The campus of Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo: TrinColl.edu)

On May 1, 1987, City Council Speaker and all-but-officially announced candidate in next year’s mayoral race Christine Quinn found herself in a makeshift boxing ring set up in the backyard of a fraternity at her school, Trinity College. As part of Trinity’s annual spring weekend festivities, Ms. Quinn was to face off against her friend and classmate Sean McHugh in “Bantam Bouts,” a charity boxing exhibition named after the school's mascot. Ms. Quinn's matchup against Mr. McHugh, a lineman on the school football team, was billed as the “Battle of the Big Mouths.”

Posters for the fight dubbed the Speaker "Christine 'Maddog' Quinn," a moniker she said also came from her outsized reputation.

"It was just one of those nicknames that went along with being loud and pushy," Ms. Quinn told Politicker. "Some people are just born loud and I was one of them."

Though Ms. Quinn and Mr. McHugh described the event as "fake" and a "goof" to raise money for a local daycare, there was no doubt about the winner.

“I lost. She won," Mr. McHugh remembered. "She knocked me out.”

"Well, you know, he may have looked away once and I may have seized an opportunity," quipped Ms. Quinn.

Mr. McHugh was not the only opponent vanquished by Ms. Quinn at Trinity. Former classmates told Politicker that Ms. Quinn was a major presence on her college's political scene who even then showed the same brash personality and talent for political maneuvering that has served her adult career.

She was a staff writer for the school paper, The Trinity Tripod and active in the anti-apartheid club, which got Trinity’s student government to pass a resolution calling for the school’s board of trustees to divest stock in companies that did business in South Africa.

Her main cause was ConnPIRG, the local Connecticut student chapter of the Ralph Nader-inspired student consumer advocacy Public Research Interest Groups that sprung up on American college campuses starting in the 1970’s. Ms. Quinn had a leadership role in the group and helped bring Mr. Nader to speak at the school in April 1986.

Her student activism included multiple trips to Washington D.C. and the State Capitol in Hartford where she participated in lobbying and rallies for environmental causes, the anti-apartheid movement and for an end to the arms race. These experiences nurtured Ms. Quinn's love for the political process. In a 1986 Tripod article about ConnPIRG’s lobbying day at the Connecticut State Capitol, Ms. Quinn gushed about her work with the organization.

"Lobbying with ConnPIRG has been one Of the most interesting and educational experiences in my past 3 years: at Trinity," she said.

However, despite her extensive collegiate political activities, Ms. Quinn, who sometimes donned a blue-and-gold chicken suit to serve as Trinity’s mascot, the Bantam, insists she didn’t miss out on the lighter sides of campus life.

“I didn't lose out in more typically fun college experiences as well,” she said, before adding of her activism, “But that was fun also, but it was a different kind of fun.”

When she arrived at Trinity in 1984, Ms. Quinn was not new to student politics, having served as student body president of Holy Child Academy in Old Westbury, Long Island, where she was also editor of the school newspaper.

"I went to a small high school so there weren't a ton of different activities. I participated in just about all the ones there were in high school,” she said. "I liked working with people, I liked being part of teams, part of groups that worked together, I guess that's what attracted me in a legislative body. So what my personality was like, what I liked to do and a good way to meet people."

According to Ms. Quinn, her love of politics began at an even younger age.

"The thing that got me really, really interested in politics and government was my library at my parish elementary school on Long Island. They had this set of paperback biographies, stories of famous political people and trailblazers who had changed the world. The first this, the first that, et cetera, et cetera. These books were the most fabulous and exciting stories I ever read," said Ms. Quinn.

"After I read those books, I was sold. I actually never dreamed of being an elected official but I dreamed of having a role in politics and government."

This pattern continued at Trinity where Ms. Quinn said she was "a joiner." Her career in student journalism ended, in her words, "quickly," but she remained involved in activist groups because she said she was "much more interested in political campus organizing."

Ms. Quinn seems to have displayed an early skill for political maneuvering on behalf of her various causes. In one instance during her senior year, her effectiveness rankled some of her peers. In January 1988, she appeared before Trinity's Student Government Association to encourage them to join a list of organizations that supported visiting professor Margaret Randall, a teacher and author who was fighting deportation in federal court after her request for permanent resident status was denied because the Immigration and Naturalization Service believed “her writings advocated the doctrines of world communism.”

Ms. Quinn successfully persuaded the student government to sign the petition of support for Ms. Randall. But soon after the vote, five of the thirty SGA members wrote a letter to the Tripod in which they argued they were "hurried into making a decision based on ignorance" by Ms. Quinn, whom they accused of making an “unscheduled” appearance that did not give the group time to read the professor’s writings or research the situation.

“The body was asked to vote in ignorance in order to come to a quick decision as [Ms. Randall’s] court date is rapidly approaching," the letter said. "The members of the SGA were denied several important opportunities for the sake of expediency."

Asked about the situation, Ms. Quinn said the student government only had themselves to blame if they felt manipulated.

"You come into a legislative body and you ask them to do something and the members that are not prepared, that's on them, not you."

Her current colleagues might recognize some of the same characteristics Ms. Quinn displayed as an adept, outspoken college who wasn’t afraid of ruffling feathers. In the Council, she has been accused of stalling legislation she opposes and, in the words of her fellow Council member Jimmy Oddo, “When she is unhappy, she thunders, and I love it.”

Ms. Quinn concedes she has not lost her reputation for being a “big mouth” who is “loud and pushy,” but she hopes her lighter side comes across as well.

“I'm still fun-loving in the midst of all of this,” said Ms. Quinn. “I was the same way then -- serious and fun-loving all at the same time.”

Trump to Obama: Let's Make a Deal (Photo: YouTube)

Real estate mogul and reality television star Donald Trump unveiled his announcement of "something very, very big concerning the president of the United States" this afternoon. Mr. Trump's promised major revelation prompted widespread rumors he might reveal something about President Barack Obama's marriage or past drug-related activity. In the end, Mr. Trump used Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to present a deal he hopes will yield new information about the president's college years.

"I have a deal for the president--a deal that I do not believe he can refuse. If Barack Obama agrees (or has the universities and colleges agree) to give all of his college records and applications and if he provides all of his passport records and applications, I will give to a charity of his choice...a check for five million dollars," Mr. Trump said in a press release that was posted on his Facebook and Twitter pages.

Mr. Trump, who has aggressively pursued questions about the president's American citizenship, said the deal was part of a larger effort on his part to make President Obama more "transparent."

"President Obama is the least transparent president in the history of this country. Sadly, we know very little about a large portion of our president's life and, in fact, he has spent millions of dollars in legal fees to make sure it stays that way," Mr. Trump said.

Mr. Trump ended his press release by saying the $5 million check is one that "I very much want to write."

Watch his video of the announcement below.

(Disclosure: Donald Trump is the father in law of Jared Kushner, the owner of Observer Media Group.)

The Delta Tau Delta logo. (Photo: MiamiUDelts.com)

During his time at Miami University in Ohio, Mitt Romney's newly-minted running mate, Paul Ryan, was a member of the Gamma Upsilon chapter of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity. Joseph Gorman, the sergeant at arms of Miami's Delta Tau Delta chapter, spoke to The Politicker about how the fraternity's current members are reacting to the news of Mr. Ryan's selection.

"It's definitely positive for Greek life on Miami's campus," said Mr. Gorman. "It pushes the opportunity to see Greek life as a positive thing."

Mr. Gorman also said the Delta Tau Delta brothers are expecting Mr. Ryan to visit their frat house, which is known as "The Shelter," sometime soon.

"I hear that he may come back very soon since he's been chosen for this." said Mr. Gorman.

Last night, when the early reports of Mr. Ryan's selection came out, Mr. Gorman said the brothers of Delta Tau Delta discussed the news together on Twitter. Though Mr. Gorman characterized the fraternity as including members with a wide array of political views, he said they're all excited to see an alum on a presidential ticket.

"I think we're decently diverse," Mr. Gorman said. "But all of us are certainly excited for his candidacy. I am certainly a supporter of him."

According to Mr. Gorman, Delta Tau Delta and Mr. Ryan both share a "very Midwest character." He also said the frat has a very strong reputation on Miami's campus.

"We have a very great reputation and I don't think that there's any sort of negative outlook on us at all," said Mr. Gorman.

We asked Mr. Gorman whether Delta Tau Delta lore contained any tales of Mr. Ryan engaging in any legendary pranks or particularly epic partying. He said he wasn't aware of any wild fraternity stories in the candidate's past.

"I think he was was, not to pull any puns, but I think he was more conservative," Mr. Gorman said.

Professor Susan Grogan in a photo that accompanied the press release about her Super PAC.

Susan Grogan, who has been a political science professor at St. Mary’s College of Maryland for over two decades, formed the amusingly named "We Just Want Stephen Colbert To Come To Our College Super PAC" two days ago. We reached out to Professor Grogan to ask about her political action committee and she responded with a lengthy press release that referenced her "small turtle collection" and challenged Mr. Colbert to dance while maintaining her PAC would be "more serious" than his.

"I recently formed 'We Just Want Stephen Colbert To Come To Our College SuperPac' for several reasons. First and foremost, it is to advocate for the voter, to promote responsible voter behavior, and to enhance student engagement in voting and encouraging others to vote," Ms. Grogan wrote. "It may seem that the name of my Super PAC has little to do with its purpose. In part, I intended this as a satirical remark on the lack of transparency that is the case with so many Super PACs. More so, it is advised to give your Super PAC a catchy name to improve your chances of success."

Ms. Grogan says she doesn't "have time to watch much TV," but she "generally" watches Mr. Colbert's Comedy Central show, The Colbert Report after watching The Daily Show. She decided to include Mr. Colbert's name in her PAC after taking note of his "Americans For A Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow" Super PAC, which has raised over $1 million.

"Another Super PAC associated with the name 'Stephen Colbert' comically raised over one million dollars in short order. Being perhaps typical of college professors, I am somewhat short on creative ideas of my own. I tend to appropriate those of creative geniuses....Thus, I decided to follow Stephen Colbert’s lead. (To Stephen Colbert—Let’s dance.)," Ms. Grogan wrote (emphasis hers).

Though Mr. Colbert inspired Professor Grogan's Super PAC, she has some criticisms of his work and vows her political action committee to be "more serious." Specifically, Ms. Grogan takes issue with a treasure hunt Mr. Colbert's Super PAC hosted where he encouraged college students to search for a "a 101-year-old sterling silver antique turtle" he planted somewhere in the country.

"My hope is to siphon off the donations that otherwise might be given to the court jester toward a more serious purpose than, say, sending students off on 'Treasure Hunts' in pursuit of folly or silver turtles," wrote Professor Grogan. "While I do have a small turtle collection (about 6—I am not all that avid a collector of anything), and could appreciate Colbert’s so-called treasure of an old silver turtle trinket, what I would rather have students do than Colbert’s Treasure Hunt is to inscribe themselves with the motto of 'We Just Want Stephen Colbert To Come To Our College Super Pac' which is: 'Treasure None But Your Vote.'"

Despite her differences with Mr. Colbert, Ms. Grogan says she admires him and she does indeed want him to come to her college because of the attention he has brought to campaign finance issues.

"Of course, I would love to have Stephen Colbert come to our college as a speaker, as would most any other small college. Citizens United and other court decisions have made 2012 the Election of the Independent Expenditure," Ms. Grogan wrote. "Stephen Colbert has brought widespread attention to this problem in starting up Americans for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow—in keeping with the finest traditions of political satire. This is an example as to why I admire him, why I’d like to have him speak at our college."

Professor Grogan hopes her PAC will attract Mr. Colbert to her school, but she also made sure to point out "We Just Want Stephen Colbert To Come To Our College SuperPac is not affiliated with St. Mary’s College of Maryland."

Currently the PAC does have a website, www.wejustwantstephencolberttocometoourcollegesuperpac.org, but there's not much there beyond a note that "it's summer break" on the contact page.

We included Professor Grogan's full press release below so you can experience it in its full glory.

Fox News President Roger Ailes (Photo: Getty)

Fox News head honcho Roger Ailes gave a commencement speech at Ohio University yesterday in which he accused MSNBC, the AP and The New York Times of left wing bias and described Daily Show host Jon Stewart as a "socialist." Media blogger Jim Romenesko compiled Tweets describing the content of the speech that were written by media lawyer Media lawyer and Harvard Law & Policy Review blogger Jonathan W. Peters, who witnessed the address and posted quotes from Mr. Ailes' remarks.

"Jon Stewart is a comedian. He wouldn’t do well without Fox. And he basically has admitted to me, in a bar, that he’s a socialist," Mr. Ailes said, according to Mr. Peters. "The New York Times is a cesspool of bias."

Mr. Peters' Tweets also described Mr. Ailes blasting CNN and MSNBC:

"I would love for the AP to go back to being a neu[t]ral news source. But it slants stories, slants headlines. It tips to the left."

"MSNBC is out of the news business. Brian Williams, a sincere newsman, wouldn’t want to be caught dead over there."

"Media Matters writes all of the primetime programming for MSNBC. All of it. That’s what a recently published book says."

"The only difference between Fox talk shows and those on CNN or MSNBC is that Fox invites liberal voices to engage in dialogue."

According to Mr. Peters, Mr. Ailes also criticized profiles of him published in Rolling Stone and Esquire as inaccurate:

"The security apparatus around me is nothing like the one described in Rolling Stone, Esquire. But I do get threats, most contrived."

"The guy who wrote the Esquire article about me a few years ago was a bit of a whack job."

Read more Tweets from Mr. Ailes' speech at JimRomenesko.com.

(photo: nysenate.gov)

As the Senate and Assembly Democrats make their push on minimum wage, reproductive health and other legislative items, the Republicans controlling the New York State Senate instead unveiled a new effort to address college affordability.

According to the press release announcing the plan, the Senate GOP is proposing doubling the tuition tax deductions and tax credits, creating a “Stay-in-New-York” tax credit for people who graduate from a college in New York and stay here, and establishing a new loan program, among other things.

“We are proposing a way to help parents and their children cope with the sticker shock that comes with the cost of a college education,” Majority Leader Dean Skelos said in the statement. “Our proposal would double existing tuition tax breaks that have not kept pace with rising tuition. We will create a pre-payment plan to help parents save money at SUNY and CUNY schools. And, the Senate Republican plan would give students access to low interest student loans.”

It'll be interesting to see if the Democrats will embrace the Republican plan, which comes at a time that Republicans are being criticized at a the national level over college affordability issues. If the Democrats help make this a bipartisan push in Albany, it could distract from their main legislative priorities, but if they don't, they'd be forced to oppose what otherwise sounds like rather progressive legislation.

View the whole statement below:

SENATE REPUBLICANS PROPOSE COLLEGE AFFORDABILITY PLAN

Making College Affordable for Middle Class Families Through: Increased Tuition Tax Breaks; Lower Student Loan Interest Rates; Tuition Pre-Payment; Truth-in-Lending for Student Loans

Senate Majority Leader Dean G. Skelos and members of the Senate Majority Conference today outlined a plan to help middle-class families and students afford the rapidly increasing cost of a college education. The Senate’s 2012 College Affordability Plan would help parents save for higher education for their children and give students and families access to low interest student loans, as well as clear information about the size of the loan debt they are taking on.

In addition, the plan would encourage young New Yorkers to stay in the Empire State to begin their careers by creating a new “Stay-In-New York” tax credit. This would provide up to $12,000 in tax relief over four years for students who graduate on time or early from a college in New York, perform community service work and stay and work in New York for at least four years.

"This plan makes an investment in our students so that they can remain in New York and have the ability to make greater investments in their future and the economy," said Senator Kenneth P. LaValle, Chair of the Senate Higher Education Committee.

“We are proposing a way to help parents and their children cope with the sticker shock that comes with the cost of a college education,” Senator Skelos said. “Our proposal would double existing tuition tax breaks that have not kept pace with rising tuition. We will create a pre-payment plan to help parents save money at SUNY and CUNY schools. And, the Senate Republican plan would give students access to low interest student loans.”

“Beyond helping people pay for college, our proposal would address the ‘brain drain’ by providing an incentive for bright, talented people to stay and work in New York,” Senator Skelos said. “It would also provide a savings to taxpayers who pay about $13,000 per student at SUNY and CUNY schools by encouraging students to graduate on time or even early.”

Highlights of the College Affordability Plan include:

• Doubling the existing tuition tax deduction from $10,000 to $20,000;
• Doubling the maximum tuition tax credit from $400 to $800;
• Creating a four-year, $12,000 “Stay-in-New-York” tax credit for people who graduate from a college in New York in four years or less; perform volunteer community service and stay and work in New York for four years. Combined with existing credits, graduates could get up to $15,200 in total tax relief;
• Establish a new $100 million Linked Deposit Student Loan program to make low interest student loans available to middle class families. Loan interest rates could be cut in half;
• Enabling parents could pre-pay current tuition for a SUNY or CUNY school; and
• Designate the Department of Financial Services to serve as a “truth-in-lending” clearinghouse for reliable information on college loans and interest rates.

Information from The Project on Student Debt (annual surveys conducted by U.S. News & World Report, the College Board and Peterson’s College Guide), illustrate the financial problems created by rising tuition costs and the debt owed to pay off those costs.

In 2010, graduates from colleges in New York had an average loan debt of $26, 271, the 10th highest amount in the country. Just six years ago in 2005-06, the average loan for New York schools was $19,249 and New York ranked 20th in the nation. Sixty-one percent of students who attend college in New York have college loan debts.

Nationally, college tuitions have increased well beyond the rate of inflation, income and health care costs. It’s estimated that by 2016, the average cost of a public college will have more than doubled in 15 years. The amount of student debt is now more than one trillion dollars, surpassing the amount owed on credit cards and auto loans.

“Today the State Senate is clearly standing up for student aid with a creative mix of proposals that will help families with college expenses,” said Laura L. Anglin, President of the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities, a statewide association for more than 100 private, not-for-profit campuses.

"I commend Majority Leader Skelos and Senator LaValle for the leadership they have shown today in addressing college costs," said SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher. "We are encouraged by the Senate's ambition to keep more graduates living and working in our state, as there is no greater way for higher education to reinvigorate New York's economy than by training and building the workforce of tomorrow. We look forward to working with our colleagues in state government on the issue of college affordability.”

“Our new college graduates have just spent several years getting to know their adopted towns, cities and neighborhoods. With these timely proposals, particularly the ‘Stay-In-New-York’ incentive, we are closer to the goal of encouraging more of our college-educated talent to remain in New York following graduation. We thank the Senate for supporting our students and their families as they seek to make their college dreams a reality.”

In an effort to address the enormous financial burden that higher education places on middle class families and young people, Senate Republicans are proposing the following measures:

Double Existing Tuition Tax Credits and Deductions

Senate Republicans proposed and enacted the first state tuition tax credit in 2001 to help middle class families afford higher education. Since that time, the cost of a college education has risen by 40 percent, eroding the benefit of the tuition tax credits and deductions. This proposal would immediately double the size of existing tuition tax credits and deductions and index them to the Higher Education Price Index (HEPI) to keep pace with rising costs.

• The current tax deduction would increase from $10,000 to $20,000.
• The maximum tax credit would increase from $400 to $800.
• A new “Stay-in-New-York” tax credit would provide additional relief of up to $12,000 over 4 years (up to $3,000 per year) for individuals who: graduate from a New York college or university in 4 years or less; meet a community service requirement; and who stay and work in New York State for at least 4 years after graduation. (When combined with existing credits, graduates would be eligible for up to $15,200 in total tax relief.)
• Prospectively, the plan would also peg these credits and deductions to the Higher Education Price Index (HEPI), to ensure that these tax benefits are not lost due to inflationary pressures.

Cut Student Loan Interest Rates in Half

The Senate plan establishes a new $100 million Linked Deposit Student Loan Program that would make new low interest loans available to middle class families. Financed through a new public-private partnership between lending institutions and the State’s Short Term Investment Pool (STIP), the program would provide loans of up to $7,500 at rates two to three percentage points below the typical rates offered by a bank -- reducing interest rates by up to 50 percent.

Allow Tuition Pre-Payment:

The plan would help parents save thousands of dollars in future tuition costs by enabling them to pre-pay for their children’s college education at SUNY and CUNY schools.

Empowering Consumers – Truth in Lending

The plan would designate the newly-created Department of Financial Services as an official “Truth-In-Lending” clearinghouse for information related to college affordability. It would require the department (which already has extensive interaction with financial institutions) to establish a “one stop shop” for consumers to obtain easy-to-use, reliable information on college loans and interest rates. This would help parents and students navigate the often confusing world of student loans and higher education financing so that they can find the best, most affordable way to finance a college education.

It would also require colleges and universities to provide additional financial information to parents and prospective students, including clearly outlined, easy-to-understand explanations of the debt burden a family (or graduate) would face depending on the loan they secure. (Amount of monthly payments, interest rates, and total dollar amount of interest to be paid, etc.)

President Obama at Barnard.

In his commencement speech at all-women's Barnard College today, President Barack Obama mentioned the importance of focusing on "studying" rather than "our pop culture obsession with beauty and fashion." Afterward, he quickly added his wife, Michelle Obama might have something slightly different to say about coutoure.

"Now, Michelle will say you can care about it a little," he said. "You can be stylish and powerful too, that's Michelle's advice."

Much of the president's speech at Barnard focused on women's issues. He credited the women in his life with defining and supporting his career. He also emphasized the growing number of women and minorities taking roles in business and government.

"Whether it's starting a business, running for office, or raising an amazing family, remember that making your mark on the world is hard," he said. "Whenever you feel that creeping cynicism, ... whenever somebody tells you to set your sights lower, the trajectory of this country should give you hope."

President Obama

President Barack Obama is currently on stage giving a commencement speech at Barnard College. In his speech, the president reminisced about the year he graduated from Columbia College, 1983. President Obama noted that year was the first time Columbia admitted a coeducational class and that, at the time, "music was all about Michael and the moonwalk."

"Do it!" one of the graduates in the audience shouted when the president mentioned Michael Jackson's famous dance.

Though the crowd cheered for him to dance, President Obama declined to demonstrate his moonwalk technique.

"No moonwalk," he said. "No moonwalking today.

Mitt Romney (Photo: Getty)

In a commencement speech at Liberty University  this morning Mitt Romney praised anti-gay pastor Jerry Falwell and the founder of Chick-fil-A, a fast food chain that has donated millions to anti-gay groups. Falwell, who passed away in 2007, was the founder of Liberty University and an outspoken opponent of homosexuality.

"In his 73 years of life, Dr. Falwell left a big mark," Mr. Romney said today. "The calling Jerry answered was not an easy one.  Today we remember him as a courageous and big-hearted minister of the Gospel who never feared an argument, and never hated an adversary.  Jerry deserves the tribute he would have treasured most, as a cheerful, confident champion for Christ."

Falwell gained national fame in the late 1970's working with former beauty pageant winner Anita Bryant on her efforts to fight an ordinance prohibitng discrimination against gays in Florida. During that campaign, Falwell gave a speech in Miami where he said "so-called gay folks would just as soon kill you as look at you." He has also condemned gays as "brute beasts . . . part of a vile and satanic system" that "will be utterly annihilated" leading to "a celebration in heaven." In 1999, Falwell denounced the popular children's show Teletubbies because he felt one of the costumed characters on the show, "Tinky Winky," was sending covert gay signals because he was purple and had a triangle shaped antennae.

"As a Christian I feel that role modelling the gay lifestyle is damaging to the moral lives of children," Falwell said of the Teletubbies.

In his speech at Liberty, Mr. Romney shared his own memory of Falwell:

"I will always remember his cheerful good humor and selflessness.  Several years ago, in my home, my wife and I were posing for a picture together with him.  We wanted him to be in the center of the photo, but he insisted that Ann be in the middle, with he and I on the sides.  He explained, by pointing to me and himself, 'You see, Christ died between two thieves.'"

Mr. Romney also praised Truett Cathy, the founder of the Chick-fil-A sandwich chain, who was also being honored at the commencement. Chick-fil-A has been boycotted by gay rights groups for donating large sums of money to groups that condemn homosexuality and fight gay marriage.

"The Romney campaign comes to a sudden stop when we spot a Chick-fil-A. Your chicken sandwiches were our comfort food through the primary season, and there were days that we needed a lot of comforting," Mr. Romney said to Mr. Cathy in his speech. "So, Truett, thank you and congratulations on your well-deserved honor today."

In the wake of President Barack Obama's announcement in support of same sex marriage last week, gay rights and specifically Mr. Romney's record on the issue have increasingly come into the spotlight. Though he was a supporter of gay marriage during his early career in Massachusetts, in recent years, Mr. Romney has fought against same sex marriage. In his speech at Liberty, he reiterated his opposition to gay marriage.

"The American culture promotes personal responsibility, the dignity of work, the value of education, the merit of service, devotion to a purpose greater than self, and, at the foundation, the pre-eminence of the family," Mr. Romney said. "As fundamental as these principles are, they may become topics of democratic debate. So it is today with the enduring institution of marriage. Marriage is a relationship between one man and one woman."