Romney, conservatism, raising a family and the gays

[jaxx]

Posted at 05:00 PM ET, 01/26/2012
Romney, conservatism, raising a family and the gays
By Jonathan Capehart

As we gear up for another televised smackdown between Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich, I want to revisit something the former Massachusetts governor said at Monday’s debate that is still bugging me. NBC’s Brian Williams asked Romney, “[W]hat have you done to further the cause of conservatism as a Republican leader?” To which he replied, “Well, number one, I’ve raised a family.”

My first thought ran to how desperate it was for Romney to use his family as a human shield to protect him against the ongoing suspicion that he is a conservative in name only. But then I started thinking about his opposition to marriage equality and same-sex adoption rights.

<..> An update of a report that I wrote about last October — “All Children Matter” — will be released tomorrow by the Center for American Progress, Family Equality Council and the Movement Advancement Project that will have more sobering statistics. For instance, one-fifth of male same-sex couples raising children (21 percent) and female same-sex couples raising children (20 percent) are living in poverty. The report also notes, “31 percent of same-sex households raising children have household income below $50,000 compared to 27 percent of married heterosexual couples raising children.” And as the initial study pointed out, due to inequitable laws, particularly the so-called Defense of Marriage Act, the extra financial burden over 18 years for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender couples raising children is more than $219,000.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post..._blog.html

Equality isn't something Romney knows about.

[jaxx]

Gingrich: Same-Sex Marriage Is ‘Pagan’ Behavior

By Igor Volsky on Jan 26, 2012 at 5:10 pm

ky on Jan 26, 2012 at 5:10 pm

Thrice-married Newt Gingrich, who has previously described same-sex marriage as “a temporary aberration that will dissipate,” told a right-wing radio show this afternoon that gay and lesbian unions are akin to “pagan” behaviors:

The former speaker is apparently unaware that many in the Christian faith support same-sex marriage, or at least unions, including: Evangelical Lutherans, Episcopalians, Presbyterians (U.S.A), adherents of the United Church of Christ, and Unitarian Universalists. Polls also show that a majority of Catholics and non-evangelical white Protestants back marriage rights for gay couples. (HT: Right Wing Watch)

http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2012/01/26...-behavior/

Another one weighs in on his bigotry.

[NJMaverick]

since it implies liberals don't raise families.

[jaxx]

(01-27-2012 11:53 AM)NJMaverick Wrote:  since it implies liberals don't raise families.

Good point. This 'war on religion' the candidates are fighting is coming from them.

[SeattleGirl]

(01-27-2012 11:56 AM)jaxx Wrote:  

(01-27-2012 11:53 AM)NJMaverick Wrote:  since it implies liberals don't raise families.

Good point. This 'war on religion' the candidates are fighting is coming from them.

Exactly, Mav and jaxx.

Plus, how is it that raising a family qualifies one to be President?