IDP, RPI react to Obama’s newly-announced support of same-sex marriage

President Obama announced today that he supports same-sex marriage. The leaders of Iowa’s two major political parties released written statements in response, which you can read below in the order they arrived via email.

Iowa Democratic Party Chairwoman Sue Dvorsky released the following statement following President Obama’s remarks today in support of marriage equality.
 
“Today, President Obama echoed the sentiments of countless Iowans who believe all loving couples should be able to honor their commitments through marriage. In 2009, the Iowa Supreme Court unanimously ruled that prohibiting gay and lesbian couples from marrying is unconstitutional. It was a historic day for our state and a tremendous moment for committed couples as well as for the families and friends of Iowa’s LGBT community.
 
“While this is arguably one of the most important and historic statements President Obama has made publicly on LGBT issues, his remarks follow a series of policies this administration has put forth in support of equal rights for LGBT Americans. The values that the President cares most deeply about are how we treat other people. President Obama recognizes that people are going to have differing views on marriage and those views, even if we disagree strongly, should be respected.
 
“As we applaud the position taken by President Obama today, we must also acknowledge the fight for full equality for LGBT Americans is far from over. Our opposition continues to push a divisive and well-funded tactical agenda which seeks to undermine equality efforts across the country.

“The likely Republican nominee for President, Mitt Romney, not only opposes same sex marriage, but he believes we should amend the U.S. Constitution to prevent committed gay and lesbian couples from marrying.  A Federal marriage amendment, such as the one Romney supports, would be the first time this country amended the Constitution to deny Americans equal rights. Additionally, his opposition to civil union could potentially rollback a whole range of equal rights and benefits for gay and lesbian Americans.” 

Iowa GOP Chairman Statement on
Obama’s Gay Marriage Decision
 
DES MOINES, Iowa– The Republican Party of Iowa released the following statement from Chairman A.J. Spiker in response to President Obama’s gay marriage decision:
“Marriage is an institution that can only be between one man and one woman. While President Obama continues to play politics, the Republican Party of Iowa will continue to support maintaining the traditional view of marriage as between one man and one woman.”

RNC Platform: Preserving Traditional Marriage
Because our children’s future is best preserved within the traditional understanding of marriage, we call for a constitutional amendment that fully protects marriage as a union of a man and a woman, so that judges cannot make other arrangements equivalent to it. In the absence of a national amendment, we support the right of the people of the various states to affirm traditional marriage through state initiatives. Republicans recognize the importance of having in the home a father and a mother who are married. The two-parent family still provides the best environment of stability, discipline, responsibility, and character. Children in homes without fathers are more likely to commit a crime, drop out of school, become violent, become teen parents, use illegal drugs, become mired in poverty, or have emotional or behavioral problems. We support the courageous efforts of single-parent families to provide a stable home for their children. Children are our nation’s most precious resource. We also salute and support the efforts of foster and adoptive families. Republicans have been at the forefront of protecting traditional marriage laws, both in the states and in Congress. A Republican Congress enacted the Defense of Marriage Act, affirming the right of states not to recognize same-sex marriages licensed in other states. Unbelievably, the Democratic Party has now pledged to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, which would subject every state to the redefinition of marriage by a judge without ever allowing the people to vote on the matter. We also urge Congress to use its Article III, Section 2 power to prevent activist federal judges from imposing upon the rest of the nation the judicial activism in Massachusetts and California. We also encourage states to review their marriage and divorce laws in order to strengthen marriage. As the family is our basic unit of society, we oppose initiatives to erode parental rights.