Originally Posted by RichieLion

Richie, I was VERY careful to quote his words DIRECTLY and not the digest of whomever wrote a particular article.

If I was quting him out of context, then WHY is it that SO many times, when the subject of gay marriage comes up, he goes back to the same kinds of words over and over again?

If that ONE quote was an isolated case, I would be inclined to agree with you that it could have been him misstating his position. But, over and over again the same theme keeps coming up.

I don't hate Santorum. Oh, I have problems with him, but "hate" is something I reserve for far more egregious things. (I'm sure you could name one of them off the top of your head)

I disagree with Santorum. I believe he is flat-out wrong on this and other issues. And I have to be careful how I say this, but I find myself wishing that he had a personal connection to this subject the way he does with his disabled child.

I'll be honest - I never had any thoughts one way or the other about gay marriage or gay sex when I was younger (other than some of the 'yuck' factor concerning some of the specifics that used to get hurled as insults in a locker room). Finding my family brought things into sharp relief for me. I had no idea I had gay relatives. And, to be honest, I'm glad I never really thought about the subject because I was *mostly* free of any pre-conceived notions.

If Santorum had an aunt like mine. If he had to experience, even second-hand, the kind of discrimination she got. If he ever listened to some of the stories I've heard. I honestly believe that the root of his *ignorance* is thinking it's a choice in all cases. Oh, sure, some choose - any bisexual that CAN choose one way or the other might do that. But most of the gays I know were that way from birth. Just as I never decided one day, that I was straight, they didn't decide they were gay any more than my wife "decided" she was left-handed (which used to be considered "wrong" as my adoptive mother can attest - she had teachers who would whack her left hand with a ruler when they caught her writing left-handed)

If Santorum ever had a situation where a gay couple lived together for over a decade - with one being shunned by his family - he might understand. And if that person suddenly died in an accident - he might understand. And if that family suddenly showed up and claimed the "estate" of the decedent so they could sell his assets - because the "husband" had no legal standing because that state didn't allow gay marriage - he might understand.

No, I don't hate Santorum. I'm frustrated by his ignorance and I wonder what it would take for him to see the human side of this issue. It's not about the sex - I understand the problems people can have with the "eeeuuw!" factor. But we used to look at interracial marriage the same way.