Romney accused of playing ‘gay friend card’

ABC News’ Matt Stuart Reports: At a campaign stop in the Denver, Fmr. MA Gov. Mitt Romney faced tough questions on the line item veto and gay marriage today in a town hall at the Denver University Sturm School of Law.

The town hall forum event, arranged by the law school, filled a small atrium with a young audience of both firm Romney supporters from the February 5th state along with curious students.

Following his stump speech, Romney was immediately asked about the legality of the line item veto, following on the day of feuding between himself and Giuliani.

Romney proclaimed that he and Giuliani differed on the topic saying of Giuliani, “even if he thought it was unconstitutional he shouldn’t a fought it because that was a power of the president that’s able to reign in pork barrel unnecessary spending.”

Romney went on to reiterate his support for President Bush’s line item veto proposal.

Romney drew laughs initally from the audience when he explained his initial low national name recognition saying, “A governor is not gonna be a household name unless he’s Arnold Schwartzenneger.”

He even got what seemed like an unexpected laugh when talking about the emergence of India and China on the global economy, saying “There’s tougher competition than before.  We’ve been competing with Europeans.  That’s easy.”

But the crowd was not entirely friendly, which became apparent when Romney was questioned about gay rights by Matt Goodrich, a student at the law school who is gay.

Romney argued that Goodrich’s interests were much the same as others in the room, while also stating that he believed “marriage is between a man and woman,” to which half the audience heartily applauded.

Romney emphasized that “At the same time, I’m not in favor of discrimination.  I do not oppose and I very much support equal opportunity in education, equal opportunity in employment, in housing and so forth for gay people.”  He added that as Governor one of his cabinet members was gay.

Romney’s statement of support for "equal opportunity in employment" might serve to remind his Democratic critics that he once was a supporter of the Employee Non-Discrimination Act during an earlier, more moderate, period of his career but has more recently become an opponent of the federal legislation which would protect gays and lesbians from employment-based discrimination.

Romney offered him the opportunity to follow up, to which Goodrich said that Romney was trying to “pull the gay card, the gay friend card” to which the other half of the audience applauded.  Romney reiterated that he only meant to elucidate that he was against employment discrimination.

Ultimately, Romney drew some his largest applause from his call for the Republican party to reform itself, saying that, “if we’re gonna get back America back on track, change is gonna have to begin with us, Republicans.  And we’re gonna have to stand for something again.”