1.Ken Mehlman, David Kochel: Support of Same-Sex Marriage is Conservative Article originally released on The Iowa Republican

2. IntroKen Mehlman is one of the preeminent Republican political operatives in the country. He served as thecampaign manager for George W. Bushs successful re-election campaign in 2004. Exit polling showed thatfamily values was perhaps the key component in thrusting Bush ahead of John Kerry in that race.It would have surprised a lot of those values voters to learn that Bushs campaign manager was gay. Thatwas not public knowledge at the time. After leading Bush to victory, Ken Mehlman served a two-year stint aschairman of the Republican National Committee. Three years later, in August of 2010, Mehlman revealedthat he is gay, becoming perhaps the most prominent openly gay figure in the GOP.Mehlman believes that not only is it in the best interest of the Republican Party to end its opposition tosame-sex marriage, but it also fits with the conservative principles of small government the party holds dear.The reason Im here today in Iowa is to stand with and to salute the excellent work of men and women whostand in favor of civil marriage because they are conservative, not in spite of being conservative, Mehlmansaid. If you think about what permitting civil marriage is about, its actually consistent with conservativeprinciples.Mehlman spoke at a public event hosted by Iowa Republicans for Freedom at the Davis Brown Law Firm indowntown Des Moines. IRFF is an organization put together by former Republican state legislator Jeff Angelothat supports same-sex marriage. 3. Civil Marriage is ConservativeIm a conservative because I believe in more freedom and I believe in less government, Mehlman said. Ithink that we are endowed by our Creator, not by politicians, not by government, not by bureaucrats, withinalienable rights, including the pursuit of happiness. If you believe that, what could be more central to thepursuit of happiness than choosing the person that you love, that you have the right to marry?During his 11-minute speech, Ken Mehlman avoided using the terms gay and same-sex. Instead, herepeatedly referred to civil marriage. To make his case, Mehlman pointed out that prominentconservatives like Dick Cheney, Clint Eastwood, John Bolton and Ted Olson have also spoken in favor ofsame-sex marriage.As for those values voters that Mehlman organized in 2004 to vote for George W. Bush, he says supportingsame-sex marriage is supporting family values.Youre seeing it across Iowa, Mehlman said. It makes a society stronger. It makes it more caring. It makesit more focused on the long term. It creates stability in the lives of children across this country who areraised by two members of the same gender who are loving moms or loving dads and because of whathappened in Iowa, now have stability and an ability to know that their home is more secure.Also speaking in favor of same-sex marriage at the event was David Kochel, who led Mitt Romneys 2012campaign in Iowa. Kochel had not spoken publicly in favor of marriage equality until an appearance onWHO-TVs Insiders program this past Sunday. 4. Civil Marriage is ConservativeIve had this position for a very long time, even longer than Barack Obama and Joe Biden, Kochel told thecrowd of 30. I felt this way since probably before the 2000 elections and just have always been the guy inthe back of the room helping candidates with their message as opposed to thinking of my own message. ButI think where the Republican Party needs to go is we need to be a more modern party, we need to be a moreinclusive party.Mehlman and Jeff Angelo met privately with Republican operatives and officials in Iowa over the past coupleof days, encouraging them to end their opposition to gay marriage. With the public tide turning in favor ofsupporting same-sex marriage, they hope the Republican Party will do the same.Iowa is a better place today because of the fact that loving couples can be married, Mehlman said. Its afreer place, its a juster (sic) place, its a place with stronger families, its a place with strongerneighborhoods, its a place with stronger communities.The Iowa Republican - Mehlman, Kochel: Support of Same-Sex Marriage is Conservative 5. Video of Ken Mehlman Speaking