Bob Garon, 63, a war veteran from Epsom, N.H., went head-to-head with presidential candidate Mitt Romney on same-sex marriage during friendly banter at a local diner, the Boston Globe is reporting. After asking the Republican candidate on whether or not he supports the repeal of New Hampshire’s same-sex marriage law, Romney said he did. The rest of the dialogue made it clear to Garon that Romney was not fit to be “his” president.
The Boston Globe reports:
Romney said he [supported New Hampshire’s repeal of same-sex marriage], saying, “I believe marriage is between a man and a woman. That’s my view.”
With that, it started to become clear that a routine campaign conversation could become hostile. Though Romney had no reason to know it, Garon – a 63-year-old from Epsom, N.H. — was sitting at the table with his husband.
Garon challenged Romney, saying, “If two men get married, apparently a veteran’s spouse would not be entitled to any burial benefits or medical benefits or anything that the serviceman has devoted his time and effort to his country, and you just don’t support equality in terms of same-sex marriage?”
Romney reiterated his support for the Defense of Marriage Act, and added, “And we apparently disagree.”
“It’s good to know how you feel,” Garon said. “That you do not believe that everyone is entitled to their constitutional rights.”
“No, actually, I think at the time the Constitution was written it was pretty clear that marriage is between a man and a woman,” Romney replied. “And I don’t believe the Supreme Court has changed that.”
After the presidential candidate scurried off to take more questions and to sit for an interview with Fox News, Garon was immediately flooded by reporters. He said he was gay and married his partner Bob Lemire in June.
“I’m totally convinced today that he’s not going to be my president at least in my book,” Garon said in a statement to the Boston Globe. “At least Obama will entertain the idea. This man is ‘No way, Jose.’ Well, take that, ‘No way, Jose’ back to Massachusetts.”
After asked whether or not there was anything Garon did like about Romney, he replied, “I kind of liked his health care plan in Massachusetts.” Garon had no other positive talking points on the presidential hopeful.
