May 9, 2009
Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) Redeems Himself: “I’ve grown to think differently about how people — how we should live”
Tom Harkin voted for the anti-gay Defense of Marriage Act in 1996, but he’s since grown older — and grown up.
Harkin changes views on same-sex marriage JOHNSTON, Iowa — Democratic U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin said Friday he no longer holds the same views he held when he voted for the federal Defense of Marriage Act that prohibited federal recognition of same-sex marriage nearly 13 years ago.
Harkin described his own evolution on the issue during a taping of Iowa Public Television’s “Iowa Press,” which airs this weekend.
“We all grow as we get older, and we learn things and we become more sensitive to people and people’s lives,” Harkin said. “And the more I’ve looked at that, I’ve grown to think differently about how people — how we should live. And I guess I’m at the point that, you know — I’m to that point of live and let live,” Harkin said. …
Harkin said if a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage is on the Iowa ballot, as an Iowa voter, he would vote against it.
However, he thinks the issue will fade before Iowa voters would get a chance to weigh in.
“There’s always going to be some who feel that they have to push this issue, and for whatever reason, they’re going to try to push it and try to divide people up, but they’re on the losing end. They’re on the losing end of history,” Harkin said. …
Harkin rejected the idea that the issue will help the GOP in the 2010 election. …
More at the link.
Tweet This Post! 
Filed Under: Civil Rights, Democrats, Iowa, Marriage
