On Friday morning, Republican presidential candidates disapproved of the Supreme Court’s majority opinion, which recognized marriage as a fundamental right for same-sex couples.
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee expressed perhaps the most strident disapproval, urging voters to “resist and reject judicial tyranny.”
“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,” Huckabee continued.
Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum also criticized the justices:
Today, 5 unelected judges redefined the foundational unit of society. Now it is the people's turn to speak #Marriage
— Rick Santorum (@RickSantorum) June 26, 2015
The Court is 1 of 3 coequal branches of government & they have an imperfect record. Stakes are too high to cede marriage to unelected judges
— Rick Santorum (@RickSantorum) June 26, 2015
Huckabee and Santorum both signed onto a full-page ad in the Washington Post earlier this month vowing to defy the Court should it rule in favor of same-sex marriage.
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush’s statement also disapproved, but had a more restrained approach, saying, “Guided by my faith, I believe in traditional marriage. I believe the Supreme Court should have allowed the states to make this decision. … It is now crucial that as a country we protect religious freedom and the right of conscience and also not discriminate.”
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker called for a constitutional amendment to “reaffirm” state’s right to define marriage.
SCOTT WALKER calls for "an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to reaffirm the ability of the states to continue to define marriage."
— Tim Alberta (@TimAlberta) June 26, 2015
Update:
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal released a statement saying, “This ruling must not be used as pretext by Washington to erode our right to religious liberty. … I will never stop fighting for religious liberty and I hope our leaders in D.C. join me.”