GOP candidates talk about taking away gay rights, resurrecting DADT
Mon. June 13, 2011 11:51 PM by GoPride.com News Staff
Goffstown, N.H. -
The seven leading Republican candidates for President (minus Sarah Palin) shared their thoughts on just how and when to take rights away from gays and lesbians during a CNN-hosted debate in New Hampshire on Monday night.
Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty, Newt Gingrich, Michele Bachmann, Herman Cain, Rick Santorum and Ron Paul were all on stage, and Bachmann took a bonus step of officially announcing that she really is running for President in 2012.
Then, in the midst of questions about jobs and Syria, the candidates were asked about whether they'd try to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and whether they supported a constitutional ban on gay marriage.
Here's what they had to say on gay marriage:
Bachmann: "I don't see that it's a role of a President to go in an overturn a state's law [supporting gay marriage]. I do support a constitutional amendment."
Cain: "State's decision."
Pawlenty: "Constitutional amendment."
Paul: "Get the government out of marriage." He wants churches to sort it out.
Romney: Supports constitutional amendment.
Gingrich: Reminded viewers he was an architect of the "Defense of Marriage Act," and then said: "If the Defense of Marriage fails, we need a constitutional amendment."
Santorum: Supports a constitutional amendment. "We need one law in this country with respect to marriage."
The candidates were a bit more deferential to military leaders on DADT, but still pretty determined to roll back the clock:
Bachmann: "I would confer with the Joint Chiefs of Staff."
Cain: "I never would have overturned 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.' [But] I wouldn't create a distraction by trying to overturn it."
Romney: "I believe 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' should have been kept in place until conflict was over."
Santorum: "Commanders should have a system in place that punishes bad behavior."
Pawlenty: "I would take my cues from military leaders."
Gingrich: "I would listen to commanders whose lives are at risk."
Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty, Newt Gingrich, Michele Bachmann, Herman Cain, Rick Santorum and Ron Paul were all on stage, and Bachmann took a bonus step of officially announcing that she really is running for President in 2012.
Then, in the midst of questions about jobs and Syria, the candidates were asked about whether they'd try to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and whether they supported a constitutional ban on gay marriage.
Here's what they had to say on gay marriage:
Bachmann: "I don't see that it's a role of a President to go in an overturn a state's law [supporting gay marriage]. I do support a constitutional amendment."
Cain: "State's decision."
Pawlenty: "Constitutional amendment."
Paul: "Get the government out of marriage." He wants churches to sort it out.
Romney: Supports constitutional amendment.
Gingrich: Reminded viewers he was an architect of the "Defense of Marriage Act," and then said: "If the Defense of Marriage fails, we need a constitutional amendment."
Santorum: Supports a constitutional amendment. "We need one law in this country with respect to marriage."
The candidates were a bit more deferential to military leaders on DADT, but still pretty determined to roll back the clock:
Bachmann: "I would confer with the Joint Chiefs of Staff."
Cain: "I never would have overturned 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.' [But] I wouldn't create a distraction by trying to overturn it."
Romney: "I believe 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' should have been kept in place until conflict was over."
Santorum: "Commanders should have a system in place that punishes bad behavior."
Pawlenty: "I would take my cues from military leaders."
Gingrich: "I would listen to commanders whose lives are at risk."