In an interview published in the Dallas Voice, a gay paper, John Kerry says he was wrong to endorse a Missouri state constitutional amendment, recently passed by voters, that will ban same-sex marriage and civil unions in that state. Apparently, he was misinformed about the matter and only supports amending state constitutions to ban gay marriage, while civil unions are ok. Of course, this is very close to what Bush recently said, so I guess Kerry is courageously making sure he doesn't get to Bush's right on this matter -- not that gay Democratic activists would complain or anything.
Being uncharitable, one could say that Kerry has once again done a political recalculation and flip-flopped -- though this time in our favor. Can he tell religious conservatives he supported the Missouri amendment before he opposed it?
And yes, I realize Bush, unlike Kerry, supports the Federal Marriage Amendment, which would ban same-sex marriage and civil unions (though Bush, disingenuously, disputes it would nix the latter).
Also of note, Kerry's daughter, Vanessa, has told AIDS advocates her dad would double spending in that area. But it's odd that during a week in which Kerry the candidate spoke extensively about his health care agenda he didn't feel compelled to go on record with this promise himself. Maybe he's made so many promises to double spending in so many areas -- while balancing the budget, of course -- that he decided this was best delivered at a distance and below the media spotlight.
--Stephen H. Miller