Senator Marco Rubio gave a speech today at Catholic University. And, did you know that marriage equality supporters are intolerant meanies? Yep -- the Senator says so. These are the first comments that Senator Rubio has given regarding marriage equality since a judge in Monroe County overturned Florida's ban(s) on same-sex marriage. He did state that LGBT persons had faced discrimination in the past (big of him, huh), but that he could not support marriage equality (well, of course not). It sounds as though the Senator is working on his conservative bona fides (since he probably wants to run for president in 2016).
He goes on about the Mozilla issue and how he is afraid that he and other 'traditional marriage' supporters will be called bigots. And, then he mentions that President Obama did not support marriage equality till 2011. He also rambles on about abortion, the economy, and how he thinks that President Obama has divided us. All in all, it was a very offensive speech (in my opinion) for anyone not a far right religious conservative.
From the nytimes:
WASHINGTON — Americans who oppose same-sex marriage often face "intolerance" from those who support it, Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida said Wednesday in a speech about values that appeared aimed at wooing social conservatives.
In remarks he said were likely to get him criticized as a bigot, the Florida Republican told an audience at Catholic University that a strong America is impossible without Americans who hold strong values. Seeming to seek a debate over those values, he criticized liberals who defend abortion rights for women but not protections for "the unborn."
While Rubio has consistently held conservative positions on gay marriage and abortion, his current emphasis appears to be an appeal to social conservatives who have yet to settle on a favored presidential candidate for 2016.
"Even before this speech is over, I will be attacked as someone who is a hater or a bigot or someone who is anti-gay," Rubio said.
Rubio's remarks on social issues come as he is trying to recover from his failed push for an immigration overhaul, now seen as a political misstep.
Perhaps seeking to blunt that criticism, Rubio acknowledged the United States has a history of discrimination against gays and lesbians. He added that his opponents pose what he called legitimate policy questions and urged a respectful discussion going forward: "Tolerance is also a two-way street."
But he said he could not support such marriages despite a quick-moving shift in public opinion on allowing same-sex couples to marry.
"There is a growing intolerance on this issue," Rubio said of those who back same-sex marriages. "This intolerance in the name of tolerance is hypocrisy."
Intolerence of those who are intolerant is hypocrisy? Who knew?!
Here is a video. The part about marriage equality begins at about 13 minutes.