GOP Senator: ‘I’m Not Going To Oppose’ Gay Marriage If Voters Want It

Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., announces that he has filed a lawsuit to block the federal government from helping to pay for health care coverage for members of Congress and their staffs, during a news conference on Capit... Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., announces that he has filed a lawsuit to block the federal government from helping to pay for health care coverage for members of Congress and their staffs, during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, Jan. 6, 2014. Johnson says that members of Congress and their staffs are getting special treatment under the health care law. The lawsuit would would force Congress and its staffers to purchase their insurance from the federal health care exchanges without exemptions carved out by the Office of Personnel Management. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) MORE LESS
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Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) said Tuesday he wouldn’t oppose gay marriage if voters decided that’s what they wanted.

“I’m a pretty traditional guy,” Johnson said, in comments reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “I’m almost 60 years old. I think marriage is between a man and a woman. But again if the voters decide that they want gay marriage, I’m not going to oppose it.”

More broadly, Johnson said Republicans should focus on economic, not social, issues to win over voters.

“These social issues are going to primarily be decided in the states, through (the) democratic process and that’s the way it should happen,” he said. “I’ll certainly go with the judgment of the American people in terms of where they want to fall on, whether it’s the abortion issues or gay marriage.”

Wisconsin’s own gay marriage ban was overturned by a federal judge earlier this month. Recent polling has found a sizable majority of Wisconsinites support same-sex marriage.

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  1. Another GOP profile in courage.

  2. Nice of you to take the will of the people into account, Ron. Broad-minded, statesmanlike.

  3. Would he have said the same thing about slavery? Women’s voting rights?
    Must be nice to not have a spine and just go along with whatever the voters want.

  4. The rights of minorities should always be put up to vote! //snrk//

  5. Bless his heart, trying to look moderate and all.
    He’s still a pig.

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