A Sound Conservative Argument for Same-Sex Marriage

by Michael Jones · 2009-04-17 13:52:00 UTC
Topics:

Steve Schmidt

So much time gets alotted to Republicans who believe that same-sex marriage is an abomination.  John Boehner, Marilyn Musgrave, Sally Kern, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Sarah Palin....thankfully, these faces aren't the only ones in the party of the GOP.  We know that there are a number of Republicans that read this blog, for instance, that are supportive of LGBT rights and supportive of same-sex marriage.

That's why we're happy to see Steve Schmidt (bald guy above on the right), Sen. John McCain's former campaign advisor, joining their ranks.  Schmidt gave a speech today before the Log Cabin Republicans, putting forward what he calls "a sound conserative argument for same-sex marriage."  It's an argument that Schmidt put forward a month ago in an interview with the Washington Blade.  Here's what Schmidt told folks today:

It cannot be argued that marriage between people of the same sex is un American or threatens the rights of others. On the contrary, it seems to me that denying two consenting adults of the same sex the right to form a lawful union that is protected and respected by the state denies them two of the most basic natural rights affirmed in the preamble of our Declaration of Independence — liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That, I believe, gives the argument of same sex marriage proponents its moral force.

We saw these same messaging points come up before, most notably from Republicans Against Proposition 8, and Meghan McCain, the Senator's daughter.   Meghan actually wrote a piece for The Daily Beast this week elaborating on her views:

...why are gay issues so important to me? At the most basic level, sexual orientation should not be a factor in how you are treated. If the Republican Party has any hope of gaining substantial support from a wider, younger base, we need to get past our anti-gay rhetoric.

And you know what?  She's right.  Do you think there will ever be another New England Republican elected who doesn't support marriage equality?  I think it's possible, but I think it's highly doubtful.  And the reason is because the party simply can't win if it's seen as being a bigoted, discriminatory, anti-LGBT party.  That may be the vision that some leaders - like the ones mentioned in the first paragraph of this entry - want to see for the GOP, but as far as Meghan McCain and Steve Schmidt are concerned, that vision will keep the GOP in the minority for decades, if not forever.

The heart of all of this, of course, isn't to be partisan.  It's simply to point out that there's common ground to be found on the issue of same-sex marriage.  And that's because equality should know no political party.  It should be universal.

Michael Jones is a Change.org Editor. He has worked in the field of human rights communications for a decade, most recently for Harvard Law School.
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