Marco Rubio on Abortion : Mar 14, 2013
I believe in protecting life but I'm not a chauvinist

In fact, the people who are actually close minded in American politics are the people that love to preach about the certainty about science with regards to our climate, but ignore the absolute fact that science has proven that life begins at conception.

Roseanne Barr on Civil Rights : Sep 24, 2012
Support same-sex domestic partnership benefits

Q: Strongly Support

Paul Ryan on Civil Rights : Aug 11, 2012
Keep DADT; no gay adoption; no need for gay hate crime laws

Ryan lined up with Romney on repeal of "don't ask, don't tell" when it came before Congress in 2011. Ryan voted against repealing DADT, and Romney was outspoken in his opposition to repeal. Since then, though, Romney has said reinstating DADT would be unnecessary.

Romney's record on the need for hate crimes laws is unclear. But when the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Hate Crimes Prevention Act passed through the House in 2009, Ryan voted against it.

One area where the two differ is on the Employment Non- Discrimination Act. Ryan voted in 2007 in favor of the law, which would have prohibited workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation but did not yet include gender identity. Romney was once also in favor of ENDA but changed his mind.

Virgil Goode on Civil Rights : May 16, 2012
No same-sex domestic partnership benefits

A: No.

Barack Obama on Civil Rights : May 9, 2012
Same-sex couples should be allowed to marry

I've always believed that gay and lesbian Americans should be treated fairly and equally. I was reluctant to use the term marriage because of the very powerful traditions it evokes. And I thought civil union laws that conferred legal rights upon gay and lesbian couples were a solution.

But over the course of several years I've talked to friends and family about this. I've thought about members of my staff in long-term, committed, same-sex relationships who are raising kids together. Through our efforts to end the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, I've gotten to know some of the gay and lesbian troops who are serving our country with honor and distinction.

What I've come to realize is that for loving, same-sex couples, the denial of marriage equality means that, in their eyes and the eyes of their children, they are still considered less than full citizens.

Barack Obama on Civil Rights : May 9, 2012
No federal laws should hinder state-based same-sex marriage

Joe Biden on Civil Rights : May 7, 2012
I'm "absolutely comfortable" with same-sex marriage

The comments by Biden, and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan's support of same-sex marriage, opened up speculation that the White House is moving towards a new position of support for gay marriage, beyond its already stated backing for civil unions. But Obama's main political strategist played down the prospect of an imminent shift. In a conference call with reporters on Monday, he insisted that Biden's comments are "entirely consistent with the president's position, which is that couples who are married, whether they are gay or heterosexual couples are entitled to the very same liberties. When people are married, we ought to recognize those marriages and afford them the rights to which they are entitled."

Ron Paul on Jobs : Mar 2, 2012
Ron Paul side-by-side against Gingrich, Romney & Santorum

A: No, Paul is not the odd man out on economic policy. He agrees with the other three GOP frontrunners on just about all of the policy issues below, from corporate policy to union policy:

Romney/Paul/Santorum/Gingrich side-by-side on Economic Issues

• Corporation Policy
• Wall Street Reform
• Automaker Bailout
• Financial Bailout
• Economic Stimulus
• Mortgage Crisis
• National Debt
• Balanced Budget
• Campaign Finance Reform
• Growth of Government
• Union Policy
• Unemployment
• Social Security Privatization
• Death Tax
• Income Tax

Rocky Anderson on Civil Rights : Feb 23, 2012
Same-sex couples should be allowed to marry legally

A: Anderson chose "Same-sex couples should be allowed to marry legally, with all the same rights as traditional marriages" rather than:
• Same-sex couples should not be allowed to marry or form any kind of civil union
• Same-sex couples should be allowed to form civil unions

Rocky Anderson on Civil Rights : Feb 10, 2012
Same-sex domestic partnership benefits

A: Strongly Support

Mitt Romney on Civil Rights : Jan 17, 2012
1994: "I'll be better than Ted Kennedy" on gay rights

Mitt Romney on Civil Rights : Jan 17, 2012
2002: domestic partnership benefits instead of civil unions

Romney did not support same-sex marriage, declaring in a 2002 questionnaire for "Bay Windows," New England's leading gay and lesbian newspaper, "I believe that marriage is a union between a man and a woman." He also said he opposed civil unions, believing they were too close to marriage. But at the same time, he was assuring gays and lesbians--publicly and privately--that he would not crusade against them. Plus he was voicing support for domestic partner benefits that sounded an awful lot like civil unions.

Ron Paul on Welfare & Poverty : Jan 8, 2012
Entitlements are not rights; only big guys get entitlements

PAUL: Entitlements are not rights. Rights mean you have a right to your life and you have a right to your liberty. I, in a way, don't like to use terms [like] gay rights, women's rights, minority rights, religious rights. There's only one type of right, it's your right to your liberty. It's caused divisiveness when we see people in groups because, for too long, we punished groups, so the answer then was let's relieve them by giving them affirmative action. I think both are wrong. If you think in terms of individuals and protect every single individual, no, they're not entitled. One group isn't entitled to take something from somebody else. There's a lot of good intention to help poor people. But guess who gets the entitlements in Washington? The big guys get them, the rich people. They run the entitlement system, the military industrial complex, the banking system.

Andre Barnett on Civil Rights : Jan 2, 2012
Opposes same-sex domestic partnership benefits

A: Disagree.

Jill Stein on Civil Rights : Dec 21, 2011
First pro-gay-marriage candidate in first gay marriage state

A: Yes; we're proud that we were the first gubernatorial campaign in that race to support same-sex marriage, in the first state to legalize same-sex marriage.

Q: I recall that Robert Reich supported same-sex marriage early in that race.

A: Yes, but we were earlier. Reich came out initially for civil unions. He did later support gay marriage, but after our campaign

Mitt Romney on Civil Rights : Nov 22, 2011
2003: Worked with cities to prepare for gay marriages

Mitt Romney on Civil Rights : Nov 22, 2011
1993: Denied ever calling homosexuality "perverse"

The damage had been done. Romney's adamant denial and his subsequent dismissive treatment of some Mormon liberals provoked reactions that, in short order, led to the formation of the somewhat ad hoc, but passionately dogged, Mormon anti-Romney advocacy groups that badgered him relentlessly throughout the 1994 campaign.

Mitt Romney on Civil Rights : Mar 2, 2010
Marriage is not just quaint custom; recognize critical role

Sarah Palin on Civil Rights : Nov 17, 2009
Respected court ruling allowing same-sex state benefits

I support the traditional definition of marriage. One man & one woman to make a marriage. And I don't support efforts that can lead to changing that definition.

But on this issue in Alaska, the court was the lawful interpreter of the state Constitution. The promise I had made when being sworn into office was to uphold the Constitution. That meant I would be bound by the judiciary's ruling. So when conservatives in the legislature passed a bill that would prohibit state benefits for same-sex couples, the court ruled it unconstitutional, so I vetoed it.

A few angry lawmakers visited my office, outraged that I hadn't bucked the court. A couple of them said I should have been willing to go to jail over the issue.

And if the people want to amend the Constitution via referendum, I told the lawmakers, they have the right to battle it out and do so.

Mitt Romney on Abortion : Aug 4, 2009
OpEd: baroque circumlocutions on evolving abortion stance

The McCain campaign, sensing an opportunity to stop Romney even before he could get launched, stoked the story line that Romney was a flip-flopper. A video of Romney from 1994 surfaced that showed him defending abortion rights. The nascent Romney campaign was overwhelmed by the barrage of criticism.

Mitt Romney on Principles & Values : Aug 4, 2009
2008: Cast himself as a doer, not just a dreamer

Romney cast himself as a doer, not just a dreamer, who had managed large enterprises, and as an outsider who would shake up the capital. "I do not believe Washington can be transformed from within by a lifelong politician," he said. "There have been too many deals, too many favors, too many entanglements, and too little real-world experience managing, guiding, leading." If Republicans wanted competence, he would be that candidate.

Sarah Palin on Civil Rights : Oct 2, 2008
Non-support of anything but traditional marriage

BIDEN: Absolutely positively. Absolutely no distinction from a legal standpoint between a same-sex and a heterosexual couple. That’s only fair.

Q: Would you support expanding that beyond Alaska to the rest of the nation?

PALIN: Well, not if it goes closer and closer towards redefining the traditional definition of marriage between one man and one woman. And unfortunately that’s sometimes where those steps lead. I don’t support defining marriage as anything but between one man and one woman, and I think through nuances we can go round and round about what that actually means. I’m being as straight up with Americans as I can in my non- support for anything but a traditional definition of marriage.

Q: Let’s try to avoid nuance. Do you support gay marriage?

BIDEN: No. We do not support that. That is a decision to be able to be left to faiths.

PALIN: My answer is the same as his and it is that I do not.

Joe Biden on Civil Rights : Oct 2, 2008
No on gay marriage; yes on equal treatment

BIDEN: Absolutely positively. Absolutely no distinction from a legal standpoint between a same-sex and a heterosexual couple. Same-sex couples should be able to have visitation rights in the hospitals, joint ownership of property, life insurance policies, etc. That’s only fair.

Q: Governor, would you support expanding that beyond Alaska to the rest of the nation?

PALIN: Well, not if it goes closer and closer towards redefining the traditional definition of marriage between one man and one woman.

Q: Let’s try to avoid nuance. Do you support gay marriage?

BIDEN: No. Barack Obama nor I support redefining from a civil side what constitutes marriage. We do not support that. That is basically the decision to be left to faiths and people who practice their faiths the determination what you call it.

PALIN: My answer is the same as his and it is that I do not.

Sarah Palin on Abortion : Aug 30, 2008
Opposes embryonic stem cell research

Sarah Palin on Civil Rights : Aug 29, 2008
Vetoed bill denying benefits to gays, as unconstitutional

Barack Obama on Civil Rights : Jul 2, 2008
Opposes CA Prop. 8, one-man-one-woman marriage

The muted announcements--McCain supports the proposed ban, Obama opposes it--will have little if any bearing on the presidential contest in California, but the ramifications are serious elsewhere.

Obama first announced his opposition to the measure only in response to media inquiries. He said the nation should recognize lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans “with full equality under the law.”

Obama called the ballot measure “divisive and discriminatory” and concluded by congratulating “all of you who have shown your love for each other by getting married these last few weeks.” Left unstated was that Obama has declined to endorse gay marriage, saying that civil unions would suffice to protect partners’ rights.

Mitt Romney on Civil Rights : Feb 5, 2008
GovWatch: 1994: Favored gays serving openly in military

In a 1994 letter to the Log Cabin Republicans, who advocate gay rights, Romney said he was in favor of “gays and lesbians being able to serve openly and honestly” in the military. He now says it would be a mistake to interfere with the “don’t ask, don’t tell policy.”

Ron Paul on Civil Rights : Sep 17, 2007
No need for Marriage Amendment; DOMA is enough

A: I think the best thing the president can do is set a good example, and I would start with having been married 50 years, and proud of it. I believe, also, that I do not see any need for another constitutional amendment. I think we have fallen into a trap that we have to redefine marriage. We’re on the defensive, defining marriage. Why don’t you just tell them to look it up in the dictionary, to find out what a marriage says? For federal legal purposes, the Defense of Marriage Act is proper. It takes care of all the problems. If you have to have rules and regulations, put it at the state level, like the Constitution says. But you know, marriage only came about and getting licenses only came about in recent history for health reasons. Marriage is a church function. It’s not a state function. I don’t think you need a license to get married.

Ron Paul on Civil Rights : Sep 17, 2007
First Amendment was written for controversial speech

A: If you believe in liberty, you are a libertarian. The best libertarians we’ve ever had in this country were our Founding Fathers. They believed in civil liberties, economic liberties, and they believed in a non-intervention foreign policy.

But, the inference here about marriage, and prostitution, and drugs--they never addressed it. There’s no constitutional authority, to deal with those problems. But there’s no prohibitions for the states to do it.

If you’re willing to use the strong arm of government to regulate things that are negative that you don’t like and you find abhorrent, you set the stage for regulating your religion, your schools, and everything else.

The First Amendment wasn’t written to protect non-controversial speech. It was written to protect controversial speech, so we don’t lose our right to go to church and run our schools. This is key!

Barack Obama on Civil Rights : Sep 6, 2007
Ok to expose 6-year-olds to gay couples; they know already

A: My 9-year-old and my 6-year-old are already aware that there are same-sex couples. And my wife and I have talked about it. And one of the things I want to communicate to my children is not to be afraid of people who are different, and because there have been times in our history where I was considered different. And one of the things I think the next president has to do is to stop fanning people’s fears.

Q: Have you sat down with your daughters to talk about same-sex marriage?

A: My wife has.

Hillary Clinton on Civil Rights : Sep 6, 2007
Telling kids about gay couples is parental discretion

A: With respect to your individual children, that is such a matter of parental discretion. I think that obviously it is better to try to work with your children, to help your children the many differences that are in the world and to really respect other people and the choices that other people make, and that goes far beyond sexual orientation. So I think that this issue of gays and lesbians and their rights will remain an important one in our country. Tomorrow we’re going to vote on the hate crimes bill. We haven’t been able to get it passed, and it is an important measure to send a message that we stand against hatred and divisiveness.

Mitt Romney on Civil Rights : Aug 31, 2007
1994: Gays ok in Boy Scouts

• Supports federal legislation to prohibit discrimination in the workplace against homosexuals.
• Supports President Clinton’s “don’t ask/don’t tell” policy for gays in the military.
• Says homosexuals should be allowed to participate in the Boy Scouts.
• Endorsed by the Massachusetts Log Cabin Republicans.

Mitt Romney on Civil Rights : Aug 31, 2007
2006: Marriage: I agree with 3000 years of recorded history

“I agree with 3000 years of recorded history. I believe marriage is a sacred institution between a man and a woman and I have been rock solid in my support of traditional marriage. Marriage is first and foremost about nurturing and developing children. It’s unfortunate that those who choose to defend the institution of marriage are often demonized.”

Barack Obama on Civil Rights : Aug 9, 2007
Legal rights for gays are conferred by state, not by church

A: It is my strong belief that the government has to treat all citizens equally. I don’t think that the church should be making these determinations when it comes to legal rights conferred by the state. I do think that individual denominations have the right to make their own decisions as to whether they recognize same sex couples. My denomination, United Church of Christ, does. Other denominations may make a decision, and obviously, part of keeping a separation of churches and state is also to make sure that churches have the right to exercise their freedom of religion.

Barack Obama on Civil Rights : Aug 9, 2007
Gay marriage is less important that equal gay rights

A: Look, when my parents got married in 1961, it would have been illegal for them to be married in a number of states in the South. So obviously, this is something that I understand intimately, it’s something that I care about. But if I were advising the civil rights movement back in 1961 about its approach to civil rights, I would have probably said it’s less important that we focus on an anti-miscegenation law than we focus on a voting rights law and a non-discrimination and employment law and all the legal rights that are conferred by the state. Now, it’s not for me to suggest that you shouldn’t be troubled by these issues. But my job as president is going to be to make sure that the legal rights that have consequences on a day to day basis for loving same sex couples all across the country.

Hillary Clinton on Civil Rights : Aug 9, 2007
Positive about civil unions, with full equality of benefits

A: Well, I prefer to think of it as being very positive about civil unions. You know, it’s a personal position. How we get to full equality is the debate we’re having, & I am absolutely in favor of civil unions with full equality of benefits, rights, and privileges. I want to proceed with equalizing federal benefits.

And I’ve also been a very strong supporter of letting the states maintain their jurisdiction over marriage. I want to repeal Section 3 of DOMA, which stands in the way of the extension of benefits to people in committed, same-sex relationships. I will be very strongly in favor of doing that as president.

I don’t know that we could have defeated the Federal Marriage Amendment if we had not had DOMA. I mean, that is something that, you know, has provided a great protection against what was clearly the Republican strategy, to just cynically use marriage as a political tool.

Barack Obama on Jobs : Aug 9, 2007
Chief co-sponsor of IL ENDA, against gay job discrimination

A: Oh, come on, now. There’s a reason why I was here first. It’s because I’ve got a track record of working on these issues. If people are interested at the federal level, they can look at who was the chief co-sponsor of Illinois’ version of ENDA [the Employment Non-Discrimination Acts, focusing on discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation], which we passed. If people are interested in my stance on these issues, I’ve got a track record of working with the LGBT community. What I have focused on and what I will continue to focus on is making sure that the rights that are provided by the federal government and the state governments and local governments are ones that are provided to everybody.

Barack Obama on Civil Rights : Jul 23, 2007
Let each denominations decide on recognizing gay marriage

A: We’ve got to make sure that everybody is equal under the law. And the civil unions that I proposed would be equivalent in terms of making sure that all the rights that are conferred by the state are equal for same-sex couples as well as for heterosexual couples. Now, with respect to marriage, it’s my belief that it’s up to the individual denominations to make a decision as to whether they want to recognize marriage or not. But in terms of, you know, the rights of people to transfer property, to have hospital visitation, all those critical civil rights that are conferred by our government, those should be equal.

Hillary Clinton on Civil Rights : Jul 18, 2007
Supports DOMA, which Bill Clinton signed

Hillary said she backed her husband’s signing of the Defense of Marriage Act. She said what everyone wanted to know: Yes, if she had been in the Senate in 1996, she would have supported the law.

Barack Obama on Civil Rights : Mar 27, 2007
Opposed 1996 Illinois DOMA bill

Ron Paul on Crime : Jan 22, 2007
Opposes the death penalty

Ron Paul on Tax Reform : Jan 22, 2007
Campaign slogan in 2004: The Taxpayers’ Best Friend

Mitt Romney on Civil Rights : Jan 1, 2007
Marriage is a sacred institution between a man and a woman

Like the vast majority of Americans, I’ve opposed same-sex marriage, but I’ve also opposed unjust discrimination against anyone. The debate over same-sex marriage is not a debate over tolerance. It is a debate about the purpose of the institution of marriage and it is a debate about activist judges who make up the law rather than interpret the law.

I agree with 3,000 years of recorded history. I believe marriage is a sacred institution between a man and a woman and I have been rock solid in my support of traditional marriage. Marriage is first and foremost about nurturing and developing children. It’s unfortunate that those who choose to defend the institution of marriage are often demonized.

Sarah Palin on Civil Rights : Nov 3, 2006
Special legislative session on same-sex health benefits

Sarah Palin on Civil Rights : Aug 6, 2006
Ok to deny benefits to homosexual couples

Elected officials can’t defy the court when it comes to how rights are applied, she said, but she would support a ballot question that would deny benefits to homosexual couples. “I believe that honoring the family structure is that important,” Palin said. She said she doesn’t know if people choose to be gay.

Sarah Palin on Civil Rights : Jul 31, 2006
No spousal benefits for same-sex couples

A: No, I believe spousal benefits are reserved for married citizens as defined in our constitution.

Rocky Anderson on Civil Rights : Nov 2, 2005
Extend city health benefits to unmarried same-sex partners

They must enroll their domestic partners and their children by Nov. 30. Mayor Rocky Anderson signed an executive order in September which provides domestic-partner benefits to city-government employees including those who are part of same-sex relationships.

Mitt Romney on Civil Rights : Aug 12, 2004
OpEd: abdicated power in 2004 & allowed gay marriage

"State laws against bigamy, same-sex marriage, adult incest, prostitution, masturbation, adultery, fornication, bestiality, and obscenity [are now] called into question. The court has largely signed on to the homosexual agenda. The court has taken sides in the culture war."

Indeed, it had. Nevertheless, on May 17, 2004, Gov. Romney bowed to the order of the court and began handling out the marriage licenses, though he and the state legislature believed that nothing in the constitution of the commonwealth mandated gay marriages. Few better examples exist of how unelected judges have usurped the law-making power, and how elected officials have abdicated.

Paul Ryan on Civil Rights : Jul 22, 2004
Let each state separately define DOMA and marriage

The legislation provides that federal courts cannot strike down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and take away from the states the option Congress gave them to reject same-sex marriage licenses issued in another state if they want to.

"I believe fundamentally that marriage is between a man and a woman. Although I support the constitutional amendment to protect marriage, that process cannot continue at this time given the failed attempt by the U.S. Senate to advance the amendment. Meanwhile, states could be forced to accept same-sex marriages because of a few judges in Massachusetts. This legislation protects each state's right to protect marriage," Ryan said.

Barack Obama on Civil Rights : Jul 2, 1998
Include sexual orientation in anti-discrimination laws

A: Yes.

Q: Do you believe that the Illinois government should recognize same-sex marriages?

A: Undecided

Ron Paul on Civil Rights : Dec 31, 1987
Rights belong only to individuals, not collective groups

Today’s current terminology describing rights reflects this sad change. It is commonplace for politicians and those desiring special privileges to refer to: black rights, Hispanic rights, handicap rights, employee rights, student rights, minority rights, women’s rights, gay rights, children’s rights, student rights, Asian-American rights, Jewish rights, AIDS victims’ rights, poverty rights, homeless rights, etc.

Unless all the terms are dropped & we recognize that only an individual has rights, the solution to the mess in which we find ourselves will not be found. The longer we lack of definition of rights, the worse the economic and social problems will be.