Candidates are increasingly touting
their support for gay marriage in television ads.
The first to feature his support was
Republican presidential candidate Fred Karger, who in January
released a 30-second ad highlighting his support for marriage
equality.
In
Fed Up, Karger
says he's unlike his GOP rivals.
“Fed up with the Republican Party?”
a male announcer rhetorically asks over a graphic which includes GOP
presidential candidates Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, Rick
Perry, Rick Santorum, Michele Bachmann and Jon Huntsman. “Well
there's one candidate you just might like.”
Karger is promoted in the ad as a
moderate Republican for supporting a woman's right to choose, an end
to the war in Afghanistan and marriage equality.
In
a TV ad released earlier this month, New Jersey Congressman Steve
Rothman followed suit.
“Our Congressman Steve Rothman shares
our Democratic values,” a female announcer is heard saying in the
30-second spot. “Steve was the first New Jersey Congressman to
call for our troops to come home from Iraq. The first to endorse
Barack Obama for president. And one of the first to stand up for
marriage equality.”
In a third ad released this week, Dave
Strohmaier, a candidate for the U.S. House from Montana, stands at
the end of a wedding aisle.
As the bride makes her way down the
aisle toward a person dressed in a tuxedo and hat, Strohmaier says,
“In Congress I'll protect everyone's right to liberty and
happiness.”
“And I'll support marriage equality,”
he adds, as the presumed groom turns to face his bride and is
revealed to be a woman.
“And you know what, it sure does
annoy Republicans,” Stohmaier says. (The video is embedded in the
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