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Richard Grenell Speaks Out: Obama “Deserves Credit” For Marriage Stand, Even Though It’s Likely Political

By on May 9, 2012

Today, in light of the discussion of whether President Obama would be finishing “evolving” on marriage equality — he did — his Republican challenger, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, was asked about his view. Romney reiterated his opposition to same-sex marriage — as well as to civil unions “if they are identical to marriage other than by name.”

Well, now Richard Grenell, the short-lived Romney foreign-policy spokesman — has weighed in on today’s moves. In a statement provided to Metro Weekly, he writes:

President Obama’s decision to personally support gay marriage means he will be on the right side of history. He deserves credit for finally taking a stand in favor of equality. Nevertheless, it’s important to keep politicians from playing politics with a group’s civil rights. Democrats and Republicans continue to calculate the political implications of their positions, and the timing of the president’s announcement suggests his position is a political move too. While the president could have evolved when the Democrats controlled the House and the Senate or even yesterday before the swing state of North Carolina voted on the issue, Republicans should also remember that young people and many Christians believe in civil equality.

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