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| Ohio senator Rob Portman shocks Republicans with his endorsement of gay marriage. |
Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) was often floated as a potential vice presidential nominee for perennial loser Mitt Romney. The Republican senator was then U.S. Trade Representative and budget director under then President George W. Bush.
Portman is the co-owner of The Golden Lamb Inn. The hotel/restaurant in Lebanon, Ohio is the major stop of a Republican candidate running for president. The previous nominees, Senator John McCain (R-Arizona), perennial loser Mitt Romney and then president George W. Bush were there.
Portman won the 2010 U.S. Senate election during the Tea Party swept of the U.S. House of Representatives. The senator represents the moderate wing of the Republican Party. The moderate Republicans represent the Northeast and Midwest, with exception to Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pennsylvania) and Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin).
Senator Portman, Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine), Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Senator Dan Coates (R-Indiana), Senator Mark Kirk (R-Illinois) and Senator Roy Blunt (R-Missouri) are considered moderate. These Republicans are the deal breakers in a party mostly consumed by gridlock and obstruction.
Portman was often the sparing partner for most Republican nominees. He would often be asked to portray the Democratic nominee in a presidential debate.
Portman's announcement today marks a breakthrough for the LGBT community. The Republican comes out in favor of gay rights. Last year, President Barack Obama came out in favor of gay rights.
The middle son, Will came out as gay. CBS News reports that Portman informed reporters from several newspapers in his home state of his reversal, which The Columbus Dispatch calls "stunning."
Portman told The Cincinnati Enquirer his evolution on the subject began in 2011 when his son, Will, then a freshman at Yale University, told his parents he was gay.
Portman told the Enquirer his new views reflect "a change of heart from the position of a father" and that he first talked to his pastor and others, including former Vice President Dick Cheney, whose daughter is a lesbian.
As a member of the House in 1996, Portman co-sponsored the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which defines marriage as between a man and a woman and bars federal recognition of same-sex marriage.
The Supreme Court is slated to hear arguments on a challenge to DOMA next week.
"Like former President Bill Clinton, who signed the law," the Dispatch says, "Portman now wants the high court to invalidate the law's declaration that marriage is between a man and a woman. Instead, Portman said he would prefer that it be left to the states to decide the definition of marriage."
In an interview with CNN, Portman explains, "I've come to the conclusion that for me, personally, I think this is something that we should allow people to do, to get married, and to have the joy and stability of marriage that I've had for over 26 years. That I want all of my children to have, including our son, who is gay."
It seems to be a civil war between the Republican Party and those in the conservative movement.
While Senator Portman decided to come out in favor of equal rights, his fellow Republicans were over in Washington, D.C. trashing the president and gay rights.
Senator Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) and Senator Marco Rubio (R-Florida) are often floated as potential candidates for the Republican nomination in 2016. They appeared at CPAC (Conservative Political Action Conference).
Senator Paul is often the most vocal member of the Republicans. Last week, he held up the Senate nomination of CIA chief John Brennan over conspiracy theories. Paul claimed that the president would use drones to strike individuals on American soil. He demanded the president and Attorney General Eric Holder provide more (often not necessary) details to the program.
Senator Rubio is supposed to be the hipster of the Republican Party. He listens to hip-hop music, a fan of sports, loves to talk about what's good in pop culture and is the key to pass President Barack Obama's immigration reform. The senator goes to the CPAC to trash the president and the very issues he often supported.
CPAC is the yearly event for conservative activists and extremists to promote their vision during a second Obama term.
Most attendees are washed up politicos and controversial figures. Besides perennial loser Mitt Romney, there's the washed up politicos like Allen West, Artur Davis, Sarah Palin, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum. And of course Mr. Oops himself Texas governor Rick Perry tries for a second run for president.
Besides Paul and Rubio, Senators Tim Scott (R-South Carolina), Lindsay Graham (R-South Carolina), John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), Kelly Ayotte (R-New Hampshire), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin), Pat Toomey (R-Pennsylvania), and Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky, Minority Leader) parties with the extremists.
The perennial loser Romney will reunite with former running mate Congressman Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin) for one last time.
Portman once represented the conservative 2nd district in Ohio. The district's most conservative regions include eastern Cincinnati, Indian Hill, Lebanon, the city of Batavia, Hillsboro, Wilmington and Portsmouth.
Congressman Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio) represents this district.
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