Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) defines marriage as between a man and a woman but said if the United States were to legalize gay marriage that ruling should be respected.
Kasich, who had previously said he’d go to a same-sex wedding, made the comment at a Christian Science Monitor event on Friday. The Ohio governor was asked about going to a same-sex wedding in his home state.
“They’ll only get married if the court changes [that]. Ohio passed a constitutional amendment saying it is between a man and a woman,” Kasich said. “If it’s changed and my friend invites me to a wedding my big question is ‘well, what time is it?’ I mean it’s a time to celebrate with people.”
A number of potential or declared Republican 2016 candidates have recently been pressed on going to a same-sex wedding in spite of defining marriage as between a man and a woman. Most of them have shown a willingness to go to a same-sex wedding of a loved one.
The question is particularly timely given that on Tuesday the Supreme Court began proceedings on a case that could trump state same-sex marriage bans. If the high court ruled on behalf of the plaintiffs in that case, Obergefell v. Hodges, same-sex marriage bans across the country would quickly be wiped out. Kasich said such a ruling would have to be respected.
“I’m for marriage being defined as between a man and a woman, if the Supreme Court changes that, those changes have to be respected,” Kasich said. “And I have a number of friends who are gay. I like them. They know I feel about this. I’m fine. They want me to go, I’ll care about them, I’ll go.”
Well, that’s certainly a shift from his tone just a few years ago.
Methinks he’s trying to position himself as the not-crazy extremist in the GOP field. We’ll see how that plays out …
That’s because Rupert Murdoch desperately wants an American President who is very definitely and literally in his pocket.
Kasich’s thinking about throwing his hat in the ring?
Wish I’d invested in presidential wannabe 'hats and rings."
This relatively recent shift in focus to, “Would you attend a same-sex wedding?” is really bizarre, but also useful, I think, in shining another light on the ridiculousness and two-faced-ness of GOP pols trying to sit on the fence.
They all say, “I have gay friends…” right after they finish saying that same-sex marriage will destroy families and our population will dwindle and God Says and redefining the tradition and like such as.
OK, you have gay friends - would you go to their wedding, to celebrate this union which will destroy families, eliminate population growth, violate centuries - nay, millenia! - of tradition, and DEFY THE VERY GOD YOU CLAIM TO WORSHIP?
"Sure. Is there an open bar?"
The corner they’re painting themselves into is getting smaller and smaller…
Said it before, I’ll say it again:
THIS ONE is the one to fear. Although I haven’t seen any polling on it, I believe Kasich could beat HRC. Whether he’s as bat sh*t crazy as the rest of the Klown Kar isn’t the point.
The point is that he comes across as being sane, having some sort of leadership qualities, sort of caring without being sappy and yes - someone you’d want to have a beer with. He probably won’t be a favorite with the teabaggers but that’s OK; none of their candidates can win so that’s that. He could vie for the same constituents that HRC is going after who may be on the fence about Clinton.
THIS is the droid the RNC seeks.