Santorum Commits To Invalidating Existing Gay Marriages
At tonight’s GOP debate in Manchester, New Hampshire, Newt Gingrich called married gay couples “friends,” demeaning the significance of their relationships. Gingrich then went on to claim there was “secular bigotry” against the Catholic Church, which he falsely claimed was forced to close its adoption centers rather than allow same-sex couples to adopt.
“We want to make it possible to have those things that are most intimately human between friends,” Newt Gingrich, who has been married three times amid multiple adulterous affairs, told the Republican audience.
“It is a huge jump from being understanding and considerate and concerned, which we should be, to saying we therefore are going to institute the sacrament of marriage as though it has no basis,” added Gingrich.
Calling the Obama administration, which is slowly showing signs of support for gay marriage, Â biased and bigoted, Gingrich also claimed Obama was discriminating against the Catholic Church.
Rick Perry also played the “war against religion” card at tonight’s debate, stating there “is a war against religion and it’s going to stop under a Perry administration.”
All the candidates spoke strongly against same-sex marriage.
“I’m certainly not going to have a federal law that bans adoption for gay couples, when there are only gay couples in certain states,” Rick Santorum stated, which was mild considering his anti-gay attacks, especially over the past few days.
Mitt Romney, a Mormon, balked at having same-sex relationships called “marriage.” “There is every right for people in this country to form long-term committed relationships with one another. That doesn’t mean that they have to call it marriage.”
Jon Huntsman went as far as supporting civil unions. “Personally, I think civil unions are fair,” said the former Utah Governor. “I support them. It brings a level of dignity to relationships.”
Michael Lavers at Edge On The Net added:
Romney, Perry and Santorum said they back a federal constitutional amendment that would define marriage as between a man and a woman. WMUR Political Director Josh McElveen pressed Santorum on the fact that the Federal Marriage Amendment would invalidate the marriages of 1,800 same-sex couples who have taken advantage of New Hampshire’s marriage equality law since it took effect in Jan. 2010.
“If the constitution says marriage is between a man and a woman, marriage is between a man and a woman,” he said. “That’s what marriage is – and would be in this country. And those who are not men and women who are married are-would not be married. That’s what the Constitution would say.”
Here’s a compilation, thanks to Igor Volsky at Think Progress.