Romney calls Kerry's stance on gay marriage confusing

Governor Mitt Romney yesterday chided Democratic presidential candidate John F. Kerry for what he said were Kerry's confusing positions on gay marriage, because Kerry opposes a federal constitutional amendment to block gay marriages but supports a state amendment.

The Massachusetts senator this week blasted President Bush for supporting a US constitutional amendment to bar gay marriages. But Wednesday, Kerry told the Globe he supports a state constitutional amendment if it offers full benefits to same sex couples.

"In the case of the Massachusetts Constitution, he agrees with me that we should have an amendment. On the federal Constitution he doesn't agree with me," Romney said yesterday. "And I think the American people are going to be just as confused as I am as to where he stands."

Meanwhile, House Speaker Thomas M. Finneran said state lawmakers have made little progress in reaching compromise on a proposed state constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriage but create civil unions.

"We have to work on the pending compromise that the Senate president and I, with Brian Lees and John Rogers, have offered. It does seem to capture what Senator Kerry referenced in his remarks yesterday, and I think also that the president in his remarks suggested that states should have some latitude to confer whatever types of privileges, recognition, responsibilities that they might choose on civil unions," Finneran said. "I just can't say whether Senator Kerry or President Bush's announcements on this topic are creating any type of groundswell. It's a little early to say."

The back and forth came after several developments in the gay marriage debate. On Sunday, the Globe published a poll that indicated 53 percent of people surveyed opposed legalizing gay marriage and that 60 percent supported a separate system of civil unions for gay couples. On Tuesday, President Bush endorsed a proposed amendment to the US Constitution that would ban gay marriage by defining marriage as the union of a man and a woman. On Wednesday, Kerry said he would support an amendment to the state constitution to prohibit gay marriage so long as it also ensured same-sex couples have access to the same legal rights that married couples have.

Beacon Hill lawmakers are due to reconvene March 11 in a constitutional convention to consider proposed amendments to the state constitution. Romney opposes gay marriage and supports efforts to amend the constitution to ban gay marriage.

The state lawmakers are weighing several proposed amendments. One, supported by Finneran, would ban gay marriage and create civil unions that would "provide entirely the same benefits, protections, rights, and responsibilities that are afforded to couples married under Massachusetts law." Another, sponsored by Representative Paul J. Loscocco, a Republican of Holliston, would ban gay marriage and create civil unions, but allow the Legislature to define the "nature and extent" of civil unions.

Gay marriage advocates say civil unions create a separate and unequal status for gay couples. The Supreme Judicial Court said much the same earlier this month, but the constitutional amendment would supersede the SJC's rulings.

Yesterday, Kerry's campaign spokesman, Michael Meehan, said Romney doesn't understand constitutional law. "It may be confusing for the governor to understand the difference between the US Constitution and the state constitution," Meehan said. "But Senator Kerry's position is clear, he is for civil unions, and like the governor and President Bush, John Kerry opposes gay marriage. He opposes an amendment to the US Constitution because marriage has been a state issue for 220 years and should remain so." The governor's remarks align with the Bush campaign game plan to portray Kerry as inconsistent on controversial issues.

Romney said of Kerry, "I think the contrasts between the positions he takes on day one versus the positions he takes on day two will be so plain in people's minds that they'll decide to vote for a president who you know exactly where he stands."

But Romney also said he was happy to see Kerry succeed in the primaries because his nomination would be good for the state.

"It'll be fun for the Commonwealth to have a presidential candidate from Massachusetts again, assuming that trend continues," Romney said. He added, "I think ultimately my money's on President Bush winning this one."