Headline: “Thompson defends gay marriage stance“.  Unfortunately, this is what that stance is:

Republican presidential hopeful Fred Thompson said he’s met frequently with influential social conservatives who are willing to accept his position on a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage even though it doesn’t go quite as far as they would like.

Thompson favors a constitutional amendment that bars judges from legalizing gay marriage, but also leaves open the door for state legislatures to approve the practice. He said social and religious conservatives who would prefer an amendment that also bars legislatures from legalizing gay marriage can live with his view.

“Everyone I have talked to in my meetings like this, the answer has been yes,” said Thompson. He conceded there are reservations. (emphasis mine)

Romney is being treated like he’s part of a cult, Guliani prompts threats by religious righters of going 3rd-party, and now Fred Thompson taking a majoritarian approach to marriage — as if 51% of the population butting into private matters is somehow better — has to deflect criticism as being too moderate on the issue?

At this pace, GOP activists are going to be calling for homosexuals to be stoned in public by the time the primaries actually fucking start.