Tom Vilsack in Politico.com

On Civil Rights: 2011: Gay marriage at state level only, for now

Former Iowa Governor and current Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack praised the establishment of same-sex marriage in his state--but stopped just short of endorsing it nationwide. "I appointed most of the judges that made that decision. I think it was a good decision," Vilsack said about the 2009 Iowa Supreme Court case that legalized gay marriage in his state--and provoked a furious conservative backlash and recalls of several of the justices involved.

Still, Vilsack wouldn't comment on whether that view on same-sex marriage extended nationwide. "I don't know what that's got to do with the Secretary of Agriculture," Vilsack told POLITICO. The USDA chief said the question of gay marriage was a distraction to the issues that farmers, ranchers and rural Americans faced. "I will be happy to answer that question someday," he said. "That day is not today."

Source: Obama Cabinet: Politico.com, "Vilsack backs gay marriage" Dec 15, 2011

On Civil Rights: Appointed judges who said yes to gay marriage

Former Iowa Governor and current Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack praised the establishment of same-sex marriage in his state -- but stopped just short of endorsing it nationwide. "I appointed the judges -- most of the judges -- that made that decision. I think it was a good decision," Vilsack said about the 2009 Iowa Supreme Court case that legalized gay marriage in his state -- and provoked a furious conservative backlash and recalls of several of the justices involved. Source: 2016 Veepstakes: Politico.com, "Gay Marriage in Iowa" Jan 23, 2015

On Gun Control: Rural America ready to discuss gun control

Vilsack says the Newtown school shootings have changed the gun control debate and that rural America is ready to be part of a national conversation. Vilsack says the debate has to start with respect for the Second Amendment and recognition that hunting is a way of life for millions of Americans. But Vilsack said it's now "potentially a unifying conversation. President Obama recognizes that changes to gun laws can't just be decreed from Washington but must come from the "grassroots up." Source: 2016 Veepstakes: Politico.com, "Ag Secretary on Gun Control" Apr 15, 2016

The above quotations are from Columns and news articles on Politico.com. Click here for other excerpts from Columns and news articles on Politico.com. Click here for other excerpts by Tom Vilsack. Click here for a profile of Tom Vilsack.
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