Dubie Supports Strategy, Platform of Republican Convention

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(Host) Lieutenant Governor Brian Dubie is defending a decision to highlight the terrorist attacks of September 11 during the Republican National Convention. Dubie also says he generally supports a proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage that’s included the Party’s platform.

VPR’s Bob Kinzel reports.

(Kinzel) For Dubie, the terrorist attacks of September 11 and the war in Iraq have become very personal issues. Dubie, who’s a commercial airline pilot, lost a good friend who was piloting one the planes that crashed into the World Trade Center in New York. Dubie went to Ground Zero days after the attack and helped organize relief efforts for several weeks as part of his service in the Air National Guard. The war in Iraq also has his close personal attention because one of his brothers is currently serving with U.S. forces in that country.

A number of speakers at the GOP convention in New York this week have made strong references to the September 11 attacks. Dubie thinks it makes sense to do this:

(Dubie) “If we didn’t talk about September 11 and we didn’t talk about the war in Iraq it would be similar to Abraham Lincoln not talking about the Civil War. September 11 changed our nation. I think former mayor Rudy Giuliani really with great credibility and great conviction and great passion talked about the challenges that confront our nation.”

(Kinzel) Dubie also defended several provisions of the Party’s platform dealing with social issues. The platform calls for a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage. Governor Jim Douglas opposes the amendment because he thinks this issue should be decided on a state to state basis. However Dubie believes a national approach may be needed:

(Dubie) “I know that this issue will be a real challenge for courts and for states. I think it’s going to be difficult for us to sort out the action that’s happening with the state of Massachusetts and the implications for the state of Vermont. And a constitutional amendment is one way that could help provide definition here. And I guess I look forward to talking about this in the upcoming campaign.”

(Kinzel) Dubie says he views Vermont’s civil union law as a good middle ground compromise to the issue of same-sex partnerships.

For Vermont Public Radio, I’m Bob Kinzel in Montpelier.

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