A national traditional-values group has vowed to defeat an Ohio Republican senator who endorses gay marriage, whether he runs for re-election or for president in 2016.
“Rob Portman can forget about getting elected president of the United States,” Brian S. Brown, president of the National Organization for Marriage, said Monday.
“If he runs, we will make sure that GOP primary voters are aware of his desire to redefine marriage and his willingness to see federal judges set aside the votes of 50 million Americans who enacted marriage amendments across the country because his son is gay,” he said.
“Rob Portman’s son has a right to live as he chooses, but that does not give his father the right to redefine marriage,” Mr. Brown said.
The Republican faithful demand candidates “who are committed to defending marriage, which is a critical element of the Republican platform,” said Mr. Brown, adding, “The same voters who just elected pro-marriage candidates like Joni Ernst, Tim Scott, Tom Cotton, Pat Roberts and Thom Tillis are not going to support someone like Rob Portman.”
Mr. Portman broke ranks with Republicans in 2013 when, citing his gay son, he said he supported legalizing same-sex marriage.
In a recent interview with Politics Confidential, Mr. Portman said his support for gay marriage has solidified.
“I’ve thought about it more deeply and thought about the fact that this is not a choice and that my son deserves to have the same happiness that Jane and I have had and the stability that comes with marriage,” Mr. Portman told Politics Confidential, according to Andy Towle’s gay news blog, Towleroad.com.
“We want to encourage that as Republicans. It’s a position I feel very comfortable with, and I’m glad I made it,” Mr. Portman said.
• Cheryl Wetzstein can be reached at cwetzstein@washingtontimes.com.
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