While Martin O’Malley is still in the exploratory phase of a presidential run, it has not stopped him from calling out Hillary Clinton directly on several issues. O’Malley, clearly positioning himself as a progressive to Hillary’s left, is making his case on same-sex marriage and pointing out some inconsistencies in her views over the years.
Report from Politico:
Martin O’Malley says he is glad Hillary Clinton is finally coming around to “the right positions” on same-sex marriage and immigration reform.
“I believe that we are best as a party when we lead with our principles and not according to the polls,” the former Maryland governor told The Guardian during an event at Harvard University’s Institute of Politics on Thursday.
“Leadership is about making the right decision, and the best decision before sometimes it becomes entirely popular.”
It’s an apparent reference to Clinton’s statement this week that she wants the U.S. Supreme Court to recognize the “constitutional right” of same-sex couples to be married. Clinton’s camp continued promoting the stance on Friday morning, tweeting a video of an Iowa man sitting with Clinton at a diner, telling her he was “thrilled” she supports the highest court taking action. “I was like, ‘That’s our gal,’” a man identified as Mike Yowell said in the video.
Clinton had previously said that LGBT people deserve to be married, but that the issue has always been left to the states.
“I am very hopeful that we will make progress and see even more change and acceptance,” the former secretary of state said in an interview with NPR’s Terry Gross in 2014, in which she also said that it has always been an issue for the states.
I don’t think this argument is going to stick very long. As the politico piece notes, even O’Malley’s views have changed over time as this issue has morphed into politics at every level.
