# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rob-portman-still-a-dick-gop-sen-reverses-stance-on-gay-marriage/653009/41 "2013-03-15T18:01:44Z")
It sucks, but on the other hand, it’s how a lot of people come to the truth and light of being a Democrat. Especially middle class white people. They’re against gays until someone in the family is one, and they realize they’re normal and deserve the same rights as the rest of us. They’re against welfare until someone in the family depends on it in a sucky economy, then they realize normal people go on unemployment and it’s not a bunch of manipulative bums. They’re against healthcare reform until someone in the family has a $200,000 medical bill, and they realize healthcare reform isn’t lazy bums who want the government to solve everything. They want to throw drug addicts in prison, until someone in the family is one, and it finally occurs to them that \*this \*is what drug addiction is, not non-white people lying in an alley. etc. ---
**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, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rob-portman-still-a-dick-gop-sen-reverses-stance-on-gay-marriage/653009/42 "2013-03-15T18:07:33Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > 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.” Be patient, that’s the last step, and it isn’t a big one. As soon as someone realizes that yes, those other people ARE pretty much the same as the ones you do know, the wall is crumbled. ---
**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, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rob-portman-still-a-dick-gop-sen-reverses-stance-on-gay-marriage/653009/43 "2013-03-15T18:12:34Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Be patient, that’s the last step, and it isn’t a big one. As soon as someone realizes that yes, those other people ARE pretty much the same as the ones you do know, the wall is crumbled. Sadly, you don’t know my mom. I wish you were right but… she’s 73 now and showing no signs of changing. She’s the prototypical “fine for me (and mine) but not for thee (and thine)” person. ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rob-portman-still-a-dick-gop-sen-reverses-stance-on-gay-marriage/653009/44 "2013-03-15T18:40:08Z")
He _might_ still be a dick, but he isn’t a dick on this issue in any way. I believe I read something where he pointed out that millions of Americans have been changing their minds on gay marriage. He is right. Most of those are probably because they now know someone openly gay. I don’t think those millions are dicks, so I won’t hold Sen. Portman’s flip against him. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rob-portman-still-a-dick-gop-sen-reverses-stance-on-gay-marriage/653009/45 "2013-03-15T18:54:00Z")
One of the goals of any civil rights movement is to bring people to your side of the issue. There are many paths to that, and this is one of them. I think it’s a shame that people are interested in piling on someone who has just come around to your way of thinking because they didn’t like the way they did so. It’s best if people reason themselves into a position in the abstract but that doesn’t always work for everyone. ---
**Author:** ![black\_rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f19dbf/32.png) [@black\_rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/black_rabbit)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rob-portman-still-a-dick-gop-sen-reverses-stance-on-gay-marriage/653009/46 "2013-03-15T19:02:56Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Not seeing the connection between those two statements … While many of my aunt and uncle’s political opinions are either dumb or odious (or both), they’re too busy with their everyday lives and too insulated in their little suburban bubble to really think hard about the implications of their political beliefs for the rest of the world. They get a little bit of credit from me for coming around once they were confronted with the realities of having a gay kid. On the other hand, thinking about the real-world implications of politics or policy decisions is Portman’s fucking _job_. He doesn’t get any gold stars for acting like a human being _only after_ it affects him personally. I dunno. Maybe I’m giving Auntie and Uncle too much credit. ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rob-portman-still-a-dick-gop-sen-reverses-stance-on-gay-marriage/653009/47 "2013-03-15T19:10:53Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > I don’t see your argument here. The government may be changing it’s rules to be more fair now, but it’s retaining the right turn back around again. The issue is not the government. This issue is changing society’s views. As the fight progresses our \*society \*is changing to accept homosexuality and SSM. Government is just being dragged kicking and screaming along behind. ---
**Author:** ![Katriona](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/katriona/32/113_2.png) [@Katriona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katriona)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rob-portman-still-a-dick-gop-sen-reverses-stance-on-gay-marriage/653009/48 "2013-03-15T19:13:06Z")
I vote for “still a dick,” since he knew for two years but kept a lid on it because he was on the list as a possible VP for Romney, aside from telling the campaign. > **[Rob Portman and His Brave, Gay Son](https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/rob-portman-and-his-brave-gay-son)** > > The news that Senator Rob Portman of Ohio has become a supporter of equal marriage rights for gays and lesbians because he himself has a gay son was a … ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rob-portman-still-a-dick-gop-sen-reverses-stance-on-gay-marriage/653009/49 "2013-03-15T19:39:24Z")
Republicans and conservatives are still dicks as a class. If this was just about teh gay, I could go, “well, sooner or later, enough assholes will find out that they’ve got gay friends or relatives that everything will work out.” But it’s not. This is just a for-instance of a wider phenomenon. Rob Portman decides gay marriage is OK, because his kid is gay. George Will is for Federal help for Down’s Syndrome research because he’s got a Down’s Syndrome kid. Mona Charen believes ADHD is real (apparently many conservatives don’t) because she’s got an ADHD kid. I’m sure there are plenty of other examples out there, because Lord knows I’ve seen more examples than this in just the past year. This may be the defining difference between left and right: libruls can empathize with people _who are experiencing problems they themselves haven’t actually had._ If conservatives can do this, they sure hide it well. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rob-portman-still-a-dick-gop-sen-reverses-stance-on-gay-marriage/653009/50 "2013-03-15T20:02:24Z")
Yeah, he’s a stupid douchebag who happened to realize that this national issue, on which he proudly declared his postion to be reactionary and cruel, actually affected HIM!!! My Stars!! Stop the Presses!! Time to think about this issue! I feel for him and his family, but I feel pity and revulsion. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rob-portman-still-a-dick-gop-sen-reverses-stance-on-gay-marriage/653009/51 "2013-03-15T20:05:41Z")
I mostly agree with the “oh, you’re in favor of it now that it benefits your family?” camp. And here’s my frame of reference. I’ve been pretty damned gay-friendly for as far back as I can remember – at least far back as whenever it was my maturity caught up with me. Look back at any post I’ve got on the Dope going back to 2000 and my bone-fides hold up. While I have cynical outlook on marriage as institution – I’m all in favor of marriage equality. My son (now almost 21) came out to me five years ago. I was already on board with the argument before I realized it would affect my family. So, yeah, I feel pretty smug about it compared to Portman. ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rob-portman-still-a-dick-gop-sen-reverses-stance-on-gay-marriage/653009/52 "2013-03-15T20:33:20Z")
> [@Katriona](#): > > I vote for “still a dick,” since he knew for two years but kept a lid on it because he was on the list as a possible VP for Romney, aside from telling the campaign. Meh. It took me two years to accept myself. When I came out to my parents, I gave them two years to keep it as hidden as they wanted, while they got used to the idea – though that was in the 90’s. ---
**Author:** ![Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e47c2d/32.png) [@Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hershele_Ostropoler)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rob-portman-still-a-dick-gop-sen-reverses-stance-on-gay-marriage/653009/53 "2013-03-15T20:50:23Z")
Hypothesis: when his son came out he reacted as any homophobe would, by asking himself what failure on his part had given the kid The Gay. After two years, he realized it wasn’t a failure, and came to a new – and more correct – understanding of what homosexuality is, and hence of how unjust laws making gays second-class citizens are. In other words, just because he was enlightened as a result of his son coming out doesn’t mean it’s not sincere and complete. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rob-portman-still-a-dick-gop-sen-reverses-stance-on-gay-marriage/653009/54 "2013-03-15T20:58:32Z")
> [@Hershele\_Ostropoler](#): > > In other words, just because he was enlightened as a result of his son coming out doesn’t mean it’s not sincere and complete. I agree; it’s just a shame that it takes a proverbial slap across the face to wake some people up. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rob-portman-still-a-dick-gop-sen-reverses-stance-on-gay-marriage/653009/55 "2013-03-15T20:59:34Z")
> [@Hershele\_Ostropoler](#): > > Hypothesis: when his son came out he reacted as any homophobe would, by asking himself what failure on his part had given the kid The Gay. After two years, he realized it wasn’t a failure, and came to a new – and more correct – understanding of what homosexuality is, and hence of how unjust laws making gays second-class citizens are. > > In other words, just because he was enlightened as a result of his son coming out doesn’t mean it’s not sincere and complete. The problem isn’t that his empathy with gays isn’t sincere and complete. It’s that this newfound empathy won’t extend to persons who’ve had to deal with other problems, no matter how similar they might be. The lesson he will take away will be the smallest, most limited possible lesson. So fuck him. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rob-portman-still-a-dick-gop-sen-reverses-stance-on-gay-marriage/653009/56 "2013-03-15T21:02:17Z")
From [his op-ed](http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/editorials/2013/03/15/gay-couples-also-deserve-chance-to-get-married.html): > [@](#): > > I wrestled with how to reconcile my Christian faith with my desire for Will to have the same opportunities to pursue happiness and fulfillment as his brother and sister. I guess the phrase “no establishment of religion” didn’t ring a bell with him. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rob-portman-still-a-dick-gop-sen-reverses-stance-on-gay-marriage/653009/57 "2013-03-15T21:08:37Z")
Maybe if four more GOP senators and a few dozen congressmen turn out to have gay sons, then we’ll see some progress on the issue. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rob-portman-still-a-dick-gop-sen-reverses-stance-on-gay-marriage/653009/58 "2013-03-15T21:54:43Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Maybe if four more GOP senators and a few dozen congressmen turn out to have gay sons, then we’ll see some progress on the issue. Or if Anthony Kennedy has a gay kid or grandkid. ---
**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, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rob-portman-still-a-dick-gop-sen-reverses-stance-on-gay-marriage/653009/59 "2013-03-15T22:02:46Z")
Or, dare we think it, Scalia. ---
**Author:** ![Enkel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/df705f/32.png) [@Enkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enkel)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rob-portman-still-a-dick-gop-sen-reverses-stance-on-gay-marriage/653009/60 "2013-03-15T22:02:48Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > 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’d say see how he votes and what he does when he’s closer to worrying about re-election. Right now, he’s making sound bites that will play well to certain people, once re-elections get under way, he’ll either go back to his original stance or there will be someone to out-crazy him in the primaries. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rob-portman-still-a-dick-gop-sen-reverses-stance-on-gay-marriage/653009.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rob-portman-still-a-dick-gop-sen-reverses-stance-on-gay-marriage/653009.md?page=4)