Mark Warner Slams Ed Gillespie on Anti-Gay Marriage Stance

NOTE:  For voters in the Virginia 2nd congressional district, Republican Scott Rigell's anti-gay views are the same as Gillespie's views.  Rigell's challenger, Democrat Suzanne Patrick supports LGBT equality.

As my upcoming column in VEER Magazine will make perfectly clear, I am no fan of Republican U.S. Senate candidate Ed Gillespie for many reasons (it hits news stands on October 15th), including his rigid adherence to the national GOP's opposition to gay rights and calls for a constitutional amendment to strip gays of marriage rights.  Moreover, Gillespie is 100% prostituting himself to Virginia Christofascists and has a habit of barring the media from his gatherings with far right extremists.  One can only imagine the heinous statements and promises Gillespie is making if he doesn't want the media within earshot.  In last nights televised debate with Gillespie, Senator Mark Warner slammed Gillespie's anti-gay agenda. Politico looks at Mark Warner's attack on Gillespie's anti-gay bigotry.  Here are excerpts:

Ten years ago, when Ed Gillespie was chairman of the Republican National Committee, the party’s official platform called for a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. But a Senate debate in Virginia on Tuesday night showcased just how much the politics of gay marriage — and the Old Dominion — have shifted over the past decade.

Democratic Sen. Mark Warner, who did not publicly come out in support of “marriage equality” until March 2013, said he and Gillespie have “very different opinions” on the issue and tried to use the contrast to his advantage.

“When I was chairman of the Republican National Committee, the platform called for a federal marriage amendment,” he said. “And as chairman of the RNC, I stood for the platform.

The one-hour debate in Tysons Corner was broadcast on NBC affiliates throughout Virginia and on C-SPAN. Chuck Todd, host of NBC’s “Meet the Press,” moderated. His first question was on the Supreme Court’s decision on Monday not to hear appeals of lower-court rulings striking down bans on same-sex marriage in several states, including Virginia. The commonwealth began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples later Monday.

“The court has ruled on this,” said Gillespie. “It is the law in Virginia today, and as I do not believe that a federal law is the proper approach, then of course I accept the decision by the Supreme Court not to take up this decision of the circuit court.”

Gillespie went out of his way to stress that “people should not be discriminated against … based on sexual preference or sexual orientation.”

Gillespie can claim that he is against discrimination, yet here in Virginia, his party has blocked every attempt to offer LGBT Virginians employment non-discrimination protections.  Equally bad, thanks to the Republican Party of Virginia, there are no laws no public accommodation laws in Virginia that protect LGBT individuals.  In short, thanks to Gillespie's GOP, gays can still be fired at will in Virginia, and landlords and sellers can refuse to rent or sell to LGBT tenants and/or buyers.  Actions speak louder than words - especially words thrown out in a debate to save Gillespie's sorry ass - and anyone who believes a word that Gillespie says is either a fool or an idiot.