Massachusetts governor blasts Kerry on gay marriage stance
By Associated Press, 2/29/2004 17:37
BOSTON (AP) The governor of Sen. John Kerry's home state on Sunday criticized the Democratic presidential candidate's stance on proposed constitutional amendments to ban gay marriage.
''He's said he supports the Massachusetts constitutional amendment, which would limit marriage to a man and a woman, but he's against a federal constitution amendment to do the same thing,'' Republican Gov. Mitt Romney said on CNN's ''Late Edition.''
''So, the fact that he's not willing to be decisive and to be seen as taking a position on key issues is something, I think, that'll harm him down the home stretch,'' Romney continued.
Kerry's campaign responded by saying the Massachusetts senator has been clear in his belief that states, not the Congress, should have the final say on gay marriage.
''Senator Kerry believes marriage is decided by the states,'' spokesman Michael Meehan said. ''President Bush and Gov. Romney are playing politics. I don't see anyone proposing a Constitutional amendment for health care for everyone. I don't see anyone proposing a Constitutional amendment to replace the three million jobs that have been lost (under Bush's presidency).''
Kerry, like Bush and Romney, opposes same-sex marriage. He supports civil unions for gay couples.
Romney, whose criticism echoes Bush's game plan to label Kerry as inconsistent, is expected to play a key role for the Republican Party during the presidential campaign. |
