There’s been lots of debate over whether Mitt Romney’s teenager years as a bully are fair game, but what I find interesting is that it shows a pattern of homophobia over many years. So it’s documented that in the 60s Romney was an avowed homophone; in 2004, as governor, he fired a lesbian government official; in 2006, Governor Romney threatened to end funding for a commission that battled suicides in gay and lesbian teenagers; in 2008, Romney secretly donated to Proposition 8; and, in 2012, the resignation of Richard Grenell. Even Romney’s apologies over Grenell and his bullying days have been tepid and noncommittal.

“Back in high school, I did some dumb things and if anybody was hurt by that or offended, obviously I apologize for that,” Mr. Romney told Brian Kilmeade, a radio host. Mr. Romney added, “I participated in a lot of high jinks and pranks during high school and some might have gone too far and for that, I apologize.”

These are one offs, this is a pattern of homophobic behavior by Mitt Romney, plain and simple. Or in layman terms, GOP pattern homophobia.