Sorry, Patty, saying that you don’t want to talk about the fact that on May 8 you are going to vote to ensure that gay, lesbian, and unmarried couples are second-class citizens (but first-rate taxpayers) — and you want them to elect you governor. Bert Lahr playing the Cowardly Lion was more studly than this wimpy pol:

He’d rather talk about something else – say, the economy or education.

But press Pat McCrory about gay marriage, and the presumptive Republican nominee for governor will say this much – and little more: On May 8, he plans to vote for the proposed N.C. constitutional amendment reaffirming the state’s ban on same-sex marriage.

The three major Democratic candidates for governor also are against the amendment.

“I believe that marriage is defined as between one man and one woman,” he told Raleigh’s WRAL-TV in answering a candidate questionnaire.

In a recent interview with the Observer, he said he plans to vote “yes” but didn’t want to explain why.

“I’m in favor of it, and that’s all I’m commenting on because I’m concentrating on other issues,” he said.

It’s nice to know that enshrining discrimination into North Carolina’s constitution is just an afterthought. At least McCrory is consistent; even as mayor of Charlotte he didn’t care about LGBT residents there either, opposing benefits to city employees’ same-sex partners, saying that the benefits would cost too much.