[caption id=”attachment_138768″ align=”aligncenter” width=”616″] Billy Bradford holds up a flag across the street from City Hall in San Francisco, Friday, June 26, 2015, after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples have the right to marry nationwide. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
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On Friday, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that same-sex couples have the right to marry nationwide. Here are reactions from the GOP 2016 candidates.
Jeb Bush
Bush urged respect for religious freedom and said the decision should have been left to the states, but that he also believes we should “love our neighbor and respect others, including those making lifetime commitments.”
Marco Rubio
“While I disagree with this decision, we live in a republic and must abide by the law. As we look ahead, it must be a priority of the next president to nominate judges and justices committed to applying the Constitution as written and originally understood.”
Rick Perry
Rick Perry said he was “disappointed” and promised to appoint “strict Constitutional conservatives” to the bench if elected president:
Rick Santorum
Chris Christie
“I don’t agree with the way it’s been done,” Christie told reporters, “but I take an oath, and the same way I’ve supported and enforced the law here in New Jersey since our Supreme Court made their 7-0 decision on same-sex marriage, and I’ve supported and endorsed that law. I would have to do the same across the country.”
Ben Carson
“While I strongly disagree with the Supreme Court’s decision, their ruling is now the law of the land. I call on Congress to make sure deeply held religious views are respected and protected. The government must never force Christians to violate their religious beliefs.”
“I support same sex civil unions but to me, and millions like me, marriage is a religious service not a government form.”
Mike Huckabee
Mike Huckabee called the decision “judicial tyranny” and “one of the court’s most disastrous decisions,” in a lengthy statement:
This ruling is not about marriage equality, it’s about marriage redefinition. This irrational, unconstitutional rejection of the expressed will of the people in over 30 states will prove to be one of the court’s most disastrous decisions, and they have had many. The only outcome worse than this flawed, failed decision would be for the President and Congress, two co-equal branches of government, to surrender in the face of this out-of-control act of unconstitutional, judicial tyranny.
[…]
If accepted by Congress and this President, this decision will be a serious blow to religious liberty, which is the heart of the First Amendment.
Bobby Jindal
Jindal released a statement saying the ruling “will pave the way for an all out assault against the religious freedom rights of Christians”:
Scott Walker
Walker called it a “grave mistake” and called for a constitutional amendment.
“The states are the proper place for these decisions to be made, and as we have seen repeatedly over the last few days, we will need a conservative president who will appoint men and women to the Court who will faithfully interpret the Constitution and laws of our land without injecting their own political agendas.”
“As a result of this decision, the only alternative left for the American people is to support an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to reaffirm the ability of the states to continue to define marriage.”
Carly Fiorina
“I believe that responsibility should have remained with states and voters where this conversation has continued in churches, town halls and living rooms around the country. Moving forward, however, all of our effort should be focused on protecting the religious liberties and freedom of conscience for those Americans that profoundly disagree with today’s decision.”
Donald Trump
Trump tweeted Friday morning, “Once again the Bush appointed Supreme Court Justice John Roberts has let us down. Jeb pushed him hard! Remember!”
But since Roberts actually dissented, it’s not clear whether Trump got confused or was actually referencing the Obamacare subsidies case from earlier this week.
