By Will Wrigley
Reince Priebus, chairman of the Republican National Committee, said the party’s platform on gay marriage has not changed despite the massive effort spearheaded by the RNC to make the party more inclusive.
“I know our party believes marriage is between one man and one woman,” Priebus told MSNBC’s Luke Russert on Wednesday morning.
Striking a more conciliatory tone, Priebus added, “I also know that we have a party that’s going to be inclusive and is going to listen to people … That’s the type of party that I want to continue to build.”
Priebus’ reiteration of the Republican Party’s view on marriage comes at a politically sensitive time. The RNC just released a major report detailing ways to modernize the party and make it more attractive to minority groups, including LGBT voters. Meanwhile, a Washington Post/ABC News poll released Monday showed support for gay marriage is at its highest level ever: Fifty-eight percent of Americans said they believe gay marriage should be legal.
Priebus’ comments also follow Ohio Sen. Rob Portman’s declaration of his support for gay marriage in an opinion piece in the Columbus Dispatch. Portman, who was encouraged to make the announcement by his openly gay son, met with fellow Senate Republicans on Tuesday to discuss his views on marriage equality. He said afterward that he%
Read more Reince Priebus: Republican Party ‘Believes Marriage Is Between One Man And One Woman’.
**This is just another example of how the Republican Party leadership is out of touch with their party rank & file as well as the American people. – SB**
soulbrotherspeaks.com 
Prevent Another Steubenville: What All Mothers Must Do for Their Sons
by Kim Simon
When Max was just a few months old, I sat cross-legged on the floor with him in a circle of other mothers. The facilitator for our “Mommy and Me” playgroup would throw a question out to the group, and we would each volley back an answer. “What quality do you want to instill in your child? What personality characteristic would you most like for your son to be known for?” she asked.One by one, the mothers answered. “Athletic,” “good sense of humor,” “brave,” “smart,” “strong.” The answers blended together until it was my turn to speak. I looked down at the tiny human wiggling around on the blanket in front of me with his perfectly round nose and his full lips that mirrored mine. I stroked the top of his very bald head and said with confidence: “kind.” I want my son to grow up to be kind.The eyes of the other mothers turned towards me. “Thats not always a word that you hear used for boys,” one said. “But yes, youre right… so I guess, me too.” At the end of the day, we wanted our tiny, fragile, helpless baby boys to grow up to be kind. Strong, resilient, athletic, funny… but above all else, kind. Max is almost 4 years old. He knows nothing about the horrific things that young men did to a young woman on the saddest night that Steubenville has ever seen.
Read more Kim Simon: Prevent Another Steubenville: What All Mothers Must Do for Their Sons.