Jim Gilmore in Sunday Political Talk Show interviews during 2013-2015
On Drugs:
Legalization offers legitimacy of the state
Where does he stand?- Former Gov. Gilmore opposes the legalization of marijuana for any purpose. In 2000, he signed onto a National Governors Association policy plank that urged the federal government to increase funding for the
War on Drugs and declared legalization is "not a viable alternative, either as a philosophy or as a practical reality."
What has he said?- "I'm not a legalization guy.
I think that it's not a substance, it's a lifestyle, and a quality of life and approach that I'm afraid I can't adhere to. I understand that some people are able to use marijuana in a recreational way and it probably doesn't hurt society, but at the end
of the day, I don't believe we ought to be legalizing and putting the legitimacy of the state on to substance abuse. I just don't believe it." WMUR, June 19, 2015
Source: Marijuana Policy Project on 2016 presidential hopefuls
Nov 11, 2015
On Civil Rights:
2007: yes to traditional marriage; no to civil unions
Historically, Gilmore has expressed opposition to same-sex marriage and civil unions. Gilmore used the issue as a talking point during his gubernatorial race and a 2008 campaign for the U.S. Senate. Gilmore lost the latter race to Democrat Mark Warner.
"I'm not interested in sending a message of anger or hatred to anybody in this race -- anyone. But I don't support gay marriage," Gilmore said in a 2007 interview. "I think that the traditional marriage values that we've had over generations in
America is the appropriate thing. The extent that people can find some way to build some kind of contractual relationship between themselves, fine, but I don't think it should rise to a civil union which is really a substitute for the concept of
marriage, and I don't support that either."
Gilmore's campaign did not respond to emails seeking clarification on whether or not he has changed his position on marriage equality following the Supreme Court's ruling earlier this year.
Source: Advocate.com 2015 coverage of 2016 presidential hopefuls
Jul 30, 2015
On Civil Rights:
Traditional marriage is the appropriate thing
I don't support gay marriage. I think that the traditional marriage values that we've had over generations in America is the appropriate thing. The extent that people can find some way to build some kind of contractual relationship between themselves,
fine, but I don't think it should rise to a civil union which is really a substitute for the concept of marriage, and I don't support that either.
Source: Advocate.com 2015 coverage of 2016 presidential hopefuls
Jul 30, 2015
On Drugs:
I'm not a legalization guy
I'm not a legalization guy. I think that it's not a substance, it's a lifestyle, and a quality of life and approach that I'm afraid I can't adhere to. I understand that some people are able to use marijuana in a
recreational way and it probably doesn't hurt society, but at the end of the day, I don't believe we ought to be legalizing and putting the legitimacy of the state on to substance abuse.
Source: WMUR 2015 coverage of 2016 presidential hopefuls
Jul 19, 2015
Page last updated: Nov 30, 2021