Heitkamp Says She Now Supports Gay Marriage

[JackBeck]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — North Dakota Sen. Heidi Heitkamp is reversing a previous stance and says she now supports gay marriage.

In a statement, the freshman Democratic senator says that after much personal reflection she's concluded that the federal government shouldn't discriminate against "people who want to make lifelong, loving commitments to each other."

Heitkamp says she views the ability of anyone to marry as "a logical extension of this belief."

While the makeup of families is changing, she says the importance of family is enduring.

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/heitkamp-says-she-now-supports-gay-marriage

[demwing]

1. Another one rides the bus!

and then there were 5...or is it 4 now?

[JackBeck]

7. Four:

Tim Johnson (D-SD), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Mark Pryor (D-AR).

[demwing]

11. In the end, it will be Landrieu or Manchin holding out

and Johnson the next to ride the bus.

[brooklynite]

17. I think Landrieu will flip

I've met with her; she's got a conservative state, but she's not as blue-dog as some people make her out to be. Manchin is likely to be a holdout.

[demwing]

18. I don't think Landrieu will be a hold-out because of her views

but because she's up for re-election, and has a tough fight on her hands, unless Jindal decides to run against her. He's not very popular, I hear

We shall see....

[SpartanDem]

20. Not this year, she's up for re-election in a very red state.

and so is Pryor. Manchin just got elected he should flip before both since doesn't face voters for another 6 years.

[SpartanDem]

21. It'll be Landrieu or Pryor

they're the ones up re-election in '14

[GodlessBiker]

2. 53 US Senators now support marriage equality.

[AllyCat]

3. Another one sees the light.

[nevergiveup]

4. I am pleasantly surprised.

I figured she would be one of the permanent hold-outs.

[efhmc]

5. Excellent!

[Arkana]

6. Boy, that bus must REALLY be leaving the goddamn station.

Personal reflection my ass--she jumped on a bandwagon she knew was going to leave her behind.

[demwing]

10. I cut her some slack, she's a newb

who said what she needed to say to get elected, and now is doing the right thing. Time will tell if she becomes more bold or less...but for right now "Welcome Heidi!"

[iandhr]

8. Love it

[CincyDem]

9. This is how it looks to realize "OMG, I'm on the wrong side of history". n/t

[Doctor_J]

12. Looks like many Dems get their orders from Rove too

what a sorry state this country is in when one obese loser has half of the federal legislature jumping through hoops.

[Orsino]

13. I am sick nigh unto death of hearing about bogus "personal reflection."

I don't believe it.

[BeeBee]

14. I don't care why they change their minds as long as they do. n/t

[Orsino]

16. I care insofar as their other allegedly principled stances differ.

These fuckers conspired to deny civil rights for decades, and not only do they get to remain in office, they dare to posture as champions of liberty.

It wouldn't stink so horrifically if they justified their flip-flops with "America is ready" or something less obviously a lie.

[JimDandy]

19. Thanks for saying succinctly what I also believe.

[illegaloperation]

15. Don't forget Joe Donnelly.

He declared his support too.

[calimary]

22. Welcome to DU, illegaloperation!

Glad you're here! No, we aren't forgetting him, but for at least some of us (like me), Miss Heidi has shown herself to be a wolf in sheep's clothing. I gave money to her campaign. And then I got kicked in the teeth by her when she made that arrogant statement against ANY changes or progress against gun violence, sitting there and stating on one of the Sunday talk shows a few weeks ago that any restriction on gun ownership was a non-starter. I called her office and told her staffer that, while I'm a Californian and she technically does not represent me, I still helped her get that job. MY MONEY went into her campaign. I did without several tanks of gas so I'd have more money to donate. MY CALIFORNIA MONEY went off to her state to help her campaign. So I figure I still own her ass. And AS one of her underwriters and financial sponsors, I expect something in return for that investment. And she failed BIGTIME.

I do not hesitate to call ANY rep's office from anywhere - if I helped them get into office, then I view them as MY reps, too. They want to be our leaders. Well, okay then, DAMMIT. Get off your asses and LEAD!!!!! And yes, if it means leading your own state out of the fucking Dark Ages, then DO IT. SOMEBODY'S gonna have to do it. Sooner or later every state in this union is going to have to wake up and realize, and accept - that we are in the 21st Century now. NOT the 13th. NOT the 6th. And that this is the Information Age, NOT the Bronze Age.

Btw - Please check my other thread here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022619428 - about a way we can realistically start fighting back.

[blkmusclmachine]

23. I don't trust her.