As Florida became the latest state where same-sex marriage is legal, former Gov. Jeb Bush urged respect for people on all sides of the issue.
“We live in a democracy, and regardless of our disagreements, we have to respect the rule of law,” Mr. Bush said in a statement. “I hope that we can also show respect for the good people on all sides of the gay and lesbian marriage issue — including couples making lifetime commitments to each other who are seeking greater legal protections and those of us who believe marriage is a sacrament and want to safeguard religious liberty.”
A day earlier, Mr. Bush had told the Miami Herald that gay marriage should be a local or state issue; he told the Herald Monday that while he had previously opposed gay adoption, it has since become the law in Florida and he respects that decision.
The measured response indicates the careful approach Mr. Bush might have to take on the issue should he ultimately decide to run for the GOP presidential nomination in 2016 in a field that could include social conservatives staunchly opposed to gay marriage, such as former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.
The Democratic National Committee was not satisfied with the latest statement.
“It took Jeb Bush 69 words to say absolutely nothing — 69 words not to say, ’I support marriage equality,’ ” said DNC spokesman Mo Elleithee. “Nothing’s changed.”
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