FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: September 5, 2011
Elizabeth Ray or Mary Beth Hutchins at 703-683-5004
Top Candidates Commit to Pick VP Nominee Who Supports Traditional Marriage
"Every GOP candidate has said that he or she personally believes that marriage is between a man and a woman, and each of the leading candidates has signed NOM's Marriage Pledge."
- Brian Brown, President of NOM -
WASHINGTON, DC - All the Republican candidates for president appearing at today's South Carolina debate today who were asked about their vice presidential nominee pledged to pick someone who shares their strong support for traditional marriage. The commitments were made at the Palmetto Freedom Forum Presidential Debate in South Carolina by Mitt Romney, Michelle Bachmann and Herman Cain. Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul also attended the debate, but they were not asked about their VP pick.
"Supporters of marriage as the union of one man and one woman saw an informed, dedicated field of presidential candidates not only express their own personal support for traditional marriage, but the three who were asked all pledged to pick a VP nominee who similarly is dedicated to preserving marriage as the union of one man and one woman," said Brian Brown, president of the National Organization for Marriage (NOM). "Along with Rick Perry and Rick Santorum who did not attend the debate, this is the strongest pro-marriage demonstration by presidential candidates that we have witnessed in years. Every GOP candidate has said that he or she personally believes that marriage is between a man and a woman, and each of the leading candidates has signed NOM's Marriage Pledge."
NOM's Marriage Pledge has been signed by Mitt Romney, Rick Perry, Michele Bachmann and Rick Santorum, and previously was signed by Tim Pawlenty. Herman Cain and Newt Gingrich have not signed the pledge. It commits the candidates to support a federal amendment defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman, appointing Supreme Court Justices and an Attorney General who will apply the original meaning of the Constitution, vigorously defend the federal Defense of Marriage Act in court, establish a presidential commission on religious liberty, and advance legislation to return to the people of the District of Columbia their right to vote on marriage.
"NOM commends these candidates for their personal leadership on marriage and for committing to appoint a vice presidential nominee who similarly is committed to taking concrete action in office to preserve marriage as the union of one man and one woman," Brown said. "We commend the debate organizers, American Principles Project, for structuring a presentation that allowed the candidates to discuss issues in depth and to field insightful questions from a panel of conservative leaders.
NOM's founding Chairman, Robert George, joined US Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) and Congressman Steve King (R-IA) in questioning the presidential candidates in the South Carolina debate.
To schedule an interview with Brian Brown, President of the National Organization for Marriage, please contact Elizabeth Ray, [email protected], (x130) or Mary Beth Hutchins, [email protected], (x105) at 703-683-5004.
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