Republicans seeking the White House looked to thread the needle Friday after the Supreme Court ruled on the issue which has evolved into a wedge for the party: same-sex marriage.
Republican frontrunnner Jeb Bush delivered a tepid response Friday morning, that sought to shore up his stance supporting marriage between one man and one woman while also asking supporters to look forward to the fight for “religious freedom”.
“Guided by my faith, I believe in traditional marriage,” Bush said. “I believe the Supreme Court should have allowed the states to make this decision. I also believe that we should love our neighbor and respect others, including those making lifetime commitments. In a country as diverse as ours, good people who have opposing views should be able to live side by side. It is now crucial that as a country we protect religious freedom and the right of conscience and also not discriminate.”
The issue used to divide Democrats, even as recently as the 2008 elections. But a seismic shift in public opinion in support of gay marriage has instead turned the matter into more of a liability in general elections for Republicans.
For the wide-open GOP field, which stands at 13 major official candidates, it was a striking difference from just a day earlier, when they were united in opposition to the court’s ruling upholding a key portion of Obamacare.
Social conservatives like Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, had little trouble blasting the ruling.
“I will not acquiesce to an imperial court any more than our founders acquiesced to an imperial British monarch. We must resist and reject judicial tyranny, not retreat,” Huckabee said in a statement.
Jindal was only slightly more tepid in his response Friday.
“The Supreme Court decision today conveniently and not surprisingly follows public opinion polls, and tramples on states’ rights that were once protected by the 10th Amendment of the Constitution,” Jindal said. “Marriage between a man and a woman was established by God, and no earthly court can alter that.”
But Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who is vying for support from moderates in the party with Bush, said it was time to move past the issue.
“The governor has always believed in the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman, but our nation’s highest court has spoken and we must respect its decision,” a Kasich spokesman said.
Democrats, meanwhile, were out of the gate fast on Twitter with clear elation.
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced she was proud of the decision.
Clinton tweeted “Proud to celebrate a historic victory for marriage equality—& the courage & determination of LGBT Americans who made it possible. -H”
And former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley said it reminded him of his success supporting gay marriage in Maryland.
“Reminded of Will and his moms on the day we passed marriage equality in MD. There’s no greater human right than love,” O’Malley tweeted.