The U.S. Senate debate tonight in Perry, Georgia, was a rowdy one with panelists and the candidates sometimes having a hard time hearing questions, according to live tweets from several news sources covering the event.
There was plenty of expected jabs between Democrat Michelle Nunn and Republican David Perdue, both vying to replace retiring Saxby Chambliss in Congress with many polls showing them in a tight race. Libertarian Amanda Swafford also participated in the debate.
Georgia’s role in the U.S. Senate race is an important one, too. Democrats are trying to fend off a Republican takeover of the House and Senate in the upcoming elections and the Peach State is considered by some to be in play for the Democrats.
Nunn, however, has been battered by some in the LGBT community who say they are unclear about her stance on same-sex marriage. The concern raises from her telling the Atlanta Journal-Constitution last year that she believes same-sex marriage is a states’ rights issue.
The GA Voice has reached out repeatedly seeking an interview with Nunn to no avail.
At Tuesday’s debate, it was Amanda Swafford, who supports marriage equality, who asked Nunn directly what exactly her stance on same-sex marriage is.
Swafford’s stance on same-sex marriage:
.@The_Swaff: Gov shouldn’t be involved to frame our relationships. Same-sex marriage should be allowed. We need to champion that. #gapol
— Max Blau (@MaxBlau) October 7, 2014
Swafford bringing up 2012 Democratic platform in support of gay marriage, asks Nunn if she supports too — new one. #gapol — PolitiFact Georgia (@PolitiFactGA) October 7, 2014
Nunn: I believe all people should have the same right as my husband and I to marry. — PolitiFact Georgia (@PolitiFactGA) October 7, 2014
AJC reporter Greg Bluestein explained it also to the GA Voice when we asked him via Twitter what Nunn stated:
@theGAVoice yep. Said she supported marriage equality so folks can get married like she and her husband. — Greg Bluestein (@bluestein) October 8, 2014
Robbie Medwed, assistant director of the local gay Jewish organization SOJOURN, tweeted what he said Nunn stated:
@theGAVoice @bluestein @MichelleNunnGA Yes. Similar line as always, but slightly different: “I believe everyone has the should be able to — Robbie Medwed (@rjmedwed) October 8, 2014
@theGAVoice @bluestein @MichelleNunnGA enjoy the same rights as me and my husband. I believe marriage is a legal contract and also a > — Robbie Medwed (@rjmedwed) October 8, 2014
@theGAVoice @bluestein @MichelleNunnGA sacrament, and that faiths should be able to define marriage as they choose.” — Robbie Medwed (@rjmedwed) October 8, 2014
And all people deserve same legal rights. RT @SiteROI: Nunn says every faith should be able to define marriage the way it wants to. #gasen — Robbie Medwed (@rjmedwed) October 7, 2014
Listen to what she said in her own words in the clip below (at the 9:12 mark): And in the gubernatorial debate between Republican incumbent Nathan Deal and Libertarian Andrew Hunt, Democratic candidate Jason Carter is standing out via Twitterverse for his support of same-sex marriage.
Carter backs marriage equality but says “I don’t think we should waste taxpayer dollars” on challenging same-sex marriage ban. #gapol
— Greg Bluestein (@bluestein) October 8, 2014
Carter on gay marriage: I don’t believe you can ever tell a church who to marry or someone ‘s religion what to believe. #gapol #gagov — PolitiFact Georgia (@PolitiFactGA) October 8, 2014
Carter on gay marriage 2: But the government should dole out those rights and responsibilities equally. #gapol#gagov
— PolitiFact Georgia (@PolitiFactGA) October 8, 2014
And Jason Carter in his own words (at the 4:05 mark):