Rob Portman Gave Up His Chance To Be Vice President To Protect His Gay Son

[Fearless]

Double Down reports that although Will, (below) had come out to his father a year earlier, and was out to his friends at Yale, he did not want to face the country-wide reaction that would surely follow such an announcement. For the sake of his son, Senator Portman asked the Romney campaign to release a statement saying Portman asked not to be considered for VP. But according to Double Down, the campaign refused. They said such a position might make Romney unpopular. (Apparently Will Portman’s feelings were inconsequential to the Romney people.)

Senator Portman threatened the Romney camp, telling them that if chosen for the vice presidential slot, he would immediately come out in support of same-sex marriage. Romney eventually chose Wisconsin congressman Paul Ryan as his running mate.

Ultimately, the senator made a public announcement about Will’s sexual orientation in March of this year, pledging his own support for marriage equality going forward.

Senator Portman was one of seven Republican senators who crossed party lines to vote in favor of ENDA, the non-discrimination this week.

http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/rob-portman-gave-up-his-chance-to-be-vice-president-to-protect-his-gay-son/news/2013/11/06/78184#.UnqPN5EhvhU

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Good for him! And good for his son!

[LuvNewcastle]

1. I'm glad he did right by his son.

Romney has no redeeming qualities, does he?

[Freddie]

2. Wow, a Republican with morals and empathy

Good for him although, as others say, it's typical of the breed to feel no compassion for others until you experience the problem firsthand. Looking forward to reading Double Down.

[exboyfil]

3. I was thinking the same thing

The justice of the situation is not defined by your circumstances. On the other hand if self awareness came about because of his son, then that is a positive. It does beat the alternative (rejection of your child which happens all too often).

[NewJeffCT]

12. Look for him to get primaried from the right

when he's up for re-election.

[Botany]

4. Mitt is first class prick

Senator Portman asked the Romney campaign to release a statement saying Portman asked
not to be considered for VP. But according to Double Down, the campaign refused.

*******
Portman is not 100% clean on the gay rights front either because he used fear of "the gays"
in many many many campaigns here in Ohio and I believe he did so even after knowing his
son was gay

[Ikonoklast]

11. Portman waited until after safely getting elected to inform his constituents of his positions

on gay rights.

Political cowardice in the first degree.

[paulkienitz]

19. typical R stand on civil rights: all for it when their own are affected

[BeeBee]

5. Good for him! n/t

[Ilsa]

6. Bless him for doing the right thing. nt

[awoke_in_2003]

7. K&R. nt

[SeattleVet]

8. Portman has ethics.

Well, for a Repub....

Mitt, not so much.

Romney eventually chose Wisconsin congressman Paul Ryan as his running mate.

Yeah, and we see how well *that* worked out for him!

[Dopers_Greed]

9. I bet Portman would have fared better against Biden

Or at the very least not looked like he was going to soil himself during the debate like Eddie Munster did.

[Myrina]

10. Isn't he also the one rumored to have told Reid about RMoney not paying taxes for 10 years?

Sounds like he belongs to the wrong party - or REALLY hates Romney.

[Fearless]

13. Nah, that was Jon Huntsman Sr.

[Myrina]

16. ah, yep. thx for the correction.

[Fearless]

17. No problem

Had to think about that one for a minute.

[iandhr]

14. A Republican with integrity.

As hell frozen over?

[joeybee12]

15. While I don't doubt Rob is a good father and kudos for him about acceptance

of his son...I really have troubling buying this version of events. BTW, recently Portman HAS NOT come out in favor of marriage equality...he's taking the wishy-washy states approach...maybe that's what makes me doubt him.

[dbackjon]

20. You mean like President Obama?

As Obama has "evolved", he gets kudos, and anyway that questions his evolution gets attacked here.

How is this different?

[joeybee12]

21. How is this different? Because he hasn't come out in favor of marriage equality...

When there's actual evolution, then we can talk...Portman doesn't believe in marriage equality. That's why this whole scenario doesn't ring true to me...

[dbackjon]

23. He is for Gay Marriage, exact same stance and "nuances" as Obama

So you are saying you think Obama doesn't ring true either?

[marble falls]

18. Sounds like most of the stories I hear about Portman.

[Hestia]

22. That(!) is the true definition of a father, dad, pop, pa - love.