2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: Has Sanders really always supported marriage equality [View all]RichVRichV
(885 posts)1) Bernie has supported gay rights since the 70s.
2) He voted against prohibiting gay marriage in 1996.
3) He voted against banning gay adoptions in DC in 1999.
4) He supported granting civil unions in Vermont in 2000.
5) He voted NO on Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage in 2004.
6) He voted NO on Constitutionally defining marriage as one-man-one-woman in 2006.
7) He was rated 100% by the HRC, indicating a pro-gay-rights stance in 2006.
8) He voted to prohibit employment discrimination for gays in 2009.
9) He supported the legalization of gay marriage in Vermont in 2009.
What I see from these facts is a longstanding history of supporting gay rights. How you can come to any other conclusion is beyond me. All you have done is cherry picked his support of civil unions legislation in 2000 and contorted that into meaning he had to be against marriage equality without actual proof that he was.
Absolutely everything else posted in this thread has been speculation. You're the one that started this thread and are making the claim that he hasn't supported gay marriage for very long. The burden of proof therefor falls on you to preset facts that back up your claim. Stating that 'a lack of a statement from him explaining his reasoning for the facts above proves your point' is a fallacy. If you have actual hard proof that he has been against marriage equality then lay it out.
If this were a trial the defense would be burying you with circumstantial evidence and character witnesses. You need a smoking gun.