WASHINGTON - Brian Brown, president of the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) reacted to the RNC chairman debate today sponsored by the Daily Caller, Americans for Tax Reform, and the Susan B. Anthony List:

"We are grateful that all five candidates were asked their position on same-sex marriage and all five unequivocally supported the GOP platform which supports our marriage tradition and opposes same-sex marriage."

NOM's Chairman, Maggie Gallagher was also in attendance and scored the candidates answer on the marriage question.

"The RNC Chairmanship is not just a spokesperson contest. I (and NOM) fully recognize the importance of technical and fundraising competence in the decision-making of the Republican National Committee Members, and my evaluation below is not intended to be comprehensive. This scorecard only evaluates candidates' answer on the marriage question."

The question, asked of RNC Chairman candidates by SBA List president Marjorie Dannensfelser on behalf of the National Organization for Marriage, was:

"The traditional definition of marriage unites over 80 percent of Republicans. While certain Republican elites try to portray this large majority as being on the wrong side of history. Regardless of how you see your role as Chairperson, you are almost certain to be put in a position to defend traditional marriage by a member of the media. What is your best 30 second case for the defense of marriage between one man and one woman?"

NOM's Scorecard:

Michael Steele: B+

Steele called marriage "foundational to who we are as a people" and an important "ideal for family life."

"There are lots of debates about the definition of family and everyone has a different way of defining it but as a party we have said we support this ideal." When he speaks about marriage he tends to be more eloquent than the average person.

Rience Priebus: A-

Priebus was the only one who spoke to the combined issues of judicial activism, the natural basis of marriage, and the social ideal it represents for children:

"I don't believe judges can rewrite the constitution and redraft what marriage is. There is a sanctity to marriage and I agree with Michael that it is foundational in our lives, I believe children should grow up with a father and a mother if possible. Certainly we support single parents if possible. I don't believe anyone should be denied dignity, everyone should be loved, I believe that marriage should be between one woman and on man."

Ann Wagner: B.

Ann Wagner is a strong supporter of traditional marriage, highlighting her work in Missouri support the state marriage amendment. But her answer was less than ideal because rather than defending traditional marriage as a public idea, she relied on her personal life: "I live my marriage beliefs I've been faithfully and happily married for 24 years, we have 3 beautiful children, I live my family traditional values and my sanctity of marriage as I consider it a true sacrament a bond between a man and a woman taken before God and others."

We know supporters of gay marriage who could say the same.

Saul Anuzis: A-

Anuzis like Ann Wagner, has a strong record of support for marriage in his state (Michigan). He argued that marriage as a natural institution, religious but not only religious--, and noted that U.S. support for marriage is part of American exceptionalism, something that distinguishes America from Europe and much of the rest of the world.

"I think very straightforwardly marriage is both a religious and a cultural institution that has existed for over 2000 years. I think it is a natural aspect of life, and I think that marriage is between a man and a woman; and I think the family unit is very important, and actually I think that our both belief in our kind of activity to promote marriage and promote the nuclear traditional family is an important distinction that we have in America versus almost every other country in the world. [Marriage] is a religious and cultural institution that is worth protecting and worth fighting for."

Maria Cino: C-

Maria's answer was the shortest and the least content-filled. She said (and this is her total quote): "I believe in traditional marriage, that's been a big part of my faith and my family upbringing and I support the Republican platform."

We appreciate her support for marriage, but wish she could articulate a reason.

To schedule an interview with Brian Brown, President of the National Organization for Marriage, or Maggie Gallagher, Chairman of the Board, please contact Mary Beth Hutchins, [email protected] at 703-683-5004 ext. 105 or Elizabeth Ray, [email protected] at 703-683-5004 ext. 130.

As we quickly come to the close of 2010, we are within reach of our $1 Million Marriage Challenge goal, thanks to very generous pledges we received yesterday. By midnight tonight, we still need to raise $161,000 to fully match the Million Dollar Marriage Challenge grant.

Just think what we can do together. If we each gave just $5, we would easily reach our goal. If we each gave $10, we would break all our fundraising records and set the stage for unprecedented successes in 2011. Click here to take the marriage challenge and make your gift today!

What can 5 dollars do?

• Buy a hamburger and fries at a fast food restaurant;
• Buy a gallon and a half of gas;
• Pay a fine on overdue movies or library books;

or

• Protect marriage in 2011, ensuring that you receive all the latest marriage news and information, defend Proposition 8, identify new grassroots marriage supporters, and take the case for marriage to state legislatures across the country!

While it’s been a tough year for many, and there are many worthy organizations asking for your support this time of year, virtually all of us can afford $5 to protect marriage –most of us could afford a gift of $20, and many even $50 or more.

Whatever you can give, I’m asking each of us to step forward and join with NOM as we press forward into 2011. NOM isn’t backed by a handful of rich gay billionaires like some of our opponents are, but by tens of thousands of ordinary Americans standing together to protect marriage. And the only way we will succeed is if we all stand together. By ourselves, we can only do so much, but together with tens of thousands of our fellow Americans committed to marriage, our gifts will make a mighty impact in the coming year.

The coming year is a year filled with unprecedented opportunities, and your gift today is critical as we set out to turn those opportunities into lasting victories for marriage.

Grateful to you for standing with us in support of marriage, and wishing a Happy New Year to you and yours!

Double your support for marriage with a year-end gift to NOM!

With NOM's $1 Million Marriage Challenge grant, every gift received (or postmarked) before midnight Friday will be matched, doubling the impact for marriage. Join us today as we close out 2010 and prepare to make an immediate impact for marriage in 2011.

We're already making ambitious plans for the new year - I'll have more details in the days ahead about the opportunities for 2011, including repeal of same-sex marriage in New Hampshire and Iowa, passing marriage amendments in Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Indiana and North Carolina, and continuing to build the defense of California's Proposition 8 in preparation for a dramatic victory at the Supreme Court in 2012.

Over the past three years - with your help - NOM has grown to become one of the nation's most effective advocacy organizations, and the nation's largest national organization focused solely on defending marriage. And together we've achieved some incredible victories, becoming the largest single contributor to the Prop 8 campaign, organizing grassroots opposition to block same-sex marriage in New York and New Jersey, heading the effort to repeal same-sex marriage in Maine, and helping to flip state legislatures in New Hampshire, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Indiana.

After playing defense for most of the past two years since the passage of Prop 8, we are now once more to go on the offensive, building legislative victories from the opportunities created this past November.

But it is going to take all of us joining together to make these victories possible. Click here to make your secure online gift right now. In just a few weeks, state legislatures will begin their 2011 session, and it is imperative that we have the resources to make an immediate difference in key states this year.

Same-sex marriage radicals will stop at nothing as they seek to force their agenda on the nation - "whether you like it or not!" as San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom put it so memorably. Even in just these past two weeks, we've seen the depths to which some same-sex marriage activists will stoop in their campaign for same-sex marriage - even to the point of exploiting young children, filling their mouths with hateful obscenities.

We need your help to fight back! Truth and love will always prevail over hatred and name-calling in the end.

Already, we've raised $336,520 to protect marriage through the matching challenge grant. And with just three days left in our $1 Million Marriage Challenge, we are working to raise an additional $663,480 to take full advantage of the challenge grant. Here's what I need you to do:

1) Take the Marriage Challenge right now! Would you make a year-end gift to protect marriage as we head into 2011? Each of us needs to step up and join the effort if we are to reach our goal and take full advantage of the challenge grant. We need you!

Can you give $10 as we come to the end of 2010? Maybe you can afford a gift of $100, or even $1,000? Whatever the amount, we need your participation – with your gift today, $20 becomes $40, $50 becomes $100, and $500 becomes $1,000 to protect marriage in 2011. Click here to make your secure online gift right now!

2) Then tell a friend! One of the best ways to maximize your support for marriage is to spread the word to your friends and relatives. Invite your friends to join us as we work to take full advantage of the opportunities we've been presented, making 2011 a pivotal year for the future of marriage. To help spread the word, simply forward this email to 10 friends, or go to www.2010marrriagechallenge.com and click on the "Like" or "Tweet" buttons at the top of the page. Become an ambassador for marriage by mentioning NOM's work at a holiday party this week, or at gatherings of friends and family.

If we all join together, I'm confident we can reach our goal by midnight Friday . . . but it will only happen with your help. Please, don't assume someone else will step up. We need YOU! Join us at www.2010marriagechallenge.com today!

Help NOM close out the year with our most ambitious challenge grant ever! There are 5 days left in the $1 Million for Marriage Challenge where your gift of $25, $50 or $500 instantly doubles to $50, $100 or $1,000. The new year promises many opportunities to strengthen and reclaim marriage – but we'll succeed only if you stand with us to start the year off right! Please take the challenge today at www.2010MarriageChallenge.com! Then invite your friends to join you by clicking the “Like” or “Tweet” buttons at the top of the page!

Maggie Gallagher, NOM's chairman, interviews Ann Wagner--one of the serious contenders for RNC chairman--watch it here.

You can watch the whole interview by clicking here.

From Dr. J at NOM's Ruth Institute:

More press over Dr. Morse’s scarf statement.

By Alexandra Petri

Even now, in the midst of all the hubbub over Don’t Ask Don’t Tell repeal, Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse of the Ruth Institute, based in San Diego, wants the rainbow back from the “Rainbow Coalition” of gay rights activists.

“We can’t simply let that go by,” she told OneNewsNow. “Families put rainbows in their children’s nurseries. Little Christian preschools will have rainbows…Noah’s Ark and all the animals…. Those are great Christian symbols, great Jewish symbols.”

Dr. Morse also noted that she wore a rainbow scarf to the Prop 8 appeal hearings to symbolize that the rainbow belonged to everyone. I’m sure that wasn’t confusing at all.

But I think she has a point: life must be difficult if you’re a proponent of traditional marriage who happens to love rainbows.

“I’m wearing these to express disapproval for your way of life,” you have to scream, whenever parades start moving towards you. “It’s complicated!”

You hang giant rainbow flags outside your window at all times, because the rainbow played a prominent role in the Bible, but then you have to explain to people who show up expecting some sort of parade that not only did you not mean to welcome them, you actively disapprove of their very existence.

You hung a rainbow mobile over your son’s crib for years, and he started to assume that you were a “cool mom” who would be okay with whoever he turned out to be. This was not accurate, and you had to sit him down and have The Talk about how this was not God’s plan.

“Look, I love rainbows,” you say. “I just hate that people see you wearing a rainbow and just assume you’re tolerant. That’s just so presumptuous. I mean, when I see a rainbow in the sky, I certainly don’t think God is in favor of gay marriage.”

Keep reading.