The score is now 3-2 against “The Marriage Vow”

Two more Republican presidential candidates have announced they will not sign “The Marriage Vow” drafted by The Family Leader and unveiled at a statehouse news conference (which you can listen to here).

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney is not signing The Vow and his campaign issued the following statement:

“Mitt Romney strongly supports traditional marriage but he felt this pledge contained references and provisions that were undignified and inappropriate for a presidential campaign.” – Andrea Saul, Campaign Spokeswoman.

The Romney camp also released a statement from State Representative Renee Schulte of Cedar Rapids, who is part of Romney’s Iowa leadership team:

“One of the reasons I support Gov. Romney is his support for traditional marriage. However, I am glad he won’t sign this ill-advised pledge. The Family Leader would do more to advance the issues that conservatives like Mitt and I support if they kept it simple.”

Former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty isn’t signing The Vow either.  Here’s his statement, released by the Pawlenty campaign early this afternoon:

“Mary and I have been married for almost 24 years and have been blessed with two wonderful daughters.  In all we do, we remain committed to our core values that are set out in scripture.  We are saved by grace.  As Christians we are to speak the truth, but to do so with love.
 
“Voters have a right to know about their leaders’ faith and values, and how those beliefs may shape their decisions. To that end, today my campaign released a new video in which both Mary and I speak directly and openly about our faith.  I fully support traditional marriage.  Unequivocally.  The traditional family faces enormous challenges in America, and if elected I would vigorously oppose any effort to redefine marriage as anything other than between one man and one woman.
 
“I deeply respect, and share, Bob Vander Platts’ commitment to promoting the sanctity of marriage, a culture of life, and the core principles of the Family Leader’s Marriage Vow Pledge. However, rather than sign onto the words chosen by others, I prefer to choose my own words, especially seeking to show compassion to those who are in broken families through no fault of their own.

“I respectfully decline to sign the pledge.”

Here’s a link to that video Pawlenty mentioned.  (The Pawlenty campaign is running a radio ad in Iowa, inviting listeners to go online and watch the video.)

Pawlenty and Romney — by both saying no to The Vow — join Gary Johnson in refusing to sign it.  Newt Gingrich said this week in Pella that his campaign’s policy director is recommending some language adjustments to the document before he would sign it.  Michele Bachmann and Rich Santorum both signed The Marriage Vow, before language mentioning slavery was edited from the document.

The Marriage Vow got the Stephen Colbert treatment on last night’s Colbert Report.