Laura Bush supports gay marriage and abortion

[SsupernovaE]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/13/laura-bush-gay-marriage-s_n_574731.html

Former First Lady Laura Bush made a surprising tack away from two of the most definitive social issues of her husband's presidency this week, telling CNN's Larry King that she backs gay marriage and abortion rights. Speaking on King's show earlier this week, Bush said this about gay marriage:

I think that we ought to definitely look at it and debate it. I think there are a lot of people who have trouble coming to terms with that because they see marriage as traditionally between a man and a woman, but I also know that when couples are committed to each other and love each other that they ought to have the same sort of rights that everyone has.​

King then asked her if she thought that the legalization of gay marriage was coming, to which Bush replied, "Yeah, it will come, I think."
The former first lady went on to explain her view of abortion rights, which she called "the social issue in 2000 that everyone got asked about."
Katie Couric interviewed Laura Bush on the day before her husband's first inauguration and asked her directly if she "was for the overturn of Roe versus Wade," Bush said. The question took some serious consideration.
"And I thought, do I really want to start my husband's presidency, you know, suggesting that a Supreme Court rule being overturned? And I said 'no,'" Bush explained. "And I think it's important that it remain legal, because I think its important for people for medical reasons and other reasons."
Asked if their sometimes different views on key social issues created any friction between she and former President Bush, Laura said "I really understand his view point and he understands mine."
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Various interest groups have already reacted to Mrs. Bush's statements.
Michael Cole, spokesman for gay rights group the Human Rights Campaign responded:

"When the right wing was using same-sex couples as election year pawns and the president calling for a cynical constitutional amendment to deny people rights, we would have welcomed support from the first lady. Nevertheless, her speaking out for marriage equality shows that more and more Americans realize all families need the same rights and protections."​

Carrie Gordon Earll, spokeswoman for the Christian conservative group Focus on the Family issued this statement:

"It's disappointing to hear Laura Bush, who is a well respected and admired former first lady, espouse positions on marriage and the value of human life that are contrary not only to her husband's but arguably, according to polls, in conflict with the majority of Americans."​

Surprisingly, conservatives have been very quiet. :biggrin:

 

[highland145]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/13/laura-bush-gay-marriage-s_n_574731.html

Surprisingly, conservatives have been very quiet. :biggrin:

Why? First I've heard of it.

Gay marriage = Whatever.
Abortion =:thumbsdown:

 

[ElFenix]

great, she doesn't share her husband's election-driven positions, wtf does that matter? i guarantee you shrub didn't personally espouse some of his election-driven public positions.

 

[Red Dawn]

Always knew she was the smarter of the two in that marriage.

 

[Red Dawn]

great, she doesn't share her husband's election-driven positions, wtf does that matter? i guarantee you shrub didn't personally espouse some of his election-driven public positions.

Like "We are not going to be the World's Policeman" and "We will not be in the business of nation building"?

 

[ElFenix]

Like "We are not going to be the World's Policeman" and "We will not be in the business of nation building"?

well we still aren't in the business of nation building

 

[Patranus]

Support for gay marriage not found.
Support for gay couples being treated the same under the eyes of the state is not support for gay marriage.

The issue of abortion is related to this idea that an abortion should be unconditional and LB stance is very similar to most conservatives.

 

[MrEgo]

Always knew she was the smarter of the two in that marriage.

That's not saying much.

 

[Red Dawn]

well we still aren't in the business of nation building

Yeah right..oh you were being sarcastic..got it:sneaky:

 

[nick1985]

Social issues like these are state's rights issues anyway. The federal government should not be inolved with them, unless they ammend the constitution.

 

[LegendKiller]

Social issues like these are state's rights issues anyway. The federal government should not be inolved with them, unless they ammend the constitution.

Yeah, just like slavery was a "social issue".

When it comes down to one's rights to freedom, that's federal.

 

[nick1985]

Yeah, just like slavery was a "social issue".

When it comes down to one's rights to freedom, that's federal.

Then, like slavery, they need to ammend the constitution. Until then they are state's rights issues, IMO

 

[blackangst1]

Social issues like these are state's rights issues anyway. The federal government should not be inolved with them, unless they ammend the constitution.

I disagree. Abortion is constitutional, therefore a federal issue, and gay marriage affects tax filing status, therefore a federal issue.

 

[cubby1223]

Oh noes, the world is not divided by a strict right/left categorization that defines one's entire life!

 

[cubby1223]

I disagree. Abortion is constitutional, therefore a federal issue, and gay marriage affects tax filing status, therefore a federal issue.

No, there is nothing in the federal constitution that specifically deems abortion as constitutional. It is merely one's interpretation of other aspects of the constitution that comes to this conclusion.

 

[blackangst1]

No, there is nothing in the federal constitution that specifically deems abortion as constitutional. It is merely one's interpretation of other aspects of the constitution that comes to this conclusion.

Well, OK. Semantics. SCOTUS has ruled it constitutional, so it is

 

[Hacp]

Who the fuck cares about abortion and gays? We are trillions of dollars in debt and have a deficit up to our knees. Unemployment is at 10%, jobs are leaving the US, and 1 in 8 Americans are on food stamps. We need to fix the economy, not worry about what gays and abortion wackos think.

 

[jackschmittusa]

Nice to hear a Republican with guts enough to speak her mind when it does not match the party agenda. She must be tough enough not to worry about attacks by the likes of Rush and Glenn.

You go girl!

 

[Noobtastic]

I'd do her.

 

[nick1985]

Nice to hear a Republican with guts enough to speak her mind when it does not match the party agenda. She must be tough enough not to worry about attacks by the likes of Rush and Glenn.

You go girl!

There are lots of conservative people that are not lock-step with the Republican party.

I consider myself a conservative, and I'm pro-choice and pro-gay marriage, I however see them as state's rights issues. Congress needs to amend the Constitution to deal with these social issues if they want to decide on them. This is all my opinion, obviously...

 

[sportage]

Everyone knows Bush was just feeding the right wing their bs when he made that "we hate gays" speech during the 2004 state of the union...
I doubt old GW has a real heartfelt opinion about anything, then or now.
It's all the foolish voters that fall for this crapola year after year...

 

[werepossum]

There are lots of conservative people that are not lock-step with the Republican party.

I consider myself a conservative, and I'm pro-choice and pro-gay marriage, I however see them as state's rights issues. Congress needs to amend the Constitution to deal with these social issues if they want to decide on them. This is all my opinion, obviously...

I consider myself to be very conservative, and I'm pro-choice (at least until the fetus is viable outside the womb) and pro-gay marriage. I would prefer abortion to be a state issue, but I think gay marriage is more of a basic right. Can't really say I have an excellent reason why, but I do think that when one travels between states one should have a reasonable expectancy of fundamentals such as marriage status remaining the same. But your point is taken.

Laura Bush is a nice, attractive, sensible lady. By the way, Dick and Liz Cheney are also pro gay marriage, although I'm betting W is not. Another reason why Dick Cheney is my kind of politician, his whole power base is conservative Christian but he's not afraid to go against them when he thinks they are wrong.