Rob Portman, who has previously supported employers being able to fire people just because they’re gay, has come out in favor of same sex marriage. But don’t get too excited. He has changed his position because he learned that his son is gay. Is that a Republican all over or what?
This morning, Jonathan Chait asks a good question about this, “[W]hy should any of us come away from his conversion trusting that Portman is thinking on any issue about what’s good for all of us, rather than what’s good for himself and the people he knows?” We shouldn’t because he isn’t. This would be like Richard Mourdock saying, “I just learned that my daughter was raped and now I see that rape is always wrong!” Welcome to the party bud, but you’re still a complete asshole.
Last year, I wrote about the Cheneys as they related to this issue. I think this completely sums up what is going on with Portman:
I’m happy to have yet another ally in the fight against bigotry. But it is very clear that in 20 years, gay rights won’t even be an issue between the parties. This is why it is so important to focus on economic issues. Being for gay rights doesn’t make you a liberal; it just makes you a human being. Unfortunately, as Portman shows: Republicans only join the human race when they are directly impacted by the injustices of the world.