Mitt Romney Grilled By Gay Veteran On Same-Sex Marriage Rights

A gay veteran lit into GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney at a campaign stop in New Hampshire on Monday, challenging the former Massachusetts governor on his views on same-sex marriage.

Romney approached Bob Garon, a gay man seated with his husband at the Chez Vachon restaurant, taking note of the man's Vietnam Veteran hat.

"Vietnam veteran!" Romney said, taking a seat at the couple's booth, according to the Washington Post.

Garon, a self-avowed independent voter, quickly launched into a question about New Hampshire's gay marriage law, asking Romney if he supported recent stirrings by GOP presidential candidates about repealing the legislation, which allows same-sex couples to get married.

"I support the repeal of the New Hampshire law," Romney responded. "I believe marriage is between a man and a woman. That's my view."

"It's good to know how you feel, that you do not believe everyone is entitled to their constitutional rights," Garon shot back.

"No, actually, I think at the time the Constitution was written it was pretty clear that marriage is between a man and a woman," Romney replied. "And I don't believe the Supreme Court has changed that."

The Associated Press reports on the end of the testy back-and-forth:

An aide tried to remove Romney from the situation, claiming the candidate had another interview with Fox News Channel.

"Oh, I guess the question was too hot," Garon said. Before getting up to leave the booth, Romney said he had given Garon a yes or no answer.

The exchange was enough to make up Garon's mind on how he felt about Romney.

"I was undecided," Garon said. But now "I'm totally convinced today that he's not going to be my president -- at least in my book. At least Obama will entertain the idea. This man is 'no way, Jose.' Well, take that 'no way, Jose' back to Massachusetts."

"The guy ain't going to make it," he told reporters later. "You can't trust him. I can see it in his eyes."

Garon said that he had married his husband in June, "in New Hampshire, where it's legal. Unless Mitt Romney gets elected."

The Associated Press reported earlier this year about the documented shift in the GOP field concerning the appropriate role of the federal government in deciding state marriage laws. Both Romney and Texas Governor Rick Perry had, at one point or another, said that same-sex marriage was a state issue, before announcing their support for a constitutional amendment banning such unions.

(Video above via ABC News)

Comments

[jho austin]

09:59 PM on 09/05/2012

Another honorable veteran, and he actually served his country instead of running to France on a draft dodge...a la Mittster.

[CertainlyTruth]

05:35 PM on 05/26/2012

Romney is MORE liberal than Obama. He “FATHERED” GAY MARRIAGE TO AMERICA & SIGNED-IN-TO-LAW $50.00 CO-PAY TAX PAYER SUBSIDIZED ABORTIONS as a “healthcare benefit” under his Romneycare.

Read this book “CAN MITT ROMNEY SERVE TWO MASTERS?” before going to the voting booth. At least you will know the “devil you know” when you vote for him & arm yourselves with the truth going forward. Satan is the father of lies – Barack Obama & Mitt Romney have this same father.

[steama]

12:27 AM on 01/07/2012

Any person who does not believe that constitutional rights must be extended to ALL people is not inclusive enough to be POTUS. Also, if the GOP is so big on small government isn't it about time the GOP gets out of the religion mixing with politics business? Why can't the churches be left to decide whether or not gay people can marry on a church by church basis. Government should stay out of it completely. Especially someone as narrow minded as Romney should just stay out of it rather than be allowed to hurt Americans based on what HE thinks is right.

[Ejiro Okoro]

02:24 PM on 01/06/2012

I read all these comments and most of the comments are acidic attack on a noble man whose only crime is saying what he believes with due respect to everybody. These gay society people are the ones that are bullies. Trying to bully everyone to accept their minority way of thinking. People are now afraid of speaking their minds for fear of being attacked. This reverse bullying has to stop. I am sure Romney will make a great President for all Americans irrespective of his inclinations. This reverse bullying has to stop

[steama]

12:32 AM on 01/07/2012

How can you call this group bullies? All these people are fighting for is EQUAL RIGHTS under the constitution. These people are fighting for their rights from people like Romney (who is not noble) who would deny them their rights. EVERYONE DESERVES THE SAME RIGHTS. Government needs to get out of the Religion and marriage business 100%.

[steama]

12:09 AM on 09/09/2012

 I am sorry my opinion was wrong and uninformed...Thank you for encouraging me to take a closer look..

[Matty S Mate]

03:13 AM on 02/28/2012

Ok, just because the majority believes something, it doesn't automatically makes it right. Actually many times in history the majority was forcing inequality on minorities. I agree the churches should have the right to refuse marrying same sex couples based upon the rules of their religion.
A courthouse marriage though should not even be in discussion of right or wrong. It should be anyone's right to choose another -regardless of gender- to live together in an officially recognized civil union granted with the same rights and benefits as in heterosexual marriages. The bullies here my friend are the people like you. Look, if you don't want gays or lesbians to get married, don't marry one.

[Activist Annie]

05:19 PM on 12/19/2011

I'm sick and tired of hearing the same Republican refrain regarding people's rights!

I am grateful Garon for speaking up to Mitt Romney.

I hope more do speak out and confront the politicians about issues. Who the heck do they think they are? Ah, I know, they are self-righteous, self-appointed moralists who seem to delight in disenfranchising and separating people with their own interpretation of life and living and the Constitution.

And they seek the office of President of the United States of America? In what century? On what planet? In what galaxy?

They certainly don't know how to legislate, so if they can't act like adults then they need to return to their underground hideaways. They won't need any help getting there because the hot air ejected from their bellicose statements will provide them with sufficient fuel for their journey.

Goodbye and good riddance!

[Justjack1]

04:45 AM on 12/15/2011

That was awesome, to not have a preconceived voting opinion and to get an answer and keep composure on a very offensive view by Willard Romney.
Its exactly like Segregation, it is Segregation.

[tssent]

10:36 PM on 12/14/2011

No gay soldier has ever gone to war --  whether it was Germany,
Vietnam, Korea, Iraq or Afghanistan -- on the condition that he was
there to defend the freedom and rights of gays only.

Indeed not.

He was there to fight for the freedom and rights of all Americans:
Gay Americans
Straight Americans
Black Americans
White Americans
Protestant Americans
Muslim Americans
Catholic Americans
Any and All Americans

That this slate of candidates would dare to stand before the
television cameras and declare they are not ready to support
the freedoms and rights of gay Americans who are in the field
ready to die in protecting their freedoms and rights, is God-awful,
heartbreaking and wholly unAmerican.

Shame on the lot of you GOP candidates.  You don't deserve a
seat in the White House.  You don't even merit a seat in the
outhouse.

[Activist Annie]

05:20 PM on 12/19/2011

A wonderful post!

[anitaportrichey]

06:30 PM on 12/14/2011

"No, actually, I think at the time the Constitution was written it was pretty clear that marriage is between a man and a woman," Romney replied."

Our founding fathers did not cover marriage in our Constitution.

However, I do believe that the 14th Amendment clearly supports gay marriage.

Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; not shall and State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the law."

Obama 2012!

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

[dm112375]

08:54 PM on 12/14/2011

Did you not notice the part of "Without due process of law". If you go by that than they can pass a bill stating that it is illegal for two people of the same sex to marry and it would be constitutional correct.

[Darr Sandberg]

02:13 AM on 12/15/2011

Actually, no. The 'due process of law' refers to restricting someone's civil rights when they have been convicted of a crime.

[AdamWest1313]

05:20 AM on 12/15/2011

Due process of law does not mean an unconstitutional vote or law, it means they broke the law.

[anitaportrichey]

06:08 PM on 12/14/2011

"The Associated Press reported earlier this year about the documented shift in the GOP field concerning the appropriate role of the federal government in deciding state marriage laws. Both Romney and Texas Governor Rick Perry had, at one point or another, said that same-sex marriage was a state issue, before announcing their support for a constitutional amendment banning such unions."

So they were for this being gay marriage beingcovered under the 10th Amendment....until their puppetmasters toldthemthat this was the wrong answer.......


Obama 2012!

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

[Bob Kellerman]

03:55 PM on 12/14/2011

Some disgrunted repub posted that Garon was "a plant"
--- not just a smart Veteran who has had plenty of time to build up a bit of resentment for the poor treatment, and was able to stand up for himself.

I THINK MITT ROMNEY IS "A PLANT"
--- perhaps a philodendron or a pot of mormon ivy

[juna]

08:28 PM on 12/14/2011

I agree. Garon was not a plant but just a very, very smart and articulate person. It was Mitt's bad luck to encounter him, but good luck for those of us who believe in equal rights for all people.

[Cactusman]

02:10 PM on 12/15/2011

Mormon ivy! I love it!

[Lawyer13]

02:44 PM on 12/14/2011

These GOP T/Republicans are living in the dark ages, so obsessed with Christian values, well I'm English and believe in fairness and EQUALITY for all, as the good book says "love thy neighbour as thy self" and Jesus added "go and do thou likewise, that's a good message for all aspiring politicians.

[Bob Kellerman]

04:10 PM on 12/14/2011

ACTUALLY, IT'S NOT "CHRISTIAN VALUES"

For Gingpoop -- it's the "value of money and power that he gets from so-called Christians by being the King of the Opportunists"

For Romnent -- it's the "value of being a prince of his church, and legimitizing it in the public eye, while encouraging it to mess in the lives of millions of Americans"

For the catholic, mormon, and many evan churches -- it's the "value of keeping all our flocks in line, no matter whom we must use as whipping boys (Gay Veterans???), because we are deathly afraid of losing power by changing doctrine on Gays"

[Puffin16]

02:42 PM on 12/14/2011

Guess what, Mitt...marriage is not mentioned in the Constitution at any point. Guess you'll have to blame your modern-day homophobia and prejudice on yourself.

[Bob Kellerman]

04:16 PM on 12/14/2011

He didn't come up with it on his own. I am fond of posting this vid of the #2 mormon in a speech made the week after the rash of Gay kids committing suicide in 2010. This piece of crud has been preaching hate for decades
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zZ5YYfuSZQ
After this, there was damage control -- the present official line is
"We love all you poor people who are 'afflicted with same-sex attraction'. If you marry the opposite sex anyhow, stay faithful, and have kids, you can still be a saint with us. God wants you to avoid the sin of homosexual acts, and you need not to disgrace your family"

[Puffin16]

05:04 PM on 12/14/2011

Agreed - Mormonism is based on intolerance.

[JDuck]

12:17 PM on 12/14/2011

Bob Garon for President!

[bobcaygeon]

07:00 PM on 12/14/2011

I like him a lot better than Joe the Plumber!

[juna]

10:18 AM on 12/14/2011

Oh bravo, bravo!!! Kudos and admiration to that gay veteran. He articulates so clearly and is obviously a great American. Romney definitely has lost my vote too.

[El Guapo Numero Uno]

08:30 AM on 12/14/2011

Good for you, Bob. I don't understand what it is about military association that automatically makes one a bible thumping, militia member. There are a lot of liberals in the military, Mitt. Your narrow minded views of us are an eye opener.