The “Marriage Pledge,” prepared by the anti-gay National Organization for Marriage (NOM) commits Republican presidential candidates to supporting a federal marriage amendment to the Constitution that defines marriage as between one man and one woman.
The pledge asked candidates to support five of the group’s goals:
Send a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman to the states for ratification;
Defend the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which includes the traditional definition of marriage and ban states from recognizing gay marriage, in court;
Appoint judges and an Attorney General who oppose a constitutional right to same-sex marriage;
Appoint a commission to investigate claims of harassment against those who support marriage as being only between a man and a woman;
Support legislation that would give people living in the District of Columbia the right to vote on marriage;
Candidates Mitt Romney, Michele Bachmann and Rick Santorum were the first to sign NOM’s pledge. Tim Pawlenty, who initially declined, succumbed to NOM’s pressure and signed the pledge also, but has since abandoned his presidential campaign.
“Kudos to Gov. Rick Perry for making it clear: he’s a marriage champion!,” said Brian Brown, president of NOM, in a statement. “The purpose of NOM’s Marriage Pledge is to move from vague values statements to concrete actions to protect marriage.”
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