Gay Vietnam Veteran Confronts Mitt Romney on Same-Sex Marriage, Military Benefits: VIDEO
Mitt Romney was confronted by a gay Vietnam veteran at a campaign stop at the Chez Vachon restaurant in Manchester, New Hampshire this morning during a breakfast campaign stop. Romney sat down with two men, Bob Garon and Bob LeMire. Presumably, Romney didn't know that the two men were married. Garon asked Romney his views on same-sex marriage, efforts to repeal NH's marriage equality law, and military benefits.
Watch the entire exchange, AFTER THE JUMP...
“I believe marriage is between a man and a woman. That’s my view,” says Romney, the Boston Globe reports:
With that, it started to become clear that a routine campaign conversation could become hostile. Though Romney had no reason to know it, Garon – a 63-year-old from Epson, N.H. -- was sitting at the table with his husband.
Garon challenged Romney, saying, “If two men get married, apparently a veteran’s spouse would not be entitled to any burial benefits or medical benefits or anything that the serviceman has devoted his time and effort to his country, and you just don’t support equality in terms of same-sex marriage?”
Romney reiterated his support for the Defense of Marriage Act, and added, “And we apparently disagree.”
When Romney tells Garon that he needs to move on to FOX News, Garon responds, “I guess the question was too hot.”
Garon adds: "New Hampshire is right. You have to look a man in the eye to get a good answer. And you know what Governor? Good luck....You're gonna need it."
Watch the entire exchange, AFTER THE JUMP...
Garon, who married his husband in June, told the Globe: “The guy ain’t going to make it...He is not going to make it…You can’t trust him. I just saw it in his eyes. I judge a man by his eyes.”
Make it a regular practice, boys. Call the various campaign offices of these clowns and engage their staff people. Right now, Romney, Perry, and Santorum's websites have various campaign office telephone numbers. Give them calls and ask questions like this guy does. Make them have to speak to gay American citizens and tell us directly that we are second class or whatever. Put the pressure on.
Posted by: eamon | Dec 13, 2011 2:45:22 AM
Brian, what Mr Garon said about Romney being untrustworthy wasn't about his response, but that he wouldn't look him in the eye while he said it. And Bob Garon is FAR from the first person to say that Romney is strangely blank, that there is nothing there but ambition, which is why he will say anything to anyone, why his "beliefs" are as changeable as the latest polling.
And while he did answer Mr Garon's question, for a politician to say "I don't believe" in something isn't really an answer. We rightly expect more than that, politically sound reasons for that belief. And when he expands on it his reasoning is empty. There IS nothing in the Constitution about marriage. Not one word. They didn't even have Marriage Licenses then. If he's talking about what people THOUGHT at the time the Constitution was written, what has that got to do with anything?! Nothing. They thought that if you were sick being bled by leeches would make you better. They also thought slavery was fine, neither blacks nor women should be able to vote, and that women were basically property whose ownership passed from father to husband. What I'm sure they DIDN'T believe is that corporations or businesses are "people" with the full rights of living, breathing people like Mitt Romney claims to believe. In fact, Romney seems to believe Corporations are worthy of full rights while Mr Garon isn't, merely because he's gay.
Posted by: Caliban | Dec 13, 2011 11:08:50 AM
Much respect to Garon. Well done.
Posted by: Randy | Dec 13, 2011 1:23:34 PM
Romney is the least "crazy" of any of the republican candidates. That said: Any LGBT person and all those who favor equality who vote republican need to have their heads examined.
Posted by: jack | Dec 13, 2011 6:29:32 PM