It cannot be argued that marriage between people of the same sex is un-American or threatens the rights of others… On the contrary, it seems to me that denying two consenting adults of the same sex the right to form a lawful union that is protected and respected by the state denies them two of the most basic natural rights affirmed in the preamble of our Declaration of Independence – liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
— Former McCain campaign senior advisor Steve Schmidt, in a speech to the Log Cabin Republicans, declaring that he supports marriage equality.