Many of the Republican presidential candidates have rallied behind Kim Davis, the Rowan County, Kentucky clerk, who was jailed Thursday for declining to issue marriage licenses because of her religious opposition to same-s*x marriage.
The 49-year-old Davis, who’s aregistered Democrat, stopped issuing marriage licenses to both gay and straight couples after the Supreme Court ruled in June that same-s*x marriage is a constitutional right.
After Davis was jailed, most of her deputies began complying with a judge’s order to issue marriage licenses, but Davis has several GOP presidential contenders gathering to her corner.
Supports Kim Davis’ Decision
1. Rand Paul
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The Kentucky senator told CNN that the federal judge’s decision to jail Davis sets a bad precedent for the future:
“I think it’s absurd to put someone in jail for exercising their religious liberty. I think it’s a real mistake and even those on the other side of the issue, I think it sets their movement back.”
Paul predicted:
“What’s going to happen is it’s going to harden people’s resolve on this issue. I think what’s going to happen is that state and localities are just going to opt out of the marriage business.”
2. Mike Huckabee
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The former Arkansas governor and Southern Baptist pastor said on Twitter:
3. Ted Cruz
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The Texas senator also released astatement, saying:
“I stand with Kim Davis. Unequivocally. I stand with every American that the Obama Administration is trying to force to choose between honoring his or her faith or complying with a lawless court opinion.”
4. Bobby Jindal
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Louisiana’s governor told the Huffington Post this week:
“The United States didn’t create religious liberty. Religious liberty created the United States of America. It’s the reason we are here today. This is an essential freedom and an essential right and I don’t think you give up this right by simply taking a job.”
5. Rick Santorum
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The former senator from Pennsylvaniasaid:
“More and more people of faith will face the penalties Ms. Davis is now encountering if we do not make the necessary accommodations so people can not just worship but live out their faith in their lives.”
6. Scott Walker
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Wisconsin’s governor discussed Davis on “The Laura Ingraham Show” Thursday. He told Ingraham that he disagreed with the Supreme Court’s ruling and:
“In the end, this is the balance that you gotta have to have in America, between the laws that are out there, but ultimately ensuring that the Constitution is upheld.
“I read that the Constitution is very clear that people have freedom of religion — you have the freedom to practice religious beliefs out there. I just think that’s a fundamental right.”
7. Marco Rubio
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In a statement to The New York Times, the Florida senator said:
“We should seek a balance between government’s responsibility to abide by the laws of our republic and allowing people to stand by their religious convictions.
“While the clerk’s office has a governmental duty to carry out the law, there should be a way to protect the religious freedom and conscience rights of individuals working in the office.”
Opposes Kim Davis’ Decision
1. Carly Fiorina
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The former Hewlett-Packard CEO toldradio host Hugh Hewitt on Tuesday it is “not appropriate” for Davis to continue denying marriage licenses:
“Is (Davis) prepared to continue to work for the government, be paid for by the government? In which case she needs to execute the government’s will. Or, does she feel so strongly about this that she wants to … go seek employment elsewhere?”
2. Lindsey Graham
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The South Carolina senator also toldHugh Hewitt:
“As a public official, comply with the law or resign. The rule of law is the rule of law. … I support traditional marriage, but she’s accepted a job where she has to apply the law to everyone.”
