Gov. Johnson slams anti-gay pledge

Timothy Kincaid

July 10th, 2011

Former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson has a bit of an unusual position in the candidacy for Republican presidential nominee. Although as a two term governor he is probably the most qualified candidate, he is not as well known as some of his more colorful opponents.

At this point, I do not have high hopes for Johnson’s chances. Were the Tea Party people to actually base their support on fiscal matters, as they tell the media (and themselves), Johnson, known as Governor Veto for his fiscal efforts, would be a shoo-in. But as we’ve come to see, few Republicans and fewer Tea Partiers are actually willing to put their social agenda secondary and Johnson’s relatively supportive position on gay issues combined with his opposition to the costly and counterproductive War on Drugs makes him unacceptable to those who drive the primary season (oh how I hope I’m wrong).

Nevertheless, it is of immense value to have Gov. Johnson respond to the blatantly and unapologetically homophobic “marriage pledge” proposed by anti-gay activist group Family Leader. (Johnson’s campaign site)

“This ‘pledge’ is nothing short of a promise to discriminate against everyone who makes a personal choice that doesn’t fit into a particular definition of ‘virtue’.

While the Family Leader pledge covers just about every other so-called virtue they can think of, the one that is conspicuously missing is tolerance. In one concise document, they manage to condemn gays, single parents, single individuals, divorcees, Muslims, gays in the military, unmarried couples, women who choose to have abortions, and everyone else who doesn’t fit in a Norman Rockwell painting.

The Republican Party cannot afford to have a Presidential candidate who condones intolerance, bigotry and the denial of liberty to the citizens of this country. If we nominate such a candidate, we will never capture the White House in 2012. If candidates who sign this pledge somehow think they are scoring some points with some core constituency of the Republican Party, they are doing so at the peril of writing off the vast majority of Americans who want no part of this ‘pledge’ and its offensive language.

I’m impressed. This goes far beyond “i don’t sign pledges” or even “this might be offensive to some”. He even uses the b-word.

(hat tip to Kristie)

Hyhybt

July 10th, 2011

*shoo*-in.

:)

Timothy Kincaid

July 10th, 2011

oh thanks hyhybt. sorry. fixed it

Paul

July 10th, 2011

All I can say is, I’m happy I can claim that he comes from New Mexico.
Finally someone who reflects well upon the population!
(Here’s lookin at you, Bill Richardson)
Now excuse me while I duck and cover for giving such an unsupported, opinionated claim.
Just kidding. :)

Cowboy

July 11th, 2011

Huntsman was the gay-friendliest Governor of Utah and I don’t think his “I don’t sign pledges” adequately portrays his real feelings about “the pledge”.

Ben in Oakland

July 11th, 2011

Johnson impressed me when hedecried the war on drugs. As a former peace officer, I can tell you the war ondrugs is really just another tax gobbling war on the citizenry and a major waste of time. Like so many similar morality wars, it intention is to keep the citizenry in a state of abject know nothingness and compliance.

J. Peron

July 12th, 2011

I have meet Johnson a couple times now and interviewed him for my Huffington Post column. He is the real deal and genuinely concerned about giving gay people equality of rights. He is NOT a social conservative. In my personal capacity I support him.

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