Rightmichigan.com, the conservative blog, features an interview between Jerry Zandstra, the failed 2006 Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, and potential GOP gubernatorial candidate Rick Snyder. Snyder, a venture capitalist from Ann Arbor, is taking fire from conservatives for his donations to support pro-choice activities, including supporting a stem cell initiative and allegedly supporting the development of a pro-choice wing of the GOP. 

Zandstra is president of the Pro-Life Federation, an anti-abortion group and Synder does everything he can to tout himself as a pro-life candidate. Ironically, Snyder has declined interviews with the mainstream media and his spokesperson has declined to discuss Snyder’s stance on choice issues.

But buried in the middle of the interview is a question on Snyder’s take on gay marriage:

What about gay marriage?

I believe that marriage is a sacred bond between a man and a woman and thus oppose gay marriage. I also believe people have the right to enter into other types of agreements other than marriage.

A reader at RightMichigan.com responded in comments:

Even if everything else in the interview looked kosher, this line raises my eyebrows. Supporting homosexual marriage (by any name) necessarily means supporting benefits for homosexual couples. This, in my opinion, means that this guy is in favor of special rights for homosexual couples. That’s not cool with me.

And what’s up with his refusal to label himself a conservative or a moderate? He hasn’t thought about it? I’d be a bit worried that he’s either hiding what he really is, or that he’s a complete vacuum in terms of ideals or convictions.

Sorry Rick, but in a field as talented and (relatively) conservative as we’ve got to pick from, no vote for you.

Will Snyder’s position on these issues hurt or help the dark horse candidate in a bid to challenge power house GOP names like Mike Cox, the current state attorney general; Terri Lynn Land, the current secretary of state; and Pete Hoekstra, the Twittering congressman? Time will tell.