I’ve been watching the GOP presidential race with increasing interest. Each candidate has significant flaws, in my opinion. Nevertheless, this article by Maggie Gallagher on Mitt Romney’s history on the marriage issue is encouraging. Gallagher is the founder of the National Organization for Marriage and a 14-year syndicated columnist. She writes, in part:
I don’t mind anyone criticizing Romney for the things he has done. But this particular attack is grotesquely unfair. I know. I was there.
In the summer of 2003, when I learned the Massachusetts courts were likely to make gay marriage a reality, I quit my job and started up a think tank to work full time on the marriage issue. I traveled to Massachusetts multiple times to confer with local leaders, testify before the legislature, address grassroots gatherings, meet with policymakers.
Mitt Romney didn’t just oppose court-ordered same-sex marriage with words, he fought hard, including behind the scenes.
When the people of Massachusetts mobilized the most massive signature-gathering operation in the state’s history in support of a marriage amendment defining marriage as one man and one woman, Romney supported the effort.
Read the whole thing. [HT: Marvin Olasky]
On the other hand, I’m not terribly impressed with the way Romney is running his campaign. His avoiding interviews, and declining the one-on-one debate invitation from Speaker Gingrich, show weakness — not so much that he has something to hide, but that he “can’t take the heat.” (Also, this site gives another perspective on Romney’s tenure in MA.) [HT: Peter Knickerbocker]