What do Clint Eastwood, Dick Cheney, Ted Olson and John Bolton have in common? All are strong, lifelong conservatives. Each has fought on behalf of smaller government. And all support the freedom of same-sex couples to marry.

As voters in Maine consider the issue in this election, right-leaning voters like myself should consider why these prominent conservatives believe the freedom to marry is consistent with our values.

Conservatives have built a broad coalition, united around a single goal: more freedom, less government. Its key to our heritage and inherent to our DNA.

Freedom of Americans across all races is why the Republican Party was founded. And our most important accomplishments, from the economic growth unleashed when weve lowered taxes and reduced regulation to the fall of the Berlin Wall, have resulted when we promoted freedom.

Our concept of freedom is based in the Declaration of Independence, where every American was provided by their creator, not government, with the right to pursue happiness.

As former Vice President Dick Cheney noted in explaining why he supports civil marriage for all same-gender couples, freedom means freedom for everyone. Hes right.

What freedom is more basic and personal than the right to marry the person you love?

If we are serious in our belief that every citizen is endowed by his or her creator with the right to pursue happiness, then how can this not include the freedom to marry? What could be more central to a persons happiness? And alternatively, if we want a smaller, less obtrusive government, shouldnt individuals and not politicians decide who they can marry?

Maximizing freedom isnt the only conservative value enhanced by allowing civil marriage for same-gender couples. It will promote stability, responsibility, commitment family values that we often encourage in public policy.

Marriage encourages people to think beyond their own needs, to create loving households, to build a support network so people can be cared for in sickness, old age and hard times.

Original post:

Conservative values support freedom to marry