Bachmann First To Sign “Vow” Against Gay Marriage, Pornography, Sharia

Michele Bachmann is the first — and so far, the only — Republican to sign a controversial “Marriage Vow” in which presidential candidates are asked to pledge to be faithful to their spouse, work to outlaw same-sex marriage, ban pornography, Sharia law, and the federal debt, among other hot-button conservative issues.

Bob Vander Plaats, the head of the ultra-conservative right-wing Christian “family” organization, The Family Leader, has demanded all presidential candidates, including President Obama, sign the pledge, titled, “The Marriage Vow,” by August 1.

READ: Presidential Candidates, Obama Must Sign Anti-Gay Vow – Conservative Org

President Obama’s campaign has refused to respond (rightly so) and Tim Pawlenty says he’s considering it. Former Utah Governor John Huntsman has said he never signs pledges, Ron Paul is said to have “reservations,” and the other GOP candidates have yet to weigh in.

Bachmann has been the focus of heightened media scrutiny recently, as reports have surfaced of her and her husband’s extreme anti-gay hatred. Marcus Bachmann, the Minnesota Congresswoman’s spouse, operates Bachmann and Associates, a “Christian counseling” business that reportedly engages in “ex-gay” or “reparative” therapy that claims to turn homosexuals into heterosexuals.

READ: 10 Questions Bachmann’s Husband Must Answer About “Christian Counseling”

Marcus Bachmann has called gays “barbarians,” who need to be “educated” and “disciplined.”

Rep. Bachmann herself has left a long trail of anti-gay comments.

READ: Michele Bachmann’s Top Ten Anti-​Gay Quotes

The Marriage Vow — all 3008 words — includes anti-​gay rhetoric, language that subordinates women, denounces Islam, and scientifically-​questionable “facts.” Claiming “the Institution of Marriage in America is in great crisis,” Vander Plaats claims, “The purpose of The Marriage Vow is to have on record the personal convictions of each presidential candidate as it relates to the issue of marriage,” while demanding that each candidate’s “personal convictions” — all 3008 words — be written by Bob Vander Plaats.

The Vow forces candidates to denounce Islam, state that homosexuality is a choice and a public health risk, oppose same-sex marriage and vow to protect DOMA.

“Vigorous opposition to any redefinition of the Institution of Marriage – faithful monogamy between one man and one woman – through statutory-​, bureaucratic-​, or court-​imposed recognition of intimate unions which are bigamous, polygamous, polyandrous, same-​sex, etc.”

The Des Moines Register reports, “Alice Stewart, a Bachmann aide, said the congresswoman had no qualms about signing the Family Leader’s pledge. “She has been married for over 30 years and has a strong marriage and faith.”

“Huntsman’s spokesman Tim Miller said the ex-governor has a policy of not signing any pledges. “He has been a clear supporter of traditonal marriage and will let his record speak for itself.”

“Drew Ivers, Iowa campaign chairman for Paul’s campaign, said the congressman has concerns about the pledge because it calls for a federal marriage amendment to the U.S. Constitution. “He is very strong pro-traditional marriage, but he doesn’t want the government to dictate and define traditional marriage.” That should be between a man and a woman and the church if they choose to have a church wedding.”

Vander Plaats has strong ties to Mike Huckabee and failed at an attempt to be the GOP nominee for Governor of Iowa.