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Romney, Bachmann, Santorum, Pawlenty sign NOM’s anti-gay marriage pledge

Romney, Bachmann, Santorum, Pawlenty sign NOM’s anti-gay marriage pledge

Not to be out-bigoted by Iowa homophobe Bob Vander Plaats and his anti-gay outfit “The Family Leader,” the National Organization for Marriage has prepared its own “Marriage Pledge” for the 2012 GOP Presidential hopefuls to sign.

The NOM pledge — already signed by Michele Bachmann, Rick Santorum, Mitt Romney and Time Pawlenty — is more narrow in focus than an earlier pledge distributed by Vander Plaats.

The NOM’s “Marriage Vow” is purely anti-marriage equality, and commits candidates to supporting a federal marriage amendment to the Constitution that defines marriage as between one man and one woman.

The pledge asked candidates to support five of the group’s goals:

  • Send a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman to the states for ratification;
  • Defend the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which includes the traditional definition of marriage and ban states from recognizing gay marriage, in court;
  • Appoint judges and an Attorney General who oppose a constitutional right to same-sex marriage;
  • Appoint a commission to investigate claims of harassment against those who support marriage as being only between a man and a woman;
  • Support legislation that would give people living in the District of Columbia the right to vote on marriage;

Romney, Bachman and Santorum on Thursday were the first to sign NOM’s pledge. Pawlenty, who initially declined, succumbed to NOM’s pressure and signed the pledge on Friday.

Bachmann and Santorum have also signed their names to the Family Leader’s 14-point pledge, which came under fire because its original preamble suggested black children born into slavery had a better family situation than those in today’s black families. That group’s pledge also states that homosexuality is both a choice and a health risk, and calls for banning “all forms of pornography.”

Pawlenty and Romney refused to sign the Family Leader’s pledge.

The Log Cabin Republicans denounced the NOM’s pledge, and issued this statement, prior to Pawlenty adding his support:

“Republicans got nothing but bad press from the first marriage pledge of the 2012 campaign season, which turned off voters and detracted from our party’s commitment to addressing issues that matter to all Americans. The last thing Republicans need or want is another group pushing the same outdated social agenda under new branding,” said Christian Berle, Log Cabin Republicans Deputy Executive Director.

“Like the original Family Leader pledge, the NOM document signed by Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum and Michelle Bachmann demands presidential power be used to circumvent the 10th Amendment and overrule local legislative decisions, including the choice by the District of Columbia’s elected representatives to secure civil marriage parity.

“Further, the pledge asserts that the federal government should use its power and authority to investigate Americans who use their free speech rights to oppose the National Organization for Marriage’s divisive agenda. NOM’s fearful rhetoric does not speak for today’s GOP and should not be dignified by any serious presidential contender. Our party is better than this pledge.”

This week, the NOM partners with the Family Research Council, a certified “hate group” as designated by the Southern Poverty Law Center, and the Susan B. Anthony List to launch their 2011 Values Bus Iowa Tour.

Starting on August 9th, the tour will cover 1,305 miles in four days with events in 22 cities, and pass through 47 of Iowa’s 99 counties, ending in Ames, Iowa on August 12, just in time for a presidential straw poll.

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