Former McCain Strategist Now Supports Same-Sex Marriage

Steve Schmidt, former chief strategist for the John McCain campaign, says he is "personally supportive" of same-sex marriage rights. In an interview with the Washington Blade, the campaign strategist urges the GOP to be more inclusive of gays and lesbians and says Americans are "troubled" when they see the Republican Party "trying to stigmatize" the gay community.

"I’m personally supportive of [marriage] equality for gay couples and I believe that it will happen over time," he said. "I think that more and more Americans are insistent that, at a minimum, gay couples should be treated with respect and when they see a political party trying to stigmatize a group of people who are hardworking, who play by the rules, who raise decent families, they’re troubled by it."

"I think the Republican Party should not be seen by a broad majority of the electorate as focused with singularity on issues like gay marriage," he said. "The attitudes of voters about gay marriage and about domestic partnership benefits for gay couples are changing very rapidly and for voters under the age of 30, they are completely disconnected from what has been Republican orthodoxy on these issues."

The GOP operative says he has a lesbian sister and his support of marriage equality was shaped by this relationship.

Schmidt is a California resident and tells the Blade that he voted against Proposition 8, the anti-gay marriage ballot initiative supported by John McCain. Schmidt believes marriage rights for California gay couples will return through an initiative "that passes by popular vote within the next few years."

Schmidt is a former deputy to Karl Rove in the 2004 Bush-Cheney campaign, which famously used gay rights and same-sex marriage as a wedge in states such as Ohio. It's great to see Schmidt is coming around to our side ... now. Will his support for gay rights and marriage equality translate into more support from the GOP rank and file? Let's hope so ...

Comments

[Goshen]

This serves to highlight the astonishing dishonesty of the McCain campaign. You have to appeal to the radical right wing evangelicals to have any hope of winning as a Republican. That’s the group that cherishes Sarah for all her stupidity and incuriousness.

[CA]

Former McCain campaign chief strategist Steve Schmidt (…) is “personally supportive” of same-sex marriage rights

Whatever, yeah and that carries the political weight of fuzz on a feather.

[Teh Gays]

Hey Steve...
Thanks for your support NOW!

[HRW]

Rush Limbaugh. Calling Rush Limbaugh. One of your stooges has strayed from the pack.

[Cord]

What this proves is that every gay man and lesbian in America needs to come out to their brothers and sisters and parents. Then they stop talking like Republicans, and show love for their loved ones — which is what happened with Schmidt.

Of course, familial love only goes to far. Schmidt, after all, largely kept his newfound decency to himself while he was working to elect McCain and what’s-her-name. What he’s saying now would have meant a hell of a lot more before November.

[TB]

Yes, gay people should be treated with “respect”. True Americans believe that EVERY person is endowed with inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The Republicans practice wedge politics by demonizing one group of the population and then playing to the bigots in their party. Until they drop this policy it will be impossible for anyone who supports civil rights to seriously consider being a Republican. It is easier to scare people with the bogey men of civil unions, universal health care, and regulated financial markets than it is to propose a positive agenda.

[Lukas]

Hm... could the authoritarian supporters be losing their strangle hold on the Republican party? But the American voters have short memories, so, I guess we shall see in mid-term elections in 2010.

[Ravenback]

As long as he continues to work for the Republican Party, then his views are meaningless. Electing these rethugs only puts politicians in power who aren't sympathetic and positive towards gay people. He needs to completely and unequivocably reject the Republican Party and vow to never work with them again until they change their attitudes towards homosexuality and civil rights. Otherwise, shut up and go in a corner and wither away. I'm not impressed.

[Luther]

Not impressed on any level, in the heat of the battle, nary a peep about being for gay rights or Prop 8, other than the lame 'states rights' baloney, and, as far as the big tent idea, good luck, the GOP does not want two groups, blacks and gays, no matter how you cut it, the rank and file of the party loathes both groups.

And, I agree with Lukas, the true test will ne 2010 and the midterm elections to see the real state of the GOP.

[Mister C]

I'm not buying any of this ___. This is a token statement probably because his sister cursed him out and the McCain campaign must have kicked him to the curve.

So now he wants to come "Out of the Box" so to speak.

TOO LITTLE TOO LATE

The GOP will use anything to gain control again!

DON'T LET THEM!

Last warning on profanity. -RM

[Andy Niable]

Funny what comes oozing out between the fingers of the panick-flexing fist of the current incarnation of the GOP...