Grassley: “I support traditional marriage”

Senator Chuck Grassley, Ranking Member of the Committee on the Judiciary, made the following comment regarding President Obama’s announcement today that he supports same-sex marriage.

“I support traditional marriage.  I voted for the Defense of Marriage Act, which was signed into law by President Clinton. It defines marriage as a union between one man and one woman and prevents states from being forced to honor the decisions of other state courts.   I also voted twice in 2006, in the Judiciary Committee and on the Senate floor, for a joint resolution that would have amended the federal Constitution to define marriage as between one man and one woman.

“The President’s announcement today and his flip-flopping on the issue aren’t surprising given the White House being entirely focused on political advantage for the November election right now and the demands of the President’s political base and supporters.  However, the majority of voters in every state who’ve had a chance to have their say with a referendum on same-sex marriage have voted against it.  In Iowa, voters responded to the state Supreme Court decision in favor of same-sex marriage by ousting the justices.  There also doesn’t seem to be support for the President’s position in the Senate since the Democratic majority hasn’t brought up the issue for a vote, and you have to assume the leaders would if the votes were there.”