Meghan McCain's Marriage Equality Tweet to Iowa Gays and Lesbians

Meghan McCain pro-marriage equality tweet today. Over the weekend, McCain campaign manager Steve Schmidt, who has also been speaking out for marriage equality, declared the GOP "extinct" in many areas of the country.

Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP...

Steve Schmidt to Log Cabin: GOP Must Embrace Gay Marriage

CNN talked to campaign advisor Steve Schmidt, who spoke to the Log Cabin Republicans today and stated his support for marriage equality, saying the Republican party needs to embrace it.

Watch CNN's report and read the full text of Schmidt's speech, AFTER THE JUMP...

McCain Advisor Schmidt to Call on GOP to Support Gay Marriage

McCain advisor Steve Schmidt, who recently announced his support for same-sex marriage, will will reiterate those remarks to the Log Cabin Republicans today. Schmidt's speech will make "both policy and political arguments for a Republican embrace of same-sex marriage," CNN's Political Ticker reports.

Speech excerpt: "There is a sound conservative argument to be made for same-sex marriage. I believe conservatives, more than liberals, insist that rights come with responsibilities. No other exercise of one's liberty comes with greater responsibilities than marriage...It cannot be argued that marriage between people of the same sex is un American or threatens the rights of others. On the contrary, it seems to me that denying two consenting adults of the same sex the right to form a lawful union that is protected and respected by the state denies them two of the most basic natural rights affirmed in the preamble of our Declaration of Independence — liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That, I believe, gives the argument of same sex marriage proponents its moral force."

Schmidt met with the group in September at the Republican National Convention, thanking them for their support. At the time, he spoke of his sister, who is a lesbian. Said Schmidt at the time: "I just wanted to take a second to come by and pay my respect and the campaign’s respect to your organization and to your group. At a personal level, my sister and her partner are an important part of my life and our children’s life. I admire your group and your organization and I encourage you to keep fighting for what you believe in because the day is going to come."

Ex-McCain aide to call for gay marriage support [the ticker]