Humm this issue just keeps getting more interesting.

WASHINGTON (CNN) - Steve Schmidt, a key architect of John McCain's presidential campaign, is making his first public return to Washington a bold one.

Schmidt will use a speech Friday to Log Cabin Republicans, a gay rights group, to urge conservative Republicans to drop their opposition to same-sex marriage, CNN has learned.

"There is a sound conservative argument to be made for same-sex marriage," Schmidt will say, according to speech excerpts obtained by CNN. "I believe conservatives, more than liberals, insist that rights come with responsibilities. No other exercise of one's liberty comes with greater responsibilities than marriage."

Schmidt makes both policy and political arguments for a Republican embrace of same-sex marriage.

On the policy front, Schmidt likens the fight for gay rights to civil rights and women's rights, and he admonishes conservatives who argue for the protection of the unborn as a God-given right, but against protections for same-sex couples.

"It cannot be argued that marriage between people of the same sex is un American or threatens the rights of others," he says in the speech. "On the contrary, it seems to me that denying two consenting adults of the same sex the right to form a lawful union that is protected and respected by the state denies them two of the most basic natural rights affirmed in the preamble of our Declaration of Independence — liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

"That, I believe, gives the argument of same sex marriage proponents its moral force," Schmidt will say.

Politically, he will say that becoming more open and accepting is critical to reversing an alarming trend for Republicans — a shrinking coalition. He will note that Republicans should be especially concerned that McCain got crushed by Barack Obama among voters under 30, who are generally more accepting of gay couples and at odds with the GOP.

"Some Republicans believe the period of self-examination within the party necessitated by the loss of our majority status is mostly a question of whether the party should become more moderate or conservative. I think that's a false choice. We need to grow our coalition, but as I said, that's hard to do if we lose some votes while gaining others," says Schmidt.

Schmidt had previously expressed his personal support for gay marriage. Last month, he told the Washington Blade newspaper that he is in favor of legalizing it and that he voted against California's Proposition 8, which overturned a court ruling that had legalized the unions in that state.

In making the case, Schmidt is putting himself at odds with the position of John McCain, whose 2008 campaign he effectively ran.

McCain rarely talked about same-sex marriage or other social issues, but when he did, he made clear he was in line with social conservatives in opposing same-sex marriage.

"Have no doubt about my commitment to the unique status and sanctity of marriage between man and woman," McCain said on the campaign trail.

McCain's daughter Meghan has become a vocal advocate in recent months for gay marriage, and is slated to participate in the Log Cabin Republican convention this weekend.

In his speech Friday, Schmidt will acknowledge that his is a "minority view" in the GOP, but will also say, "I'm confident American public opinion will continue to move on the question toward majority support, and sooner or later the Republican Party will catch up to it."

Very interesting

Interesting

Dont' trust this guy. He's a Karl Rove trained henchman.

Its a waste of time.

I said interesting because it is but frankly I was not in the mood to respond. The republicans are afraid of not regaining power, this would be one way to remove that damn annoying thing they have about using gays as a wedge and a vote getter, that isn't working in their favor.

But I dont' trust this guy for on second that he's interested in anything other than getting the republicans back in power.

He changed his position because like a lot of Americans, he now has a openly homosexual family memberThat tends to change peoples opinions on this subject

I'm not completely sure now, Jimmy, after what Mirror said about a gay family member, that can change a person deeply. Though I know there are many republican families that deny they have gays in their family and would never change their view point, kinda like Gingrich.

I just read his whole speach I have posted below, it does sound genuine in the way it was said. One can hope he meant it.

April 17, 2009

Steve Schmidt Unequivocally PRO-Marriage Equality
By Kerry Eleveld
In one of his very first public appearances since the 2008 campaign concluded, Steve Schmidt, chief campaign strategist for John McCain, made a 20-minute speech at the Log Cabin Republican convention in which he unequivocally voiced his support for marriage equality and said that denigrating gay people in any way is “un-American.”

Below are some initial excerpts from the speech (with more to come later):

“It cannot be argued that marriage between people of the same sex is un-American or threatens the rights of others. On the contrary, it seems to me that denying two consenting adults of the same sex the right to form a lawful union that is protected and respected by the state denies them two of the most basic national rights affirmed in the preamble of our Declaration of Independence: liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

“Whether you are for or against same-sex marriage, every Republican ought to value the right of people to make such personal decisions for themselves. As former vice president **** Cheney used to say, ‘Freedom means freedom for everybody.’ And I think Republicans and our Republican Party should always stay on the side of expanding freedom and equal rights; it is our heritage and it is our legacy."

“I believe, and I think most Americans believe, you are born with your sexuality -- it is not a choice. It should offend us as Republicans and Americans when gays are denigrated as un-American or undeserving of the government’s protection of their rights. And the Republican Party should give voice to genuine outrage when anyone belittles the humanity of another person; it is offensive in the extreme to the values of this nation and we should be in the forefront of rejecting such truly un-American prejudice."

“Moreover, if you believe, we are born with our sexual orientation, it is hard to deny the inequality under the law that exists when people of one sexual orientation are allowed to marry and people of another orientation are not."

“Even though a majority of Republicans remain opposed to it, we must respect dissent on the subject within the party and encourage debate over it and should not reject out of hand and on specious grounds the question that the party might be wrong on this question."

“We should publicly affirm that gays are entitled to the same respect and protections given heterosexuals to be secure from discrimination in their employment, in the place they choose for work, and to enter into contractual relationships with another person that grant them the benefits and the privileges allowed married couples -- such as tax advantages afforded to married couples or the responsibility to make end-of-life decisions for one another."

By the way if that speech was genuine, that took the kind of courage I respect especially coming from a member of the republican party that may not be too happy with him right now.\

And it is in fact the view of my own personal republican friends.

Ain't anybody here got a clue about all politicians. They'll lie to ya' just ta' shut ya' up or pacify ya'. They all will lie to further their agenda. All the politicians are no ally to America. Some are just better at it than others.

I personally do not assume all politicians are liars and out to harm people, if I believed that then all the noise about replacing all of them would be just noise, because you would be replacing them with the exact same thing. Politicians are just a reflection of the divisions of the people themselves. Those divides are deep and they are not going away any time soon because people think too differently.

It's like saying all americans are liars. If this guys words are bull it will show sooner or later.