Carly Fiorina backs civil unions

[Mr. Morden]

John Bolton supports straight up legalization of SSM.  Do any of the other GOP 2016ers go as far as civil unions?:

http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-04-02/carly-fiorina-reaffirms-support-for-same-sex-civil-unions

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[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Civil unions in 2015? How very brave.

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Civil unions in 2015? How very brave.

Considering that supporting SSM is still considered a treasonous act to the majority of the GOP today, I don't expect any 2016ers to announce their support for SSM on the campaign trail. They'll either lose the primary or lose a bunch of base turnout in the GE because of it. It's possible that some of them will support it upon becoming President, but it almost certainly won't happen before 11/9/16 (Day after election day).

What will instead happen is one of two things:

1) If the supreme court rules in favor of Same Sex Marriage, we will hear a mixture of "we should consider an amendment to return the decision to the states" and "I am disappointed with this decision, but what we need now is acceptance".

2) If the supreme court rules against Same Sex Marriage though, we'll see a doubling down on the issue. The Supreme Court will be profusely thanked over and over again while the party leadership squashes any resemblance of a moderation on the issue and announcements of SSM support from prominent GOPers will immediately stop happening, and a few may even withdraw previous declarations of support.

[HAnnA MArin County]

Civil unions is "so yesterday."

[Likely Voter]

being opposed to SSM is so yesterday, this wont really be an issue in 2016. The bigger issue will be support or opposition to RFRAs (like this week in IN and AR) and ENDA laws for LGBT. The tide is turning and it is getting harder and harder to justify these things, but the base loves RFRAs and hates ENDA.

Just today this was the front page of a major paper in that liberal bastion North Dakota, shaming those who voted against that state's ENDA law.


Opposition to gay rights could become the 'self-deportation' of 2016. Just look at how all the GOP 2016ers jumped to back Pence this week (because that is what the base wants), only to see Pence back away from his own position by the end of the week (Bush also flipped by the end of the week).

[retromike22]

I can't even remember the last time I heard the phrase "civil unions."

[Likely Voter]

BTW, today Ted Cruz was one of only six US Senators to sign an brief urging SCOTUS to rule against SSM.
http://www.washingtonblade.com/2015/04/03/congressional-republicans-urge-supreme-court-to-uphold-marriage-bans/

All the Democratic Senators signed a brief urging SCOTUS to rule in favor of SSM. As for the rest of the GOP senators, apparently they wish this would go away and don't want to put their name down on anything as official as an amicus brief to the Supreme Court. I suspect that Cruz may use that against his fellow Senators (Paul, Rubio, and Graham) and anyone else. In his CPAC speech he made a point out of saying that other candidates may say they are for or against something, but what are they doing about it? He can claim he is the only one actively fighting SSM.

[Former Democrat]

Civil unions are great and all that counts

marriage is so yesterday

I am gay too and I wanna have equal rights but civil unions + goverment profits thats equality

only a few gays want to marry too

[Fuzzybigfoot]

We knew this when she ran for Senate.  Nothing new.

[Mister Mets]

There is an opening for Republicans on gay marriage, so it wouldn't surprise me if positions evolve further in the next year.

A majority of the public supports gay marriage, but there's also majority support for the idea that people who don't approve of gay marriage shouldn't be legally coerced into paricipating in one if it goes against their religious beliefs.

In an Associated Press poll in February, the American public supported gay marriage 44-39, but religious exemption had 57% support with 39% opposed.

http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-gay-marriage-poll-20150205-story.html

If there are enough arguments about how people who refuse to provide services for same-sex weddings should face legal repercussions, it becomes safer for a Republican to say that he supports gay marriage but favors exeptions. Opponents of gay marriage will be on the Republican's side. Instead of gay marriage VS oppositon to gay marriage, the fight is then over religious exemptions, an issue with broader support.

[Blair]

Didn't like 300 prominent republicans sign a letter asking the SCOTUS to legalize gay marriage?

[Holmes]

Civil unions are great and all that counts

marriage is so yesterday

I am gay too and I wanna have equal rights but civil unions + goverment profits thats equality

only a few gays want to marry too

I'm getting gay married in August. It'll also help me immigrate to the US, which wouldn't be possible with a civil union.

You need to learn to love yourself and give a damn about your community.

[heatmaster]

Oh oh looks like Carly has moved up higher in the V.P. stakes, maybe it will be Bush-Fiorina after all😉

[Indy Texas]

Carly Fiornia's corporate strategy as CEO of HP was about 10 years behind the times. It makes sense that her public policy strategy as a presidential candidate would be 10 years behind the times too.

[CountryClassSF]

Civil unions were a Democrat concept that was a precursor to the forcing of the radical redefinition of marriage on to our country. 

[morgieb]

What a kind and sensible moderate!

[Flake]

Very reasonable, very moderate.

[Brittain33]

Civil unions were a Democrat concept that was a precursor to the forcing of the radical redefinition of marriage on to our country. 

Wow, refusing to use "Democratic" as an adjective is even more dated than coming out for civil unions.

I think the next step is shutting down PBS.

[Likely Voter]

Didn't like 300 prominent republicans sign a letter asking the SCOTUS to legalize gay marriage?

Yes, but only two GOP senators signed that (Kirk and Collins).  As a whole, the GOP is neither fighting for or against SSM in a serious manner anymore. They have moved on to offering these RFRA consolation prizes to the base in some states, although the last week shows that even that is backfiring.

As for Fiorina's bold stance, civil unions may make a comeback if (unlikely) SCOTUS deems SSM bans constitutional. But as of now, no state is debating or discussing civil union legislation.

[badgate]

How generous of her.

[Peeperkorn]

Civil unions in 2015? How very brave.

[Grumpier Than Thou]

Well, all of the gay Republicans are going to have a tough time choosing between Bolton and Fiorina now. Their mass numbers could swing who wins the nomination.

[Peeperkorn]

Bolston is pro SSM, am I right?

[Mr. Morden]

Bolston is pro SSM, am I right?

Yes.  Bolton hilariously said:

http://www.nationalreview.com/node/356423/print

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Which begs the question: Who is the lucky guy who Bolton would like to marry?

[Clarko95 📚💰📈]

Vintage! So cute I love it! Did she get it at the 2008 resale shop?


I'll have to stop by sometime and see if they have any of McCain's support for Cap & Trade! You know, moderate Republicanism could make a comeback any day now! Gotta stay ahead of the trend