[MP-Ryan]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/republican-us-senator-has-change-of-heart-on-gay-marriage-after-learning-son-is-gay/article9812751/

Ohio Republican U.S. Senator Rob Portman, a longtime opponent of same-sex marriage, said on Friday he now believes gays have a right to marry after learning two years ago that his son is gay.

Portman, who was on the short list to be 2012 Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s running mate, made the announcement in an opinion piece in an Ohio newspaper and gave interviews on his change of heart.

“I have come to believe that if two people are prepared to make a lifetime commitment to love and care for each other in good times and in bad, the government shouldn’t deny them the opportunity to get married,” Portman wrote in an op-ed piece in the Columbus Dispatch, titled “The Freedom to Marry.”

“That isn’t how I’ve always felt. As a Congressman, and more recently as a Senator, I opposed marriage for same-sex couples. Then something happened that led me to think through my position in a much deeper way.”

Good for this guy, and shame on the people calling him a hypocrite.  Progressive-minded people want to challenge these beliefs and cause social conservatives to re-think their positions, then when one actually does because something in his life forced him to think about the issue differently they call him a hypocrite?  Way to help the cause, folks.

Anyway, more fodder for CPAC.

[Luis Dias]

Now I understand "God's" Tweet a few moments ago:

That's it. I'm making all conservative politicians' kids gay. It is a choice, after all... MINE.

[newman]

If God's proven anything by now, it's that he's not without a sense of humor and/or irony, so this isn't surprising

[karajorma]

Just reading the thread title I thought "he had a son or daughter come out?"

IIRC Dick Cheney also had similar issues cause his daughter is a lesbian.

Good for this guy, and shame on the people calling him a hypocrite.  Progressive-minded people want to challenge these beliefs and cause social conservatives to re-think their positions, then when one actually does because something in his life forced him to think about the issue differently they call him a hypocrite?  Way to help the cause, folks.

Having a change of heart because of personal experience does not make you a hypocrite. Hell if anything this man is actually showing more of a spine than I'm used to from Republican politicians. Being pro-gay marriage as a Republican senator can't be easy and it would have been all too easy for him to actually have been a hypocrite and not said anything.

[Luis Dias]

I happen to think it's actually pretty heartwarming to see a conservative change his views because of what his son is going through. It means he puts human relations way above ideology or party politics.

[General Battuta]

I happen to think it's actually pretty heartwarming to see a conservative change his views because of what his son is going through. It means he puts human relations way above ideology or party politics.

One of the Westboro Baptist Church leader's daughters also left the church after a series of calm rational conversations with an outsider :toot:

We have not lived nor fought in vain

[Lorric]

I can imagine some fool will say this was a test from God and he failed it.

It's a nice story.

Step by step...

[StarSlayer]

Granted someone who is as mercurial as a weather vane isn't worth much but I always thought that the ability for a someone in a leadership position to be able to adapt to new information and reevaluate their views is a strength not a weakness. 

[Dragon]

Only a cow doesn't change it's mind, as they say. He had a good reason to flip one the issue and it's a good thing he done so. I wish there were more such politicians, I think too many of them stick with their positions against all reason.

[Apollo]

The comments section is full of social liberals who are actually mad at him for changing his viewpoint.

So at first they're like "GAY MARRIAGE IS A CIVIL RIGHT YOU HOMOPHOBIC PIECE OF ****!" and when a conservative actually changes his viewpoints it's "HOW DARE YOU AGREE WITH US? YOU ****ING HYPOCRITE!" If anything, I'd say they're being hypocritical. Well, that just shows how hostile liberals and conservatives are towards each other.

Anyway, I'm glad he reconsidered his stance on gay marriage. Now if only the rest of the Republicans would stop *****ing about it...

Who knows? They might even win the presidency.

[Lorric]

The comments section is full of social liberals who are actually mad at him for changing his viewpoint.

So at first they're like "GAY MARRIAGE IS A CIVIL RIGHT YOU HOMOPHOBIC PIECE OF ****!" and when a conservative actually changes his viewpoints it's "HOW DARE YOU AGREE WITH US? YOU ****ING HYPOCRITE!" If anything, I'd say they're being hypocritical. Well, that just shows how hostile liberals and conservatives are towards each other.

Anyway, I'm glad he reconsidered his stance on gay marriage. Now if only the rest of the Republicans would stop *****ing about it...

Who knows? They might even win the presidency.

Heh. I thought you were going to tear a strip off all of us initially.

I'm sure that's really going to encourage others to follow his example.

[Apollo]

Heh. I thought you were going to tear a strip off all of us initially.

While I'm socially liberal in nearly every aspect, I still find stuff like this immensely tiresome. We should admire Portman for changing his views, not flame him as a hypocrite.

I'm sure that's really going to encourage others to follow his example.

My comments or theirs?

[Lorric]

Heh. I thought you were going to tear a strip off all of us initially.

While I'm socially liberal in nearly every aspect, I still find stuff like this immensely tiresome. We should admire Portman for changing his views, not flame him as a hypocrite.

I'm sure that's really going to encourage others to follow his example.

My comments or theirs?

I agree.

Theirs.

[deathfun]

Only a cow doesn't change it's mind, as they say. He had a good reason to flip one the issue and it's a good thing he done so. I wish there were more such politicians, I think too many of them stick with their positions against all reason.

Actually, cows do change their minds so what they say is inaccurate 

I agree with Apollo here. It's ridiculous to think about how divided people are in their political views despite the fact they're agreeing with eachother

[Luis Dias]

That's also normal. They are all bitter between themselves.

[Mars]

It's annoying in that this is someone who is in control of a lot of power. He has known theoretically that there are many sons and daughters of many people who his policies have prevented from getting married. When his own son comes out, then he notices there is a problem. I am not condoning the flaming he's getting, but I can certainly see where the criticism lies.

That said, this is a very human trait, and ultimately he acted in an honorable way.

[Luis Dias]

I don't agree with that at all Mars. Making policies will always be a work that has a ****ton of responsibility in that regard, and denying rights is as much important thing to do as giving them / recognizing them. IF you are a politician that believes that marriage is an institution incompatible with the notion of "gay marriage" I think it only fair and correct that you should oppose it.

Personally I am not 100% convinced gay people *should* have the right to marry. I don't actually "mind it" (Portugal has legalized it recently and I am really not one iota offended or bummed by it), but I've always found the arguments lacking given enough thought and ponderation.

But hey, that's just me, I am a father of three brats and not even married!

[The E]

but I've always found the arguments lacking given enough thought and ponderation.

I really wish you'd elaborate on that.

[Mars]

*should*

Ethically, practically, or politically?

[666maslo666]

Personally I am not 100% convinced gay people *should* have the right to marry. I don't actually "mind it" (Portugal has legalized it recently and I am really not one iota offended or bummed by it), but I've always found the arguments lacking given enough thought and ponderation.

I have similar view. I support gay marriage, however I also consider it largely a non-issue and I hardly would call gay marriage to be some basic right that is being denied. Theres no right to marry, and its all more like a custom than anything important, IMHO.