I Have No Idea What Katrina Swett Supports, and That's Precisely the Problem

by: Dean Barker

Thu Jul 15, 2010 at 16:00:00 PM EDT

I am honest to goodness completely surprised by this.  From a caption from the Telegraph:

Social Issues: Supports abortion rights. Favors civil unions for gay and lesbian couples but not in favor of legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide.

On the one hand, I appreciate the honesty.  On the other, I'm really just speechless.  We spent a lot of time and effort on this site supporting the push to make marriage equality a reality in New Hampshire. I suppose the net result is that I am even happier today than I was yesterday that all the admins and contributing writers on this site chose to endorse Ann Kuster.  Finally: if Swett wins the nomination, a truly Herculean effort will be required for the base to come together to overcome this position in the spirit of not electing Bass or Horn or Guida.

I suppose the next logical question is, will Swett work to reinstate the DOMA law that [] for?

UPDATE: This news was hiding in plain sight.  Shame on me for not seeing it. WMUR:

Choose an Issue: Same-Sex Marriage

Ann McLane Kuster (D): I support marriage equality and believe the government should stay out of our personal lives.

Katrina Swett (D): It is important that the legal protections and benefits that the federal government offers be available to all families no matter where they live. I will work for the passage of federal civil unions legislation which will guarantee these rights for everyone.

UPDATE #2: Further statements from the candidates.

Kuster:

"I was a vocal supporter for passing marriage equality here in New Hampshire and I'll continue to support marriage equality in Washington. We should have less government interference in our personal lives, at both the state and federal levels."

Swett:

As it often does, NH led the country by being the first in the nation to proactively enact marriage equality through the legislative process.   In so doing, NH stood up for the proposition that all members of our community should be treated with respect and deserve an equal place at the table.  I support federal civil union legislation that will extend the full range of federal benefits and legal protections to all families in our country, especially those who live in states that don't yet provide marriage equality.