Governor Tom Corbett was on the radio this morning, and was grilled on his positions on same-sex marriage. He believes that the choice of gay marriage should go before the “legislature,” which is newspeak for “letting the legislation die in the very homophobic Daryl Metcalfe’s committee.”
Do you have to have the sense you are on the wrong side of history on this particular topic, Mr Governor? What are you going to do to examine your conscience to examine your politics, and start to get with the majority of the US, Pennsylvania and the world are starting to do, and that’s to accept an opportunity for individuals of the same sex to marry?
Tom Corbett: Well, I’m not so sure I agree with the premise you have just put out there. What I do know is that the law in Pennsylvania is clear, and I am sworn to uphold the law. And if that majority of people in Pennsylvania want to change the law, the way to do that is get legislation passed in the General Assembly. And it’s their decision whether to change the law.
The law was established, clearly in 1996, I think it is, when marriage is between one man and one woman. So that the general assembly and if the majority of Pennsylvanians can convince the majority of the House and Senate that changes the law. The other way it can change is if the lawsuit the ACLU has filed prevails in federal courty.
Alright, I want to you to examine your conscince, and this is a question for Tom – if we were on a first name basis. I understand the law and your role is pretty clear, but for you, do you question or look at, or examine, or keep an open mind, or do the heartfelt examination you did after the last apology and say “am I on the right side of this issue?
TC: Am I on the popular side of this issue is what you’re asking?
No, the right side.
TC: You've made a decision to what you think is right. There are other people out there like myself. I have grown up with a religious background, you know. I’ve grown up a Roman Catholic. I believe in my teachings. There are other people who believe in their teachings that may differ from the statement you just made. You know, it is a decision of the legislature as to what the law is going to be, but I know personally to be the care. I have good friends on all sides of the issue. We’re going to disagree on that.
I’m not asking you to abandon your personal belief. I don’t know I should give up what I believed in all my life. What I was taught. Unless the legislature makes that decision.
video can be found here:
http://www.youtube.com/...