McCain campaign manager: GOP should back same-sex marriage

This is from a couple weeks ago. Even during the 2008 campaign, and knowing he worked for the enemy, I liked this guy. He's a real 'go-getter.' No idea was too crazy, he'll say anything, and although he didn't ultimately win, he had a lot of great ideas and worked tirelessly. He reminds me of James Carville in his early years, a little bit. Check it out. - sj

From Dana Bash
CNN Senior Congressional Correspondent

A key architect of Republican Sen. John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign has urged conservatives to drop their opposition to same-sex marriage.

In a speech Friday to Log Cabin Republicans, a conservative gay rights group, Steve Schmidt said allowing same-sex marriage is in line with the conservative credo of keeping government out of people's private lives.

"There is a sound conservative argument to be made for same-sex marriage," Schmidt, who was McCain's campaign manager, told the group. "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. In a marriage, two people are completely responsible to and for each other."

He added: "If you are not willing to accept and faithfully discharge those responsibilities, you shouldn't enter the state of matrimony, and it doesn't make a damn bit of difference if you're straight or gay. It is a responsibility like no other, which can and should make marriage an association between two human beings more fulfilling than any other."

Schmidt told CNN that the GOP must become more open if it wants to reverse a shrinking coalition, especially among younger, more accepting voters.

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