pay no attention to the fact that, as a prep school snot, I held down a gay student and forcibly cut his hair, an event of which I blissfully have no memory:  http://tinyurl.com/83zv37x

Mitt has been so busy being a Very Important Bussinessman, Missionary, Politician and Rich Guy that he can’t even remember what happened in high school . . .

But the handful of Mitt Romney’s classmates who either participated or didn’t stop it, not only remember his gay-bashing, they feel terrible about it. For Romney to not remember, and thus not be affected by his own gay-bashing, speaks volumes about his character.

Mittens gives good Republican-style Apology:

“Back in high school, I did some dumb things and if anybody was hurt by that or offended, obviously I apologize for that,” Romney said during an interview with radio host Brian Kilmeade that was not included on a schedule of Romney’s media events distributed to reporters. “I participated in a lot of hijinks and pranks during high school and some might have gone too far and for that, I apologize.”
...
“I don’t remember that incident,” Romney told Kilmeade, chuckling. “I certainly don’t believe that I thought the fellow was homosexual. That was the furthest thing from our minds back in the 1960s, so that was not the case.”

Could have been worse. He could have eaten a dog.

Sorry, commenting is closed for this post.