We’ve known for a long time that former First Lady Laura Bush was not a pro-life supporter. In recent talk show appearances she’s made to promote her recent book, however, she’s been speaking publicly of her support not only for abortion, but also for same-sex marriage.

Naturally, the press is eating it up and doing all that they can to spotlight her disagreements with her husband’s ethics and politics, but is anyone surprised?

CatholicVoteAction.org quotes from her interview on Larry King:

“There are a lot of people who have trouble coming to terms with that because they see marriage as traditionally between a man and a woman. But I also know that, you know, when couples are committed to each other and love each other, that they ought to have, I think, the same sort of rights that everyone has.”

Mrs. Bush said she and the ex-president “disagree” on legalizing same-sex marriage.

“I understand totally what George thinks and what other people think about marriage being between a man and a woman. And it’s a real, you know, reversal really for [them] to accept gay marriage,” she said.

When King asked if she could accept gay marriage, the first lady said: “I think we could, yeah.” “You think [legalization of same-sex marriage] is coming?” asked King.

“Yeah, that will come, I think,” she replied.

Yeesh. I really wish Mrs. Bush had tried just a little harder to explain the nuances between her husband’s and her positions on the issue.

But she can’t do that, of course. For her, it’s all about emotion. The words she uses to talk about same-sex marriage are deeply revealing:

People have trouble “coming to terms with” same sex marriage and it would be a “real reversal” for them to accept it.

Mrs. Bush probably has the best of intentions, but she is really not being fair to her husband or anyone else who thoughtfully opposes gay “marriage.” I don’t expect a person who thinks that “love and commitment” add up to a right to redefine a human institution to ever really “get it” but I have to point it out anyway:

Abortion destroys babies and hurts women. Traditional marriage is the foundation of any civilized society and the means by which we protect our next generation and give them their best shot at stability and success. These facts have nothing to do with anyone’s reluctance to change or sentimental attachment to the comforts of tradition.

Mrs. Bush’s emotion-based arguments in favor of abortion and same-sex marriage are certainly disappointing, but they are anything but surprising.