# Is Rob Portman still a dick? (GOP Sen, reverses stance on gay marriage) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 15, 2013, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rob-portman-still-a-dick-gop-sen-reverses-stance-on-gay-marriage/653009 "2013-03-15T15:11:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rob-portman-still-a-dick-gop-sen-reverses-stance-on-gay-marriage/653009/21 "2013-03-15T16:50:50Z")
If only every anti-gay conservative can have gay relatives ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rob-portman-still-a-dick-gop-sen-reverses-stance-on-gay-marriage/653009/22 "2013-03-15T16:52:00Z")
More politicians need to think along the hypothetical lines of "how would this legislation effect ME or MY FRIENDS or MY FAMILY if I were in that “different” group. If MY son were gay. If MY WIFE had a catastrophic illness and we were not insured. If MY DAUGHTER was date-raped. Instead, they go about their business of legislating, while remaining in a bubble of “It does not effect ME, or MY FAMILY , or MY CLASS OF PEOPLE, so no problem.” More politicians need to put themselves in the shoes of the “other”, and consider ALL of their constituents. Great that this guy came around when HIS SON was now being effected by homophobia and anti-gay marriage stuff. But he should have come around sooner, based on simple empathy for others and human decency. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rob-portman-still-a-dick-gop-sen-reverses-stance-on-gay-marriage/653009/23 "2013-03-15T16:52:46Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > This is an argument that the Supreme Court should find that not allowing same-sex couples to marry is a violation of equal protection. Fine, I agree. > > It is not, however, an argument that the government should withdraw recognition of all marriage as a matter of policy on the basis that the struggle is unwinnable. > > To an extent, this might the better way to do it. Establish a momentum and a critical mass of political shifts in favor of same-sex marriage, and, eventually, we will have a Supreme Court that will enshrine it with an equal protection ruling. > > There is no prophylactic against political struggles for rights. I would prefer that government was out of the marriage business, but if equal protection was applied by the Supreme Court I could live with it. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rob-portman-still-a-dick-gop-sen-reverses-stance-on-gay-marriage/653009/24 "2013-03-15T16:56:11Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Instead, they go about their business of legislating, while remaining in a bubble of “It does not effect ME, or MY FAMILY , or MY CLASS OF PEOPLE, so no problem.” Worse than that, the bubble is more often “That’s the kind of thing those … \*inferior \*beings (morally, intellectually, whatever) are constantly upset about, instead of being happy in their places. We can’t let them have any of it or they’ll start to think they’re as good as us, and worse, demand we recognize them as being as good as us.” Sometimes it takes a pretty strong smack in the face to pop that bubble. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rob-portman-still-a-dick-gop-sen-reverses-stance-on-gay-marriage/653009/25 "2013-03-15T16:59:25Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > If only every anti-gay conservative can have gay relatives Well, the rest probably _are_ gay, so… ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rob-portman-still-a-dick-gop-sen-reverses-stance-on-gay-marriage/653009/26 "2013-03-15T17:01:26Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > I would prefer that government was out of the marriage business, but if equal protection was applied by the Supreme Court I could live with it. Well, marriage is and has always been government business. Marriage is the collection of government-related and public rights, privileges, and obligations that is accorded to a couple. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rob-portman-still-a-dick-gop-sen-reverses-stance-on-gay-marriage/653009/27 "2013-03-15T17:04:33Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Yes, it’s sort of like the, “I don’t want you to do the dishes, I want you to want to do the dishes.” Either way the dishes are getting done so take comfort in that! _“And after you do the dishes, I want you to wash them. I mean like, STEAM CLEANING. On second thought, just throw them away. We can get more dishes.”_ ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rob-portman-still-a-dick-gop-sen-reverses-stance-on-gay-marriage/653009/28 "2013-03-15T17:08:31Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Well, marriage is and has always been government business. Marriage is the collection of government-related and public rights, privileges, and obligations that is accorded to a couple. I assume he wants the bundle of rights to come with a civil union, and for people who want “marriage” to arrange it separately as a private affair. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rob-portman-still-a-dick-gop-sen-reverses-stance-on-gay-marriage/653009/29 "2013-03-15T17:13:21Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I assume he wants the bundle of rights to come with a civil union, and for people who want “marriage” to arrange it separately as a private affair. Which is a pointless proposal, and highly offensive to those, like me, who don’t want their marriages converted into civil unions on the basis of some semantic whim. And also highly offensive to those who are struggling to get their unions recognized as legitimate marriages. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rob-portman-still-a-dick-gop-sen-reverses-stance-on-gay-marriage/653009/30 "2013-03-15T17:14:46Z")
This is not the result of some epiphany on Portman’s part. It’s the result of “how can I limit the damage from this” discussions with his political team in case he tries for a White House run. Politicians are cynical, narcissistic assholes above all else. I’m sure if a gunman walked into a school and murdered a bunch of Republican politicians’ children, the ultimate response would be ‘how do I condemn this without pissing off the NRA and the firearms manufacturers?’ Yes, I’m that jaded. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rob-portman-still-a-dick-gop-sen-reverses-stance-on-gay-marriage/653009/31 "2013-03-15T17:19:39Z")
> [@Eonwe](#): > > Why are people so eager to hate that a man who changes his position on gay marriage because he finally has to face it in a personal way, This is the entire problem with the GOP, zero empathy. It’s as though they believe gay people sprung out of the earth, and don’t have their own mothers and fathers who love them and want them to have the same opportunities as everyone else. It’s not like this is some kind of shocking revelation, that gay people are REAL people with REAL feelings who deserve equal rights. It’s the exact argument that the pro gay marriage people have made all along, now it counts because it affects him personally? You don’t decide who gets to have rights by whether or not they’re part of your own fucking family. What could be lower than denying someone their rights because they’re not related to you? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rob-portman-still-a-dick-gop-sen-reverses-stance-on-gay-marriage/653009/32 "2013-03-15T17:21:18Z")
> [@black\_rabbit](#): > > Good for him for not kicking his kid out of the house, I guess, but he’s still welcome to go fuck himself. This. Still a dick, and will be until he takes actions to reverse the damage he has done. There is no forgiveness without atonement. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rob-portman-still-a-dick-gop-sen-reverses-stance-on-gay-marriage/653009/33 "2013-03-15T17:21:20Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Which is a pointless proposal, and highly offensive to those, like me, who don’t want their marriages converted into civil unions on the basis of some semantic whim. And also highly offensive to those who are struggling to get their unions recognized as legitimate marriages. I’ve never understood why people want the government to make their marriage ‘legitimate’. My marriage is legitimate as far as I’m concerned as long as my wife and I agree that it is. Otherwise it’s just a legal contract matter. That’s my opinion on the subject. Could you tell me why you feel the government offers more legitimacy to a marriage than your personal beliefs? ---
**Author:** ![shiftless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rob-portman-still-a-dick-gop-sen-reverses-stance-on-gay-marriage/653009/34 "2013-03-15T17:24:31Z")
His stance is still “everybody who is different from me is wrong and doesn’t deserve support from their government”. His definition of “different” just changed slightly. Helps his family members=good legislation. Helps other families=bad legislation. Conclusion: Still a dick. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rob-portman-still-a-dick-gop-sen-reverses-stance-on-gay-marriage/653009/35 "2013-03-15T17:30:10Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > How long do we wait for enough Republicans to have unemployed, uninsured, or shot by lunatic children before they start changing their minds about other issues? There are probably ways to speed up the processes, but I suspect most of them would be wrong… ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rob-portman-still-a-dick-gop-sen-reverses-stance-on-gay-marriage/653009/36 "2013-03-15T17:31:46Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Otherwise it’s just a legal contract matter. … Could you tell me why you feel the government offers more legitimacy to a marriage than your personal beliefs? You answered your own question. All those contracts matters, and their consequences (probate, medical proxy, child care, etc.), that’s why you need some sort of legal institution very much like marriage. How else can you deal with that stuff? ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rob-portman-still-a-dick-gop-sen-reverses-stance-on-gay-marriage/653009/37 "2013-03-15T17:33:57Z")
I roll my eyes a little at revelations like this, but only a little. Yes, it’s great if someone has the empathy to put themselves in another’s shoes, but some people have no imagination. If it’s not in their world, right in front of their faces, they can’t get it. My mother is one of those people but, unlike Portman, she makes personal exceptions for the people she knows but wouldn’t change the law. In other words, she would say that gays shouldn’t get married, “Oh I’m not talking about Al and Alan they are so nice it would be so nice if they could get married but all the other gay people well they aren’t like them.” “People on disability are just loafers and bums oh I’m not talking about YOU, dear.” And of course there are the Alan Keyes people who kick their gay kids out. So Portman isn’t on the cutting edge of this issue, but he’s at least extending his empathy to the rest of the country. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rob-portman-still-a-dick-gop-sen-reverses-stance-on-gay-marriage/653009/38 "2013-03-15T17:37:29Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > You answered your own question. All those contracts matters, and their consequences (probate, medical proxy, child care, etc.), that’s why you need some sort of legal institution very much like marriage. How else can you deal with that stuff? Civil unions could cover the contract issues. They should be contracts any two people can join in. I don’t need the state deciding anything else about my marriage. I shouldn’t need a license to sign a contract, have it approved by an agent of the state, have the state dictate the terms of when or why it could be dissolved, or in any other way stick their noses into my marriage. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rob-portman-still-a-dick-gop-sen-reverses-stance-on-gay-marriage/653009/39 "2013-03-15T17:48:03Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Civil unions could cover the contract issues. They should be contracts any two people can join in. I don’t need the state deciding anything else about my marriage. I shouldn’t need a license to sign a contract, have it approved by an agent of the state, have the state dictate the terms of when or why it could be dissolved, or in any other way stick their noses into my marriage. If they are contracts any two people can join in, there is no default. But people who are pair-bonding want the default because it’s cheaper and easier than reinventing the wheel every time. Once there is a default (for what happens to property, etc.) for those who are pair-bonded, there is marriage. If marriage didn’t exist, it would be invented. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rob-portman-still-a-dick-gop-sen-reverses-stance-on-gay-marriage/653009/40 "2013-03-15T17:49:08Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Yes, it’s sort of like the, “I don’t want you to do the dishes, I want you to want to do the dishes.” Either way the dishes are getting done so take comfort in that! It’s more like “You need to do dishes and want to use a dishwashing machine to do it? God didn’t make Adam and a dishwashing machine, God made Adam and Eve!!! Oh wait, my son can’t afford a dishwasher? DISHWASHERS FOR EVERYONE!!!” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rob-portman-still-a-dick-gop-sen-reverses-stance-on-gay-marriage/653009.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rob-portman-still-a-dick-gop-sen-reverses-stance-on-gay-marriage/653009.md?page=3)