Tuesday, November 21, 2006

What's disingenuous

The big news in the sphere today is Romney's attack on McCain that we posted on earlier.

“That’s his position, and in my opinion, it’s disingenuous,” he said. “Look, if somebody says they’re in favor of gay marriage, I respect that view. If someone says — like I do — that I oppose same–sex marriage, I respect that view. But those who try and pretend to have it both ways, I find it to be disingenuous.”

To us in the Cooler it seems like Romney lives in a glass house on this one. While his point that McCain's position is disingenuous has merit, is Romney really the most credible attacker? Here are some of his past statements with regards to marriage.

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Mr. Romney yesterday told TV news stations that he would support a Vermont-style civil union law in Massachusetts, but reiterated his support for a constitutional amendment that would clarify that "marriage is an institution between a man and a woman."

- Washington Times, 11/20/2003

In 2002, before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court declared same-sex marriage protected by the Constitution, Romney denounced as "too extreme" the effort by pro-family groups to enact a preemptive state Marriage Protection Amendment prohibiting homosexual marriage, civil unions and same-sex public employee benefits.

- Boston Phoenix, May 14-20, 2004

Eric Fehrnstrom, a Romney campaign spokesman, said Romney opposes gay marriage but also opposes the amendment, since he sees no reason to change the current laws, which allow for domestic-partner benefits to public employees.

- Boston Globe 3/22/2002

Romney was unaware his family members had signed the amendment petition said Fehrnstrom, and he does not support the "Protection of Marriage" amendment. "He is opposed to gay marriage but in the case of the 'defense of marriage' amendment Mitt believes it goes too far in that it would outlaw domestic partnerships for non-traditional couples. That is something he is not prepared to accept."

-Bay Windows 3/28/02

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Honestly there are a litany of other quotes Mitt has made about unions and gay adoption that would reinforce our point.

The criticism of McCain is a fair one. Murphy articulated why very well in the comments below. But it's kind of silly for the criticism to come from the Governor of Massachussetes who has signed over 150 1 day certificates to homosexual couples. It would be like McCain criticizing Romney for flip-flopping on ethanol. The disingenuous attack only works if the candidate is GENUINE.

3 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Romney is a fraud. Period.

12:23 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Cmon Murphy. Romney is just playing word games. He was the executive of a state that allowed civil unions, gave benefits to same sex couples, he supported gay adoption and now he's saying but I oppose marriage. Well big deal, he supports just about every incentive for gay couples.

That's disingenuous.

12:40 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Romney denounced as "too extreme" the effort by pro-family groups to enact a preemptive state Marriage Protection Amendment prohibiting homosexual marriage, civil unions and same-sex public employee benefits."

That's not giving "rhetorical aid?"

12:57 PM  

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