Conservative Leader Says GOP 'Working Smarter' in Fighting Same-Sex Marriage
Over the past few years, Republicans have led the charge in passing marriage laws or constitutional amendments in various states and are batting 31 for 31 in their efforts. Now some are wondering if the GOP is backing away from fighting for traditional marriage.
"Are we backing down from advocating for marriage between a man and a woman? Absolutely not," said Concerned Women for America CEO Penny Nance. "Look, we've had to work smarter on fighting those who want to redefine marriage as between a man and a woman. Fortunately, we're still winning the battle."
A recent article in Politico quoted several unnamed congressional staffers who maintained that House leaders had quietly killed several amendments that were opposed to gay marriage so that more controversial social issues would not distract from the leadership's economic agenda.
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"People need to understand that to pass a constitutional amendment defining marriage was between one man and one woman takes a large majority in both chambers and a president willing to sign it," Nance added. "Hopefully we have it after November but we don't right now."
Nance said that the focus of proponents of traditional marriage is to win battles at the state and local levels such as the upcoming votes in North Carolina and Minnesota.
Still others are saying the GOP has softened its opposition to gay marriage since more and more high profile individuals – including some national political leaders – are homosexual.
"I don't hear it discussed much," Rep. Hal Rogers (R-Ky.) told Politico. Others such as Texas Congressman Louie Gohmert has said, "That's not something we're focused on now."
With the recent passage of same-sex marriage laws in New York and Maryland, gay activists have been celebrating but that has not deterred pastors such as Baltimore pastor Bishop Harry Jackson, who led the charge to fight same-sex marriage in the Maryland Assembly.
"We'll win this war, I guarantee it," Jackson told The Christian Post several weeks ago.
The next battleground for the issue will take place in early May when North Carolina voters have the opportunity to cast their ballot for a constitutional amendment that will define marriage as between a man and a woman.
According to a poll conducted by Public Policy Polling in January, 56 percent of North Carolina voters are in favor of the amendment and 34 percent are opposed.
