PRESS RELEASES from National Organization for Marriage

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 15, 2011
Contact: Mary Beth Hutchins

Gingrich Signs NOM's Marriage Pledge, Leaving Only Paul Among Major Candidates Not To Have Signed
NOM will begin advertising in Iowa to communicate with Iowa voters who is pledged to stand with them to defend marriage

WASHINGTON — The National Organization for Marriage (NOM) today announced that presidential front-runner Newt Gingrich has signed the organization's presidential marriage pledge, leaving Ron Paul as the only major candidate not to have signed the pledge. The pledge, which commits candidates to take several concrete actions as President of the United States, has been signed by Gingrich, Mitt Romney, Rick Perry, Rick Santorum and Michelle Bachmann. NOM also announced it would launch advertisements in Iowa to publicize those who are pledge to defend marriage as the union of one man and one woman.

"We commend Newt Gingrich for signing NOM's presidential marriage pledge, committing himself to play a leadership role as president to preserve marriage as the union of one man and one woman," said Brian Brown, NOM's president. "Mr. Gingrich joins all the other major candidates who have made a similar commitment, save for one—Ron Paul. Now we will embark on an intensive communications program to inform Iowa voters who will stand with them to preserve marriage, and who has abandoned them on marriage."

Preserving traditional marriage is a major issue in the presidential campaign. In 2010 Iowa voters removed three justices of their state Supreme Court, including the Chief Justice, who voted to redefine marriage in Iowa and thus imposing same-sex marriage. NOM's marriage pledge commits the candidates to:

  • Support an amendment to the United State Constitution 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.

"Many of Ron Paul's supporters in Iowa believe that he is on their side when it comes to preserving traditional marriage, but he isn't," Brown said. "While Paul says he personally believes in traditional marriage, he has refused to sign our pledge and, worse, has said that marriage is strictly a private affair and that government has no role in regulating marriage. This is a dangerous position with profound consequences for society."

Left to its logical conclusion, if marriage is strictly a private affair as Paul has said, homosexual, polygamous and incestuous marriages among adults would be considered just as valid as traditional marriages. Moreover, should the United States Supreme Court decide to redefine marriage to impose same-sex marriage, just as they imposed their will on abortion, Paul would do nothing about it.

"NOM is not going to endorse a candidate in Iowa, but we will be making it clear through online ads, telephone calls and other actions that Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum, Mitt Romney and Michele Bachmann stand with Iowans on defending traditional marriage, and Ron Paul does not," Brown concluded.


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 4, 2011
CONTACT: Elizabeth Ray or Mary Beth Hutchins 

BACHMANN, ROMNEY AND SANTORUM SIGN NOM MARRIAGE PLEDGE, COMMIT TO CONCRETE STEPS TO SUPPORT MARRIAGE

"Three marriage champions have emerged," says Brian Brown, President of the National Organization for Marriage

WASHINGTON - "Many candidates say they support traditional marriage (like President Obama!) but three GOP presidential candidates today stand head and shoulders above the crowd as marriage champions, for their willingness to go beyond words to commit to concrete actions," said Brian Brown, president of NOM, speaking on the eve of the launch of the Values Voter Bus Tour through 22 Iowa cities, which NOM is co-sponsoring. "We are grateful to Michelle Bachmann, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum for their courage and their leadership in standing up for marriage, and so are millions of Americans who care about protecting marriage."

NOM's marriage pledge was offered to all serious announced candidates for the GOP nomination. An opportunity to sign the Marriage Pledge will be extended to Gov. Rick Perry and other major candidates, if and as they enter the race.

In signing NOM's marriage pledge, Mitt Romney, Michelle Bachman and Rick Santorum pledged to:

  • Support and send to the states a federal marriage amendment defining marriage as one man and one woman,
  • Defend DOMA in court,
  • Appoint judges and an attorney general who will respect the original meaning of the Constitution,
  • Appoint a presidential commission to investigate harassment of traditional marriage supporters,
  • Support legislation that would return to the people of D.C. their right to vote for marriage.

"Marriage is an issue with an unbroken string of victories that unites Republicans, and we're pleased and honored the leading candidates in the race for the GOP nomination have spoken up for marriage. We expect the voters of Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina will continue to reward candidates who champion marriage," noted Brown.


TEXT OF PLEDGE


I, ________ , pledge to the American people that if elected President, I will:

One, support sending a federal constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman to the states for ratification.

Two, nominate to the U.S. Supreme Court and federal bench judges who are committed to restraint and to applying the original meaning of the Constitution, appoint an attorney general similarly committed, and thus reject the idea our Founding Fathers inserted a right to gay marriage into our Constitution.

Three, defend the federal Defense of Marriage Act vigorously in court.

Four, establish a presidential commission on religious liberty to investigate and document reports of Americans who have been harassed or threatened for exercising key civil rights to organize, to speak, to donate or to vote for marriage and to propose new protections, if needed.

Five, advance legislation to return to the people of the District of Columbia their right to vote on marriage.

Santorum July 25