It’s always going to be uncomfortable when a person who doesn’t believe that another person has a specific right — say, a right to marry your partner and receive benefits — is confronted by a person in the group they are trying to deny that right to. Yesterday, Mitt Romney’s interactions with a gay Vietnam veteran were no exception.
At a diner in New Hampshire Monday, Romney took a question on the Defense of Marriage Act from gay veteran Bob Garon. Watch:
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“No, actually I think in the time the Constitution was written, it was pretty clear that marriage is between a man and a woman,” Romney explained to Garon, “and I don’t believe the Supreme Court has changed that.”
“Oh, I guess the question was too hot,” Garon replied.
“No, I gave you the answer, you asked for a straight yes or no answer…”
Romney isn’t the first candidate to deal awkwardly with the issue. Michele Bachmann was embarrassed by an 8-year-old standing up for his gay mother. Gargon told MSNBC he didn’t intend to meet Romney again.
