I read an interesting article about republican Senator Rob
Portman from Ohio. Senator Portman was
one of the people Mitt Romney was considering as a vice presidential candidate
in the last election before Paul Ryan was chosen for that role. Over the years, Mr. Portman has been a vocal
opponent of same sex marriage. In 2011,
Portman's "openly hostile" record on gay rights led to hundreds of
students at the University of Michigan objecting to the senator speaking at the
school's graduation ceremony.
Sen. Rob Portman says he now supports same-sex marriage
because one of his sons is gay. The Ohio Republican informed reporters from
several newspapers in his home state of his reversal, which The Columbus
Dispatch calls "stunning." Portman
told The Cincinnati Enquirer his evolution on the subject began in 2011 when
his son, Will, then a freshman at Yale University, told his parents he was gay. Portman told the Enquirer his new views
reflect "a change of heart from the position of a father".
I understand Mr. Portman’s change of position and agree with
it. It seems to me that you see some people
opposed to gay marriage until one of their children comes out as gay. Then frequently the parent makes a shift of
position wanting their child to have an opportunity for marital happiness just
as Mr. Portman did. Just as Dick Cheney did..
In the same fashion, some people are opposed to medical care
for all until their child or elderly parent or other relative has some catastrophic
illness.
I am not in favor of a welfare state but I am in favor of
helping those in need. I am in favor of loving and helping the down trodden. I
am in favor of the people being allowed to love whomever they want and being
able to be legally committed to that person.
It is sometimes easy to make judgments about big issues
until these big issues become personal issues that affect us or our
family. When the big issues become
personal issues sometimes our political views dramatically change.
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