[honeychile]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

She was asked her opinion on whether other states should follow Vermont's (and Iowa's, Massachusetts' and New Hamphire's (?)) lead by legalizing gay marriage. It is quite possible to answer that question without ever stating one's personal opinion on gay marriage, and that is the distinction others are properly making and you are missing. For example:

Well, Perez, I think that the genius of our federal system is that it allows each state to make up its own mind about these things. As Justice Brandeis said, there must be power in the states to remould, through experimentation, our institutions to meet changing social needs, and that one of the "happy incidents" of our federal system that a single state may, if its citizens so choose, serve as a laboratory and try new things without risk to the rest of the country. So I trust the citizens of each state to decide for themselves what course to follow, and I trust that the decisions already made in Vermont and elsewhere -- and the experiences that result from those decisions -- can assist the remaining states in deciding for themselves.

This is why I heart you so much - you actually think that the average beauty pagaent queen knows about Justice Brandeis! No one could ever accuse you of misogyny!