If Supreme Court Redefines Marriage for All States, Amend the Constitution, Potential GOP Presidential Candidate Bobby Jindal Says
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal has recently endorsed a plan to pass a federal amendment allowing states to ban gay marriage should the U.S. Supreme Court rule against such laws.
In a recent interview with ABC's "This Week' host George Stephanopoulos, the possible Republican presidential candidate explained his views on the marriage definition debate.
"I believe that marriage is between a man and a woman. My faith teaches me that, my Christian faith teaches me that," said Jindal.
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"If the Supreme Court were to throw out our law, our constitutional amendment -- I hope they wouldn't do that -- if they were to do that, I certainly will support Ted Cruz and others that are talking about making an amendment in the congress and D.C., a constitutional amendment to allow states to continue to define marriage."
Jindal's comments come around the time that the Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal from the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals on the constitutionality of state-level bans on gay marriage.
Louisiana was one of a wave of states where voters passed constitutional amendments banning same-sex marriage from 2004 to 2008.
In a referendum held in September, 2004, 78 percent of the voters who cast a ballot on the matter approved the amendment.
"Only in New Orleans, home to a politically strong gay community, was the race relatively close, and even there the amendment was winning passage," reported Fox News back in 2004.
"Turnout statewide appeared to be about 27 percent of Louisiana's 2.8 million voters, somewhat low for a state election."
In recent months, different judges within the Bayou state have rendered different decisions regarding the state ban's constitutionality.
While Judge Edward Rubin of the 15th Judicial District Court in Louisiana ruled it unconstitutional, District Judge Martin Feldman upheld the ban as constitutional.
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal from pro-gay marriage groups to strike down the Louisiana ban.
"The decision means that a district court ruling upholding the ban there first must be challenged in a federal appeals court, where it was argued Friday along with cases from Texas and Mississippi," reported USA Today.
Jindal's comments were similar to those made by former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, who is also expected to put his name forth as a GOP presidential nominee.
"I hear governors and even some aspirants to the presidency say, well, 'that's settled, and it's the law of the land.' No, it isn't the law of the land," said Huckabee in a radio interview earlier this month.
"Constitutionally, the courts cannot make a law. They can interpret one. And then the legislature has to create enabling legislation, and the executive has to sign it, and has to enforce it."
