The major Republican Senate candidates are largely in agreement on gay marriage they're not in favor. The candidates weighed in at an Aug. 20 debate hosted by notoriously anti-gay group The Florida Family Policy Council, which organized the effort to put a gay marriage ban in Florida's constitution. The West Orlando Tea Party co-sponsored the event.
Some of the biggest applause lines during the two-and-a-half hour debate came when candidates called for cutting ties to the United Nations, abolishing the Internal Revenue Service, making abortion illegal in most cases and keeping gays and lesbians from getting married or being protected under hate crime laws.
Half of the debate was devoted to questions on social issues and the other half to questions about federal spending, the federal government versus states’ rights and similar issues.
The candidates – former Sen. George LeMieux, former state Rep. Adam Hasner, retired Army Col. Mike McCalister and former Ruth’s Chris CEO Craig Miller – all said they oppose embryonic stem cell research, same sex marriage and civil unions, providing gays and lesbians protection under hate crime laws, Internet gambling and the recent deal to raise the nation’s debt ceiling.
“I do not see the need for hate crime legislation, every crime is hateful,” said LeMieux. “You don’t need a special category for anyone.”
“I’m opposed to same sex marriage whether it’s in New York or Florida or elsewhere,” Hasner said. “In every state where the voters have the opportunity, even in California, they’ve defended an institution of marriage between one man and one woman.”
McCalister, however, stood out in saying that while he opposes gay marriage, he thinks it should be an issue that’s left up to the states.
