GOP Candidates React to SCOTUS’s Same-Sex Marriage Ruling
Last Friday the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in all 50 states, sparking a (nearly) nationwide celebration. Unsurprisingly, most GOP presidential candidates were not among those celebrating the Court’s decision. Instead, each candidate offered a disapproving comment, some more carefully crafted than others. From extremely nonplussed to apocalyptically apoplectic here’s a sample of their responses:
JEB BUSH:
SUPPORT OR OPPOSE DECISION: Oppose.
COMMENT: “I believe in traditional marriage…I also believe that we should love our neighbor and respect others”
HOW MAD: Holding it in.
MARCO RUBIO:
SUPPORT OR OPPOSE DECISION: Oppose.
COMMENT: “While I disagree with this decision, we live in a republic and must abide by the law”
HOW MAD: You mad, bro?
SCOTT WALKER:
SUPPORT OR OPPOSE DECISION: Oppose.
COMMENT: “This Supreme Court decision is a grave mistake.”
HOW MAD: Extremely nonplussed.
TED CRUZ:
SUPPORT OR OPPOSE DECISION: Oppose.
COMMENT: “Today is some of the darkest 24 hours in our nation’s history.”
HOW MAD: Typical Ted.
BOBBY JINDAL:
SUPPORT OR OPPOSE DECISION: Oppose.
COMMENT: “Marriage between a man and a woman was established by God, and no earthly court can alter that.”
HOW MAD: Tanned. Rested. Ready to rage.
RICK PERRY:
SUPPORT OR OPPOSE DECISION: Oppose.
COMMENT: “I fundamentally disagree with the court rewriting the law and assaulting the 10th Amendment.”
HOW MAD: Fundamentally flustered.
RICK SANTORUM:
SUPPORT OR OPPOSE DECISION: Oppose.
COMMENT: “Just as they have in cases from Dred Scott to Plessy, the Court has an imperfect track record.”
HOW MAD: Pointing fingers.
MIKE HUCKABEE:
SUPPORT OR OPPOSE DECISION: Oppose.
COMMENT: “I will not acquiesce to an imperial court any more than our Founders acquiesced to an imperial British monarch.”
HOW MAD: Apocalyptically apoplectic.
BEN CARSON:
SUPPORT OR OPPOSE DECISION: Oppose.
COMMENT: “While I strongly disagree with the Supreme Court’s decision, their ruling is now the law of the land.”
HOW MAD: The Doctor took a chill pill.
CARLY FIORINA:
SUPPORT OR OPPOSE DECISION: Oppose.
COMMENT: “The latest example of an activist Court ignoring its constitutional duty to say what the law is.”
HOW MAD: Choleric
LINDSEY GRAHAM:
SUPPORT OR OPPOSE DECISION: Support?
COMMENT: “I will respect the Court’s decision.”
HOW MAD: ¯_(ツ)_/¯
DONALD TRUMP:
SUPPORT OR OPPOSE DECISION: Oppose.
COMMENT: “The Bush appointed Supreme Court Justice John Roberts has let us down…Remember!”
HOW MAD: A confused tycoon tantrum.
Republican presidential candidates aside, the response to the Court’s decision was overwhelmingly positive. But while last week’s decision is a huge victory, and does much to end uncertainty for LGBT couples and families, there is still much work to be done. In a majority states, same-sex couples will be able to be legally married and legally fired from their jobs, evicted from their houses, denied credit, or refused service just because of their sexual orientation. Now it’s time to build on last week’s decision to pass nationwide, explicit LGBT discrimination protections.
BOTTOM LINE: No matter the source of their disapproval, almost every single candidate in the crowded GOP primary field came out against what a supermajority of Americans agree with last week. On issue after issue, GOP candidates’ extreme views are out-of-touch with the American people.
Like CAP Action on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!