Kudos to Ohio Republican Senator Rob Portman...

by: Les Carpenter
Rational Nation USA
Liberty -vs- Tyranny

Senator Rob Portman

There is not much anyone needs to add to the following. Other than an additional thumbs up for Senator Portman. My hat's off to the Republican senator from Ohio.

The Columbus Dispatch - I have come to believe that if two people are prepared to make a lifetime commitment to love and care for each other in good times and in bad, the government shouldn’t deny them the opportunity to get married.

That isn’t how I’ve always felt. As a congressman, and more recently as a senator, I opposed marriage for same-sex couples. Then something happened that led me to think through my position in a much deeper way.

Two years ago, my son Will, then a college freshman, told my wife, Jane, and me that he is gay. He said he’d known for some time, and that his sexual orientation wasn’t something he chose; it was simply a part of who he is. Jane and I were proud of him for his honesty and courage. We were surprised to learn he is gay but knew he was still the same person he’d always been. The only difference was that now we had a more complete picture of the son we love.

At the time, my position on marriage for same-sex couples was rooted in my faith tradition that marriage is a sacred bond between a man and a woman. Knowing that my son is gay prompted me to consider the issue from another perspective: that of a dad who wants all three of his kids to lead happy, meaningful lives with the people they love, a blessing Jane and I have shared for 26 years. {Read More}

My respect for Senator Portman just ratcheted up a notch, not that I didn't already respect the Senator.

Mr. Portman no doubt agonized over his long held traditional Christen beliefs and how to reconcile them with the reality his own son was a gay individual. Ultimately the Senator made the right decision as any rational, logical individual would. Hopefully the Senator's frank and open disclosure will have a positive impact on socons and evangelical Christians who are less inclined to reasonable tolerance.

Via: Memeorandum

Comments

  1. Ducky's hereFri Mar 15, 06:33:00 PM EDT

    So this stiff opposes marriage rights for homosexuals until his own family is involved.

    Yeah, this guy's son is in college and bozo doesn't know his kid is gay. Real connected or he was forcing the poor kid through hoops to hide it from bozo's "traditional values".

    Portman is worthy of nothing but disgust.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Les CarpenterFri Mar 15, 06:55:00 PM EDT

      As usual the progressive self righteous and intolerant view.

      Okay bozo, ever consider this?

      1) He finally recognized his error, whatever that took. A devout Christian, following the centuries of dogma of their faith finally made a break. His son I'm sure is happy for his father's growth and increased tolerance.

      2) Maybe, just maybe Portman's example will cause others to rethink their own narrow minded position. Hopefully this will result in a broader tolerance in the rEpublican party and the socon faction specifically.

      But of course, you in your myopic and self serving progressive way do not want to recognize the good Portman just displayed. Likely because if the rEpublican party and the socons become more socially tolerant they then pose a greater threat to your progressive ass. So, your interest is displayed in your comment...

      IGNORANTLY.

      Delete
    2. Ducky's hereFri Mar 15, 08:21:00 PM EDT

      Will Portman be introducing legislation to repeal The Defense of Marriage Act?
      I don't think his epiphany was that strong.

      I'll retract if he does something to push for gay marriage rights but I'm still
      calling feet of clay.

      Delete
  2. dmarksFri Mar 15, 06:57:00 PM EDT

    RN: Never mind Ducky. The best summary of his argument is, "if you are a homophobe, there is no point in ever seeing the error of your ways. Because some hard-edged party-over-principle ideologue will bash you regardless. Might as well never change."

    And after reading your last paragraph, RN, it becomes clear that Ducky is indeed supporting homopbobia here.

    ReplyDelete
  3. JennySat Mar 16, 01:40:00 PM EDT

    A classic sign of the people changing a politicians mind.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Shaw KenaweSat Mar 16, 03:07:00 PM EDT

    Ducky doesn't need anyone to defend him, but some folks here do need to dig a little further into Portman's voting records before accusing Ducky of homophobia. The facts presented are that even after Portman's son came out to him, Portman continued to support anti-gay legislation.

    PS. Ducky's absolutely correct about Portman's cluelessness vis-a-vis his son's sexual orientation. I have gay relatives in my extended family, and we all knew they were gay from the time they were 3 years old. Luckily for our family and for them, we had no problem, and we always supported them with love and understanding. They are healthy, happy, well-educated adults.

    Here's more on Portman's not-so-enlightened conversion:

    "Will [Portman] came out to his parents two years ago. Portman's voting record on issues impacting the LGBT community is extremely homophobic. He almost always votes against equality. Since his son came out, the Senate took up several bills important to the gay community. For example, on April 26 last year, Portman voted for an amendment to strip provisions designed to protect American Indians, immigrants and members of the LGBT community in an anti-domestic violence bill.

    More recently-- last June-- he voted to keep a GOP filibuster going against confirming Mari Carmen Aponte as Ambassador to El Salvador. Ms. Carmen isn't a lesbian but right-wing sociopath Jim DeMint claimed an article she once wrote was pro-gay and that that disqualified her from being Ambassador. Portman went along with DeMint, although 7 other Republicans crossed the aisle, shut down DeMint's insane filibuster (62-37) and subsequently confirmed her. Even Lindsey Graham voted to shut down the filibuster. So did Marco Rubio.

    Portman has a zero rating by ProgressivePunch on his voting record on roll calls crucial to the LGBT community."

    Source: beforeitsnews.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Les CarpenterSun Mar 17, 11:26:00 AM EDT

      You guys just Don't get it do you? Nobody is saying Portman was right with his initial stance on gay relationships or that he didn't recognize his son's sexual orientation. Isn't what is important is that he CHANGED and went public? Isn't that what progressivism is all about? Or is change only good when is serves your partisan political template?

      Delete

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