McCain backs same-sex marriage opponents
At first, he thought the issue should be left to the states allowing the voters to decide if same-sex couples should be granted marriage equality under the law.
Now, presumptive Republican Presidential candidate Senator John McCain has moved a bit further to the right in his position, going as far as to support the efforts of ProtectMarriage.com to amend California’s constitution.
According to an exclusive by Kerry Eleveld posted on Advocate.com, the Log Cabin Republicans have confirmed that the Arizona Senator now endorses the efforts of groups looking to amend the California’s state constitution to prohibit marriage equality under the law.
The lead announcement on website ProtectMarriage.com, which is leading the California ballot initiative, says, “McCain Announces Support for California Protection of Marriage Initiative.”
That headline comes from an email received by the group from the McCain campaign saying, “I support the efforts of the people of California to recognise marriage as a unique institution between a man and a woman, just as we did in my home state of Arizona. I do not believe judges should be making these decisions.”
This language differs slightly from McCain’s position immediately following May’s Supreme Court decision.
Following that announcement, he said he “supports the right of the people of California to recognise marriage as a unique institution sanctioning the union between a man and a woman.”
Eleveld cites a statement released on Tuesday by the Log Cabin Republicans which says:
“Late last week, the group pushing the California’s anti-marriage constitutional amendment released an email from a McCain staffer saying the Senator backed the amendment. We now have confirmation that this represents the Senator’s view.”
McCain’s website explains his view a little bit further.
“The family represents the foundation of Western Civilization and civil society and John McCain believes the institution of marriage is a union between one man and one woman.
“It is only this definition that sufficiently recognises the vital and unique role played by mothers and fathers in the raising of children, and the role of the family in shaping, stabilising, and strengthening communities and our nation.”
For their part, Eleveld reports that the Log Cabin Republicans did release a statement seemingly disappointed in McCain’s stance.
“Unfortunately, his position on this amendment hurts gay and lesbian families,” Patrick Sammon, president of the Log Cabiners, said in the release.
“We obviously disagree with Senator McCain on this issue and do not believe he should have interjected himself into this state issue.
“Backing California’s ban sends the wrong signal to the independents who will decide this election because it creates the impression that he’s pandering to social conservative leaders.”
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