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“I feel that I no longer wish to support your presidential campaign and ask that you please return the maximum contribution that I gave to you last year. ”You have chosen to be on the wrong side of history and I do not support your run for president any longer.”
– Chairman and CEO of the New York-based consulting firm Constellations Group Bill White, in a communication to Mitt Romney obtained by CNN.
Ouch, that must bite, Mittens. Most of the media talk around the President’s declaration in favor of marriage equality has focused on the potential fallout he may face because of it. This particular angle — Romney losing support over his pro-federal marriage amendment position hasn’t gotten much coverage, so I found this piece interesting.
I’m not sure why White pulled his support now, since Romney has held this position for some time, aside from his preposterous attempt to describe his civil unions stance — that CUs need to be “less than” marriage in some way in order to preserve marriage as “special” and the province of heterosexuals. But White felt the landscape has changed.
CNN pressed White: Why now, given that Romney’s stance is not new?
“I had a very visceral reaction to him – he had a great opportunity… to get on the right side of history,” White responded. “And to be someone to the country that helps to unite us, versus what divides us. And I just think his very proactive intention to pounce on this issue now has sent me to the other side.”
“Now, I feel like he’s [Romney's] declared war on my marriage. And I could just sit back and not say anything. Or I could do something about it. And I’ve chosen to do something about it.”
4 Comments
What the hell planet has White been living on? Has he not noticed everything Romney has said and done against us since the 2003 Goodrich decision? Was he on vacation when Romney signed NOM’s odious pladge? Has he been wearing earplugs for the past year as Romney made several anti-equality pronouncements during the GOP primary campaign?
Seriously, what does it take to get the attention of rich people who have to be kicked in the head before they catch on that some things might just matter as much or more to them than their riches?
Look, I’m glad to see White making a bit of a fuss, and I wish more wealthier gay people would rethink their self-debasing support of Romney. Only … jeez …
I had never heard of Bill White before this story broke, but he can’t be all that smart if he ever really thought that Romney or any Republican would support marriage equality. Even when you take that out of the equation, would would anybody in their right mind want to go back to the same old policies that created this economic mess in the first place? This really is a nonstory, regardless of how the gay blogosphere spins it. Can we stop with the knee-jerk reactions already?
My understanding is that both the Log Cabin Republicans and GOProud have more than one member each, and I think they’re supporting Romney.
I can see a few possible reasons:
1) They view Romney’s economic policies as more positive than his anti-LGBT polices are a negative.
2) They recall that he was governor when Massachusetts started allowing same-sex marriages, but little else, and therefore consider him pro-LGBT in spite of all evidence to the contrary.
3) They are more interested in their party winning than the details of what such a win would mean.
4) They have difficulty distinguishing between someone who states that they are for slightly better second class-status for LGBTs versus someone who favors worse second-class status. The difference between someone wanting full equality and permanent second-class status is more clear.
However my speculations may be less useful than what the aforementioned organizations have stated about the recent Romney speech:
http://www.goproud.org/page.aspx?pid=427
Romney Message to
Goldwater Conservatives: Drop Dead
(slightly before the speech)
http://www.logcabin.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=nsKSL7PMLpF&b=6420733&ct=11753037
Governor Mitt Romney’s statement in opposition to not just marriage but civil unions jeopardizes his ability to win moderates, women and younger voters, especially as a large majority of Americans favor some form of relationship recognition for their LGBT friends and neighbors. Ultimately, the response of the Republican candidates this election cycle will determine not just endorsements by Log Cabin Republicans, but the votes of millions of Americans who are simply tired of the culture wars.
- so maybe LCR isn’t supporting Romney after all…
I was with Mitt Romney when he first ran but after reading a bit on his position on health care http://reallycheaphealthinsurance.com/romneys-real-position-on-pre-existing-conditions-unclear/ I decided his positions were a little too obscure.
I’ve also come across a blog by a former aide http://www.libertarianrepublican.net/ and though I give Romney the benefit of the doubt as the party who gets his face in front of the camera, I believe there is one or two better or safer choices.