THE NEXT AMERICA

Tim Kaine Wiggles Around Questions on Gay Marriage

By Shane Goldmacher

Updated: May 8, 2012 | 2:51 p.m.
May 8, 2012 | 2:47 p.m.

The crowd wouldn't. Kaine brushed off more questions of whether same-sex marriage is a civil right, or if it should be part of the Democratic platform (instead, he embraced "relationship-equality" again.)

Gay marriage was thrust back in the national spotlight on Sunday, when Vice President Joe Bidensaid he had no problem with the idea. It appeared to be a break from Obama, who has declined to embrace gay marriage but instead described his position as "evolving." On Monday, Arne Duncan, the secretary of education, kept the story alive by suggesting that he too backed same-sex marriage.

"I think the labels actually get in the way of the issue," Kaine said.

Bill Schneider, the host of the Third Way event, interjected: "The labels are the issue."

Finally, after more several minutes of back-and-forth, a reporter asked if she'd be wrong to write that Tim Kaine was for gay marriage.

"Just say I'm for relationship equality," he pleaded.

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