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Updated 5:31 p.m. - Mitt Romney reiterated his opposition to same-sex marriage on Wednesday but declined to condemn President Obama's endorsement of gay marriage, noting the sensitivity of the issue.
Following a campaign speech in Oklahoma that focused primarily on energy, jobs and the economy, the presumptive Republican nominee reaffirmed his opposition to same-sex marriage in light of Obama's announcement today.
"I have the same view on marriage that I had when I was governor," he said. "I believe marriage is a relationship between a man and a woman."
It was an opinion that Romney had voiced earlier in the day to television affiliates in Colorado, when the former Massachusetts governor faced questions amid growing speculation that Obama would announce his support for same-sex marriages.
But while Romney's position contrasted with Obama's, he declined to sharply criticize the president -- saying he would leave it up to the media to parse out Obama's "evolution" on the issue.
"This is a very tender and sensitive topic as are many social issues, but I have the same views I've had since running for office," he said.
Earlier: Romney renews opposition to same-sex marriage
Romney has previously backed certain benefits for gay couples -- for instance, the right to visit with a sick partner in the hospital -- but said each state should be free to determine their own laws.
It was a markedly more subdued reaction by Romney compared to some conservatives, who condemned Obama's support for gay and lesbian couples' ability to marry.
"The announcement today by President Obama should come as no surprise to the American public," said Rick Santorum, Romney's erstwhile conservative challenger in the Republican primary. "President Obama has consistently fought against protecting the institution of marriage from radical social engineering at both the state and federal level."
"While President Obama has played politics on this issue, the Republican Party and our presumptive nominee Mitt Romney have been clear," said Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus. "We support maintaining marriage between one man and one woman and would oppose any attempts to change that."
Obama: 'I think same-sex couples should be able to get married'
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who passed up an opportunity to run for president in 2012 but maintains a reservoir of support among social conservatives, also condemned Obama's announcement.
"Obama, Pelosi and the Democrats have been a complete failure on economic issues so now they are going to focus on issues that will rile up their base," Huckabee wrote in a statement released by his PAC. "Well, Mr. President it's going to rile up our folks also. Men and women who support traditional marriage."
A spokeswoman for Texas Gov. Rick Perry said: "Election year politics will never change Gov. Perry's unwavering commitment to the sanctity of marriage, defined as a union between one man and one woman. He is proud of North Carolina voters who last night elected to enshrine that definition in their constitution, joining Texas and an increasing number of states in the ongoing effort to defend marriage. Once again, it's clear that President Obama's political ideology doesn't line up with the will of the voters."
Romney campaign reckons with gay rights after aide's exit
But for as many conservative voices decried the president's announcement on Wednesday, many more Republicans kept their silence, including most GOP leaders in both houses of Congress.
"Well I think he made his position pretty clear. I've always believed that marriage is between a man and a woman," House Speaker John Boehner said on the Fox Business Network. Boehner said he wasn't familiar with a proposed amendment to the Constitution to define marriage, but said Obama's announcement was a "very controversial" notion.
By contrast, Democratic supporters of the president could, for the most part, hardly contain their jubilation for Obama's decision.
"Today marks progress for the civil rights of LGBT Americans and all Americans," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). "With President Obama's support, we look forward to the day when all American families are treated equally in the eyes of the law."
New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who endured her own shift toward supporting gay marriage, also hailed the president's announcement as "a watershed moment in American history."
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Romney, once a bully, always a bully. Bullies in high school never change their superiority attitude as they get older. This fits Romney's persona. When he says he likes to fire people or he dismantles a company and takes away all of the retirement money reflects his "Bully" persona.
Romney supporters; Do you really want someone in power that thinks he is better because he is rich? He thinks he deserves more than the rest of us who work hard to make ends meet. He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth which does not make him better, it makes him "WEAK".
His view on marriage and his view on many things reflect his "Bully" persona. He is the type of person that would say, "it is my way or the highway". Again, do you really want someone like this in power? If you do, I pity you because you are brainwashed!
I have a Step-daughter that is a Lesbian....I love her very much...I also am a Christian and know that it is a Sin for her to be an active Lesbian...saying that I will tell you it doesn't lessen my love for her...I diapered her bottom and saw her grow up...struggling with this...I knew when she was kid that she was Gay. We all have to answer to God for our sins and I don't think that any sin is worse than another. A sin is a sin! Saying all of this I think that President Obama has just used this "little ploy" for more votes. I will tell you I am for the legalization of Gay Marriage and just because President Obama has come out in support of this does not earn him my vote......I am looking at the long term and I do not believe that this nation can stand another 4 years of him as our President...he has so many failings as a President and I don't know what Mitt Romney would be like as President but I plan to vote for him and hopefully a lot of sane people in America will do the same.....let's see what he can do, I have seen what President Obama has done and I don't like it!
Just tell your step daughter that you don't hate her, but your imaginary friend in the sky hates her.
I'm sure she'll understand the distinction you're trying to draw.
Did anyone of you listen or read the whole story? Obama still says he believes marriage should be between a man and a woman, BUT it's up to the states to determine if same sex marriage should happen. He states he supports the gay community and wants them to have equality......he didn't exactly say they should get married. I'm not an Obama fan at all........but read what he REALLY said. And why would he support this now, but as a Senator supported marriage of man/woman only? He is the biggest flip flopper out there.
Actually what he said is that the government should treat gays and straights equally regarding the legal contract of marriage. That's consistent with what he's always said.
Just an FYI - Obama first came out in full support of marriage equality in 1995.
We don't outlaw something simply because it is considered by some to be a "sin", that would only happen under a theocracy. Mitt is entitled to his own beliefs, but actively denying civil rights to citizens isn't something for which I want my President to be reknowned. It's reported that Mitt attacked a male classmate back in his school days, pinning him and cutting his hair, because he felt empowered to enforce his personal measure of propriety upon others. According to the report, Willard exclaimed "He can't look like that!" and then physically attacked the student.
Willard is trying to pray the gay away........
Yep, the gays are ruining Romney's marriage. Just a few short decades ago he thought his wife was hawt. Now he just wants to trade her in for a younger, sexier model. By which I mean a super model. He's got the money and notoriety for one and why should the French politicians get all the hot women.
June 17, 2009 President Obama Announced Same Sex Partner Benefits Nearly Three Years Ago. We're still waiting for rights protecting Federal and citizens employees from sexual violence and harassment.
If marriage is so sacred why don't Conservatives pass some very harsh laws against adultery?
Why is it that non-mormons always think they know MORE than those that are actually members of the church? I find it ironic really when a non-member is telling me what I believe is truth. If you really want to know more about the LDS faith, go to lds.org, please don't attempt to learn it from forums or chatrooms, or comment sections.
If you tithe to the Mormon church, your money is being used to keep my daughter a 2nd-class citizen. That speaks volumes about your church and your character.
my point exactly. Please stranger...tell me how I tithe and what it is used for and tell me what I believe. Also, with your vast knowledge, please tell me how you judging me based on what you think I believe is no better than people being anti-homosexual? Please explain.
I don't care about your religious beliefs, Ken. I only care if you want the government to enforce your sharia laws on everyone.
I also care that the Mormon church uses funds from tithing to suppress the legal rights of gays and to harm my daughter. That you know they do that and you still tithe says a lot about you.
It really doesn't sound like your church has changed much at all from the time of Apostle Delbert Stapley, who wrote this charming letter to Romney's father:
Matthew 7:12 > Anything in Leviticus or the rest of the Old Testament
To people that say I know a gay person, and I love them but as a Christian blah blah blah. As a true Christian it is not your right to judge.
God created gay people, they are humans that come in all races, genders, religious beliefs and political views.
This is strictly a equal rights issue.
How will gays being able to marry affect my 30 year marriage? It won't of course.
Not that many years ago interracial marriage was illegal in many states.
Romney coming from a background of polygamy, you would think he would be more open, and what happened to being more liberal than Ted Kennedy on gay issue's? Oh that's right he shook himself! etch-a-sketch!!!!
So he is actually going to say that gays and lesbians are second class citizens who do not deserve equal rights? What a pear shaped loser. I hate this guy. He would love to take us all back into the dark ages of civil rights, yikes. I hope he keeps saying stupid things....he's SO not electable!!!!
I have a bold proposal: how about if NOBODY gets married, at least as far as the current definition of the word. So here's what I'm thinking.
When it comes to a LEGAL definition, everybody -- gay, straight, whatever -- will be able to get a civil union. This will carry all the rights, privileges and responsibilities of "marriage" as it is currently defined: rights of survivorship, the right to make medical decisions on behalf of the spouse, favored tax status, shared parental rights, etc. This is the "state-sanctioned" part of marriage.
If, however, they want to get "married", this will be (as it was for hundreds of years prior to the modern era) a RELIGIOUS ceremony, that will carry NO state sanction, will confer NO rights, privileges or responsibilities, and will have NO bearing on the governmental definition of a union between two people.
This will accomplish four things:
First, it will eliminate the "separate-but-equal" argument put forth by the LGBT community. Everyone will be treated alike for purposes of "official" unions.
Second, it will remove a church/state entanglement that has been at the root of this entire issue.
Third, it will still allow those who are willing and able to obtain a church wedding to claim the title of "married". However, there will be no legal differences between being married and being "unioned", or whatever the resulting term will be.
Finally, it will ensure that spousal rights are in line with the 14th Amendment of our Constitution, which states, in part: "No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."
On a lighter note, anyone who thinks that legalizing gay marriage represents a threat to the continuation of teh species only has to spend an afternoon in DC rush hour traffic to know that there is absolutely no danger that we are going to run out of people. :)