Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz last night insisted he was not softening his stance on same-sex marriage following reports of comments he made at an event hosted by two gay businessmen.
During the dinner, an intimate “fireside chat” at the Manhattan apartment of hoteliers Mati Weiderpass and Ian Reisner earlier this week, Cruz said if one of his daughters was gay, he would still love her “with all our hearts”, the New York Times reported on Thursday.
The comments were interpreted as a shift in tone for Cruz, an ardent opponent of gay marriage who is targeting the evangelical vote as he seeks to become the Republicans’ candidate for president.
In response, Cruz issued a statement accusing the media of trying to paint a caricature of conservatives and reaffirmed his opposition to same-sex marriage.
Cruz said he was asked about gay marriage at the event, to which he responded with his belief in “traditional marriage”.
“One person further asked how Heidi and I would react if we found out one of our (4- and 7-year-old) daughters were gay. My reply: ‘We would love her with all our hearts. We love our daughters unconditionally,’” Cruz said.
“A conservative Republican who is willing to meet with individuals who do not agree on marriage and who loves his daughters unconditionally may not reflect the caricature of conservatives promoted by the left, but it’s hardly newsworthy.”
Cruz introduced a constitutional amendment this week that would define marriage as between a man and a woman – as the supreme court prepares to hear legal arguments next week on whether gay marriage is a constitutional right.
Cruz, a Tea Party favorite who has built a grassroots following for taking a hard-right line against establishment Republicans, has also been a vocal supporter of so-called “religious freedom” laws that have been accused of opening the door to discrimination against LGBT people.
Other GOP presidential hopefuls have tried to walk a finer line on the issue, faced with a general electorate in which the majority has embraced gay marriage. Florida senator Marco Rubio, Wisconsin governor Scott Walker and Ohio governor John Kasich have all positioned themselves as accepting of gay couples when faced with questions ahead of the supreme court case.
Rubio said last week he would attend a same-sex wedding and went on to say that being gay was not a choice, although he maintained his opposition to gay marriage. Walker said he had been to a gay wedding, while Kasich said he planned to attend one soon.
Cruz has claimed questions on the subject are part of the liberal media’s agenda to paint Republicans as extreme on social issues. Conservative host Hugh Hewitt asked both Cruz and former presidential candidate Rick Santorum if they would attend a gay wedding.
Rubio has disputed this idea. On CNN earlier this month, host Jake Tapper asked the Florida senator if the media was playing a “gotcha” game with the GOP over such issues.
“No, no, these are important issues,” Rubio said. “People want to know what you feel and think about them. I think they’re very important issues to a lot of people in this country. And I recognize that we’re a country that has people on both sides of these issues that feel very strongly about it. I owe people where I stand – I will tell you where I stand.”
Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal joined the debate this week, penning an article attacking gay marriage in the New York Times. “Polls indicate that the American consensus is changing – but like many other believers, I will not change my faith-driven view on this matter, even if it becomes a minority opinion,” he wrote.
