I’m opposed to same-sex marriage. And ever since that feature has become a prominent one in my state, with the decision of the Supreme Judicial Court, I have taken every action that I could conceive of within the bounds of the law to defend traditional marriage and to stop same-sex marriage.

The man just won’t shut up. As Mitt Romney’s tenure as the governor of Massachusetts nears its end, the prospective 2008 GOP fringe candidate sat down and talked to the conservative rag Human Events (which also provides audio) to try to explain his views on gay rights yet again.

And also on the issue of gay marriage, the Supreme Judicial Court in Massachusetts today gave you a symbolic victory in terms of scolding some of the lawmakers for their actions. Do you believe the same [skepticism among conservatives] will hold true on gay marriage or will people still critique that 1994 letter and some of the comments you made in that campaign?

No, actually, my view on marriage has been entirely consistent over my political career. And that is that I oppose same-sex marriage. I also oppose civil unions.

There are some people who feel that is inconsistent with also encouraging the elimination of discrimination against gay people as well as others of differences. I’m very much opposed to discrimination. I also recognize that it’s not wise to create a special class and establish new rights for any particular group.But I’m opposed to discrimination.  [Jeebus, he’s resurrecting the “special rights” fable. Damn, that’s hoary, hypocritical homobigot speak.]

[…]

On that same subject, would you accept another endorsement from the Log Cabin Republicans if it was offered to you?

Haven’t thought about that. I doubt it’s going to be forthcoming-and in part because for gay Americans of both Republican and Democratic stripe, the issue is now all about marriage. It is not about equality and hiring. Look, I would not discriminate against someone in a hiring position based on their sexual preference. But it’s now about marriage, and I am adamantly opposed to same-sex marriage.

I’ve been to Washington to testify in favor of traditional marriage. I’ve written a letter to every U.S. senator on the topic. I’ve fought same-sex marriage in Massachusetts in every way I could within the bounds of the law. So that’s not going to make me popular with gay Republicans or gay Democrats. But there are some gay individuals who I know, who are friends of mine, who respect that fact that I believe that traditional marriage is right for the nurturing and development of children, but that I do not want to discriminate against gay people in employment or housing or other parts of their life.

Tell me, what gay friends does this man have who honestly respect Romney’s position that both marriage and civil unions are off the table for them? Man, what self-loathers they must be.

He also bloviates on the War on Terror (he won’t admit the U.S. is losing the war), his current position as a forced birth advocate (“Every action I’ve taken as the governor that relates to the sanctity of human life.“), and whether he thinks his Mormonism will be a problem with the fundies (“I don’t think the American people care very deeply about which brand of faith that is.”).

Mitt’s also decided to hire a person just to handle outreach to bloggers, er, “new media” — Stephen Smith. Smith worked for soon-to-be-former-Majority Leader Bill Frist at VOLPAC, which attempts to “recruit strong Republican candidates for political office nationwide.” That didn’t work out so well for them, did it?

H/t, Mike.