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-sex marriage.
The 49-year-old Davis, who’s a registered Democrat, stopped issuing marriage licenses to both gay and straight couples after the Supreme Court ruled in June that same-sex 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
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
The former Arkansas governor and Southern Baptist pastor said on Twitter:
The Texas senator also released a statement, 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
“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
The former senator from Pennsylvania said:
“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
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.”
3. Ted Cruz….
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