The wingnuts will really love this one. Former Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge, Republican, in the Wall Street Journal:
Ridge is a now businessman, consultant and philanthropist. Last month he endorsed Mitt Romney for president, but he remained critical of some of his fellow Republicans.
“I think, as a party, we sometimes come across as very judgmental and very self-righteous, and that doesn’t play well to a lot of people,” he said. “Not just on political grounds, but in terms of the culture. We accept diversity in many different ways, and we need to be more clear about that and careful to express that.”
In particular, Ridge urged a more expansive approach to what he termed “the gay community,” noting that increased familiarity with gay people tends to lead to less judgmental politics. “I think that’s the right way to be,” he said. “Younger Americans on both sides of the aisle are saying, ‘Live and let live.’ ”
He doesn’t come out and endorse marriage equality, but it’s notable that here is yet another respected Republican telling the wingnuts to shut it with their anti-gay bigotry.
