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Pennsylvania Congressional Candidate Comes Out For Marriage Equality

Matt Cartwright (D-PA)

In July, Matt Cartwright, the Democratic Congressional candidate in Pennsylvania’s 17th District, said he did not share President Obama’s support for marriage equality but that his views were evolving. This week, he told the Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader that his evolution is complete:

CARTWRIGHT: I’m for marriage equality. There’s no reason to discriminate against gay people. They’re not a threat against anybody… It wasn’t any ‘ah-ha’ moment. One thing I didn’t want to be was rushed into (making a decision). It seemed like Vice President Biden rushed the president into it. I just kept thinking it over in my mind and I didn’t see a good reason to discriminate against a substantial population of American citizens.

Cartwright added that his position was motivated by the process of running for Congress, because “this is a job where you have to take positions.” His opponent, Laureen Cummings (R) believes “the Lord says gay marriage, just as divorce, is wrong,” and blames progressives for using it as a “wedge issue” to divide the country.

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