Jon Huntsman: I'd 'Respect' New York Law Allowing For Same-Sex Marriage

NEWARK, N.J. -- Former Utah governor and current presidential candidate Jon Huntsman said on Tuesday that as president he would respect the decision of states that legalized same-sex marriage and not seek to override those laws with a federal ban.

Speaking to reporters on the day of his campaign launch, Huntsman was asked specifically about the growing likelihood of a same-sex marriage bill being passed in New York. Would he seek to overrule Empire State lawmakers should he end up in the Oval Office?

"I would respect the state's decision on that," he replied.

The answer, while brisk, nevertheless sets Huntsman apart from his fellow Republican presidential candidates. Other members of the field have offered sympathy for state sovereignty on matters of marriage. But they have usually couched that by saying they would support a federal ban on same-sex marriage as well.

Huntsman, who supported civil unions as Utah's governor, has said he personally believes that marriage is between man and woman. Yet his willingness to at least cede dominion over that decision to the states risks his standing among social conservatives, even if other prominent Republicans -- including former Vice President Dick Cheney –- have made similar remarks.

While the former governor does have a relatively progressive-minded history on the topic, it is also worth noting that his presidential campaign has drawn hefty support from prominent gay Republicans.

Comments

[David Silvey]

12:19 PM on 06/24/2011

Jon Huntsman is much too sane and reasonable to be a real republician.

[Ben belmont]

10:39 PM on 06/22/2011

Once the Mormon church offered support for gay rights regarding housing and employment, it became law. I could see the Mormon church supporting civil unions. This would help out gay rights especially in Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, and Nevada. Only some Mormons are for gay marriage, but I would say most are for civil unions and the Mormon church leaders would appear to be as well. The church has been making extra efforts to reach out to it's many gay members lately. I would hope that this outreach continues and progresses and that gay and lesbian Mormons will feel loved and included in this process. The church has always said that all are loved and welcome.

[Haight]

06:55 AM on 06/30/2011

The Mormon church spent tens of millions to fight gays marriage in California. Mormons are also not for civil unions, because they believe ingaging in gay sex is a sin. My nephew and cousin are constantly told by their bishops that it is okay to be gay, but never okay to act on it. I've yet to meet a bishop in Idaho or Utah that held any other opinion.

[walkabodog]

03:09 PM on 06/22/2011

Let not the word marriage be used in these so-called unions. The term marriage belongs to G o d!
Don't use it in a way that it was not intended to be used. Your call, your blessing or cursing.

[truth be told again]

04:06 PM on 06/22/2011

You really didnt read this article, did you?

I recommend you read what an Orthodox Rabbi has to say about this elsewhere on HuffPo. You and your version of God can shove it.

[Ioan Lightoller]

06:10 PM on 06/22/2011

Marriage has been used throughout history for civil as well as religious marriage. Religion doesn't own the term. Why should our unions be called something different? To pander to your religious beliefs? I think not.

[bearchao]

01:23 PM on 06/22/2011

"I'd 'Respect' New York Law Allowing For Same-Sex Marriage."

Well, there goes any chance at all he might have had as a GOP candidate.

[walkabodog]

02:57 PM on 06/22/2011

He is saying that he will respect the people of the state and their decision. He didn't say he agrees with their decision.

[bearchao]

03:03 PM on 06/22/2011

As for the good old folks that will be voting in the Republican primaries, what's the difference?

[Kate Zeiss]

08:34 AM on 06/22/2011

Huntsman is just way too sane to ever be nominated . . .

[Ronaldus Magnus]

08:32 AM on 06/22/2011

SDH283
832 Fans

Some of us remember Reagan, not the current myth
__________________________________________________________________

I am not going to allow you to get away with that. On the topic of putting Reagan on Mt. Rushmore, Grover Norquist said it better than I could.

"Is he of that stature? The answer is yes," said Grover Norquist, chairman of the Reagan Legacy Project. "Reagan was the most successful president of the twentieth century. He took a country that was in economic collapse and militarily in retreat around the globe and turned it completely around."

I was in the military during both the Carter and Reagan Administrations. Let me educate you, it was like night and day. Our military was in shambles under Carter, and Reagan turned it and our economy around. He made us proud to be Americans again!

[Jason N]

10:52 AM on 06/22/2011

Reagan ruined our economy, I won't speak on the military turn around, I don't know enough about what Carter did differently from Reagan, though it appears Reagan merely beefed up what Carter started (not to mention his funding of Contra rebels and the Iranian affair, not sure how those were good for our military or foreign policy objectives but ok...) in the Soviet-US Arms race by increasing defense spending. He certainly wasn't the neo-con you all imagine him as. He cut-and-ran from Lebanon faster than he raised taxes.

[walkabodog]

03:02 PM on 06/22/2011

May I remind you that congress holds the purse strings of government and has the final say. For six years he had the senate, never the house.

[Ronaldus Magnus]

08:26 AM on 06/22/2011

Huntsman is for respecting states rights. But he personally is not in favor of gay marriage, but only civil unions. HP should do a better job in the distinction.

[talkstocoyotes]

08:32 AM on 06/22/2011

Huntsman should do a better job in making it clear what "states rights" means. Historically it's often translated into making civil rights a matter for popular vote, which is contrary to the US Constitution.

The US Constitution, by the way, consists of considerably more than the Second and Tenth Amendments. And it allows for things the Founding Fathers didn't anticipate, such as women and racial minorities voting.

What rights of yours would you like to see up for popular vote? How about religious freedom? After all, religion isn't something you're born with; many people have come out of that lifestyle.

[journalisk]

10:42 AM on 06/22/2011

Yes, the 14th Amendment clearly protects gay rights. It's not just a matter of state rights. Also, the only argument against gay marriage that I've heard is Christian, and the 1st Amendment protects freedom from religion as well as freedom of religion, so there is no freedom to legislate this type of moralityt here. This is not a matter of state rights alone: this is a federal, constitutional issue, and a human rights issue, according to the recent UN resolution.

It's time to tell Republicans this isn't a matter of opinion: gay people have constitutional protection under the 14th Amendment!

[truth be told again]

04:12 PM on 06/22/2011

"After all, religion isn't something you're born with; many people have come out of that lifestyle."

Amen! ALL religion is a choice, quite unlike human sexual orientation. Voting on other people,s rights and freedoms is an obscenity unworthy of America.

[JackNasty]

08:55 AM on 06/22/2011

What ever happened to equal protection under the law for all?

Separate is never equal.

[ruthtruth]

08:03 AM on 06/22/2011

I don't understand how this guy can make his vast fortune, along with his family, in CHINA and no one cares. If he really cares about the jobs for Americans how does he tell them that I give jobs to the Chinese but not my own country. I wouldn't vote for someone that gives jobs over seas just like the rest of big business. Evidently it's ok for a republican to say they want to create jobs but do nothing and now have a candidate who is rich taking jobs over seas.

[talkstocoyotes]

08:34 AM on 06/22/2011

***I don't understand how this guy can make his vast fortune, along with his family, in CHINA and no one cares.***

The plutocracy doesn't care how a country treats its citizens; nor, for that matter, how many people have jobs. And don't forget, they're enabled by citizens who base their opinions on what they on talk radio.

[dora rice]

07:56 AM on 06/22/2011

Respecting states rights is a good thing.

[Ronaldus Magnus]

08:24 AM on 06/22/2011

Exactly right!

[JackNasty]

08:56 AM on 06/22/2011

It worked out so well for slavery and racial segregation.

[bradenton]

07:51 AM on 06/22/2011

Finally a Republican with an honorable idea.

[Ronaldus Magnus]

08:27 AM on 06/22/2011

The GOP all along have thought most issues should be decided on the state level.

[talkstocoyotes]

08:35 AM on 06/22/2011

Not really. There was a time when the Republican Party opposed "states rights"; in both the 1860s and 1960s.

I'm curious: would you support your state seceding? I must admit there are some the US would do better without.

[Jason N]

10:53 AM on 06/22/2011

Yeah, DOMA and proposed Constitutional bans on same sex marriage sure do lead me to believe THAT. LMAO!!

[ruthtruth]

08:06 AM on 06/22/2011

Not a good reason to like him unless looks are all that counts. Shallow.

[mcmutter]

06:58 AM on 06/22/2011

Ronnie Raygun he ain't ... not even close ....

[SDH283]

07:55 AM on 06/22/2011

..... and that's a good thing.

Some of us remember Reagan, not the current myth

[mcmutter]

06:57 AM on 06/22/2011

Mormans need not apply ....

[LoyalBob]

06:52 AM on 06/22/2011

How magnanimous of Jon Huntsman. He'll stay out of the way of a state's right to be either bigoted or not. Wonderful bullet for the old resume.

Enough of this patchwork legislation toward same sex marriage. It is time for the Federal Government to lead the way and a president who is on board with equal treatment for all.

It's nothing but more doublespeak from the Republicans. A pathetic lot.

[SSF]

06:15 AM on 06/22/2011

A GOP candidate who is willing to support, or even tolerate, gay marriage will get absolutely nowhere with a homophobic right-wing Republican political base. Stick a fork in Huntsman, he's done!