GOP candidates scramble to decry gay marriage ruling

OPINION:

GOP presidential candidates on Friday rushed to express their displeasure with the Supreme Court ruling that legalized gay marriage, with many calling the historic decision anti-Christian and anti-family.

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal was among the most vehement, saying the 5-4 decision will “pave the way for an all out assault against the religious freedom rights of Christians who disagree with this decision.”

“The Supreme Court decision today conveniently and not surprisingly follows public opinion polls, and tramples on states’ rights that were once protected by the 10th Amendment of the Constitution,” he said in a statement. “Marriage between a man and a woman was established by God, and no earthly court can alter that.”

Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina decried the ruling, saying the court “should be focused on protecting the religious liberties and freedom of conscience for those Americans that profoundly disagree with today’s decision.”

“This is only the latest example of an activist Court ignoring its constitutional duty to say what the law is and not what the law should be,” she said. “I do not agree that the Court can or should redefine marriage. I believe that responsibility should have remained with states and voters where this conversation has continued in churches, town halls and living rooms around the country.”

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who along with Jindal and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum are running  campaigns geared toward religious conservatives, said only God can define marriage.

“The Supreme Court has spoken with a very divided voice on something only the Supreme Being can do — redefine marriage,” he said. “We must resist and reject judicial tyranny, not retreat.”

Calling the ruling “irrational,” he said the court’s decision will be remembered as “one of the court’s most disastrous decisions.”

“The Supreme Court can no more repeal the laws of nature and nature’s God on marriage than it can the laws of gravity.”

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who plans to enter the race next month, said states will now have to take up the issue and may have to amend the U.S. Constitution. 

“As a result of this decision, the only alternative left for the American people is to support an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to reaffirm the ability of the states to continue to define marriage,” Walker said. 

“The states are the proper place for these decisions to be made,” he continued.“As we have seen repeatedly over the last few days, we will need a conservative president who will appoint men and women to the Court who will faithfully interpret the Constitution and laws of our land without injecting their own political agendas.”

Santorum, who won Iowa in 2012 but barely registers on the polls these days, beleives Christians are being persecuted by the decision.

He said as president, he would “stand for the preservation of religious liberty and conscience, to believe what you are called to believe free from persecution. And I will ensure that the people will have a voice in decisions that impact the rock upon which our civilization is built.”

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, however, took a more measured approah to an issue most Americans have decided they’re OK with. 

“I believe the Supreme Court should have allowed the states to make this decision,” Bush said, noting that “I believe in traditional marriage.” Still, he said it is important that Americans “love our neighbor and respect others, including those making lifetime commitments.”

And famed neurosurgeon Ben Carson said that supports same-sex civil unions, just not “marriage.”

“To me, and millions like me, marriage is a religious service not a government form,” Carson said. “I call on Congress to make sure deeply held religious views are respected and protected. The government must never force Christians to violate their religious beliefs.”