Rob McKenna and marriage equality: “He’s the One Person Who's Not Too Thrilled”

Washington State’s top political pundits think that Rob McKenna is the “one person who’s not too thrilled” that marriage equality will be a dominating political issue in the run-up to the 2012 election.

During an appearance on KUOW, Seattle Times top political columnist Joni Balter and Stranger associate editor Eli Sanders analyzed the political implication of Gov. Gregoire’s recent advocacy for marriage equality and its likely place on the November ballot. Both agree – the issue is a winning one Democratic candidate Jay Inslee and losing one for Republican Rob McKenna, especially in progressive leaning and vote heavy King County.

In June, six months prior to Gregoire’s announcement, Jay Inslee declared his full support for marriage equality for same-sex partners. Rob McKenna opposes these rights, and has even equated same-sex marriage with polygamy and incest.

To listen to the excerpt, click here. For full hour, click here.

Key Points

Joni Balter: I haven’t seen a fresh quote from him [Rob McKenna] but I don’t think this [marriage equality] would be his favorite topic. To be, you know, have to come out and keep talking about it. He’s probably the one person who’s not too thrilled.

Eli Sanders: To return to the governor’s race, though, it’s worth noting that Jay Inslee, the Democratic candidate for governor was ahead of Gov. Gregoire in supporting marriage equality. That was one of his first announcements after he announced his candidacy was to come to King County and say I support gay marriage. It was literally one of his first policy statements. And when the two candidates, McKenna and Inslee, are going to be battling very fiercely over votes in King County, I think this will become a major issue that Inslee can say clearly and unequivocally “I support gay marriage rights” which most people in King County also support and Rob McKenna doesn’t.

1/6/12