Family Research Council: Marriage Redefinition Platform Will Disadvantage Democratic Party

WASHINGTON, July 30, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, it was reported that the Democratic Party plans to include a marriage redefinition plank within the party platform.

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Peter Sprigg, Family Research Council's Senior Fellow for Policy Studies released the following statement:

"News that the Democratic platform will endorse changing the definition of marriage is not a surprise, in the wake of President Obama's announcement of support for the concept. However, this will not help the party politically in November.

"Thirty-two out of thirty-two states where voters have weighed in on the issue have upheld marriage as the union of one man and one woman. If President Obama were to lose those 32 states, he would face an electoral debacle. In addition, while opposition to same-sex 'marriage' may have become politically incorrect in the Democratic Party at the national level, there are many Democratic members of Congress, and office-holders further down the ticket, who live in states and districts where it will be a serious disadvantage to be identified with 'the gay marriage party.'

"Gov. Romney, who has signed a pledge to support a marriage protection amendment to the U.S. Constitution, should not shy away from making a clear distinction with President Obama and the Democrats on this issue.

"We expect that the Republican Party will maintain its strong support for one-man-one-woman marriage in their platform. The current Republican platform reflects the voters in 32 states who have voted to preserve marriage. The American people have done so because of their deep appreciation for the unique and irreplaceable benefits that marriage between a man and a woman gives to children and society."

FRC staff will attend the Republican Party platform meetings in Tampa, FL on August 20-21, 2012.

SOURCE Family Research Council