Santorum: You
have the right to be gay*
-
Mon Mar 7, 2011
11:33 AM EST
Several current non-contenders for the 2012
Republican nomination speak in Iowa tonight at the Iowa
Faith & Freedom Coalition forum. On the list, according to Real Clear
Politics, a whole lot of "former" folks: Former House Speaker Newt
Gingrich, former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, former Godfather's Pizza CEO
Herman Cain, former Louisiana Governor Buddy Roemer and former Pennsylvania
Senator Rick Santorum.
Mr. Santorum got a head start, maybe, with a guest column
in the Des Moines Register titled "Forefathers
fought for religious freedom." He writes:
I believe if two adults of the
same sex want to have a relationship that is their business. But when they ask
society to give that relationship special recognition and privileges, then we
should be able to have a rational debate about whether that is good public
policy.
You could almost see the first sentence there as progress,
considering Mr. Santorum's past remarks. In the infamous "it's
not ... man on dog" interview from 2003, Mr. Santorum said, "The
idea is that the state doesn't have rights to limit individuals' wants and
passions. I disagree with that. I think we absolutely have rights because there
are consequences to letting people live out whatever wants or passions they
desire."
As for the rest of it, "the special recognition and
privileges," Mr. Santorum seems to be suggesting either that gay couples
want special rights, or that heterosexual couples now enjoy them. The rational
argument against marriage equality grows weaker yet.