Conservative Fires Back at Gingrich for 'Stupid' Gay Marriage Remark
A conservative supporter of traditional marriage denounced Newt Gingrich's recent remarks that same-sex marriage is essentially inevitable.
"Newt Gingrich has provided valuable public service to America," said Frank Schubert, national political director for National Organization for Marriage. "But sometimes good men say stupid things, and this is one of those times."
Gingrich still believes that marriage should be between a man and a woman but he told The Huffington Post last week that he's accepting the "reality" that same-sex marriage will be legal in more states.
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"It is in every family. It is in every community. The momentum is clearly now in the direction in finding some way to ... accommodate and deal with reality," the former House speaker and GOP presidential candidate said. "And the reality is going to be that in a number of American states -- and it will be more after 2014 -- gay relationships will be legal, period."
It might even have to come to the point where conservatives accept a distinction between a "marriage in a church from a legal document issued by the state," the Catholic politician added.
Schubert responded in a blog post, saying Gingrich's "conclusion that gay 'marriage' is inevitable is ridiculous."
"His comments suggest the results of marriage races in Maine, Maryland and Washington, which allowed three deep-blue states to endorse redefining marriage means that it is inevitable," he wrote. "I wonder if the Speaker also thinks that the Republican Party is doomed and can never again win a national election. After all, marriage performed, on average, 6.6 points better than did the Republican ticket in these very Democratic states."
In November, traditional marriage supporters lost for the first time at the ballot in four states.
Schubert pointed out that a majority of Americans still believe in the traditional definition of marriage.
"Gay 'marriage' is no more inevitable than is permanent Democratic control of the White House," he said.
"I trust Newt understands that gay relationships are already 'legal' in all 50 states. Our challenge is to ensure that marriage as the exclusive union of one man and one woman remains defined as such in our nation's laws."
