What GOP candidates say about Kim Davis

[NewOrleans]

LOL forever at Walker's comment. He seemingly read the Sparknotes to hear what the Constitution says. 


Candidates Defending Davis

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie: In a Wednesday radio interview with Laura Ingraham, Christie acknowledged that “someone who works in the government has a bit of a different obligation than someone who’s in the private sector or obviously working for educational institutions that’s religiously based or others,” but opined that “we have to protect religious liberty and people’s ability to be able to practice their religion freely and openly, and of course we have to enforce the law too.”

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz: In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Cruz denounced a “war on faith” and wrote: “We should make it possible for believers, such as Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis in Kentucky, to hold government jobs without having to violate their religious beliefs. We can work together to come up with alternative ways to ensure that government functions are accomplished without infringing on religious liberty.”

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee: In a statement on Tuesday, Huckabee said, “I spoke with Kim Davis this morning to offer my prayers and support. I let her know how proud I am of her for not abandoning her religious convictions and standing strong for religious liberty. She is showing more courage and humility than just about any federal office holder in Washington.” Huckabee further argued that since the Supreme Court does not have the authority to make law, it would be unconstitutional for Davis to issue same-sex marriage licenses. “I stand with Kim Davis and every American of faith under attack by Washington elites who have nothing but disdain for us, our faith and the Constitution,” he concluded.
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal: Jindal told the Huffington Post that Davis should not have to resign or to issue licenses to same-sex couples: “I don’t think anyone should have to choose between following their conscience and religious beliefs and giving up their job and facing financial sanctions. I think it’s wrong to force Christian individuals or business owners. We are seeing government today discriminate against whether it’s clerks, florists, musicians or others. I think that’s wrong. I think you should be able to keep your job and follow your conscience. I absolutely do believe people have a First Amendment right, a constitutional right. I don’t think the court can take that away.”

Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul: On Boston Herald Radio, Paul said Monday that government should not have any role in marriage licensing and that specifically he objects “to the state putting its imprimatur to the specialness of marriage on something that’s different from what most people have defined as marriage for most of history.” He defended Davis, arguing, “I think people who do stand up and are making a stand to say that they believe in something is an important part of the American way.”

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio: In a statement to the New York Times, Rubio called for “a balance between government’s responsibility to abide by the laws of our republic and allowing people to stand by their religious convictions.” Noting that the clerk’s office has a “governmental duty to carry out the law,” he urged that, “there should be a way to protect the religious freedom and conscience rights of individuals working in the office.” He added that the nation “was founded on the human right of religious freedom, and our elected leaders have a duty to protect that right by ensuring that no one is forced by the government to violate their conscience and deeply held religious beliefs about traditional marriage.”

Candidates Backing Rule of Law

Former California Senate candidate Carly Fiorina: On Hugh Hewitt’s radio show, Fiorina urged Davis to follow the law or resign: “While I disagree with this court’s decision, their actions are clear. And so I think in this particular case, this woman now needs to make a decision that’s [about] conscience: Is she 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 sever her employment with the government and go seek employment elsewhere where her religious liberties would be paramount over her duties as a government employee?”

South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham: In a radio interview with Hugh Hewitt, Graham said that as a public official Davis must “comply with the law or resign.” “The rule of law is the rule of law,” he argued, “That’s what we are. We are a rule of law nation, and I appreciate her conviction. I support traditional marriage, but she’s accepted a job where she has to apply the law to everyone. And that’s her choice.”

UPDATE SEP 4, 2015 8:18 AM
Three more hopefuls expressed their general support for Davis on Thursday. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush told reporters that while Davis is "sworn to uphold the law," he believes that "there ought to be common ground, there ought to be a big enough space for her to act on her conscience, and for now that the law is the law of the land, for a gay couple to be married in whatever jurisdiction that is.”

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker told Laura Ingraham: “It’s a balance that you’ve got to have in America between the laws that are out there, but ultimately ensuring the Constitution is upheld. I read that the Constitution is very clear, that people have the freedom of religion. That means you have the freedom to practice your religious beliefs out there.”

Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum said in a statement, "I have great respect for Ms. Davis' and her courage to stand up for her faith. In America we should not have to choose between keeping our job and practicing our faith," and said on CNN on Friday that "what Kim Davis did is heroic."

Real estate investor Donald Trump declined to weigh-in on Davis at a press conference on Thursday, saying he did not know enough about it to comment.

[NewOrleans]

notice no comments on how she won't let the deputies give the licenses. They just ignore the part where she forces others to do her non religious bidding.

[aurora]

Uhm, this statement is rather concerning coming from a presidential candidate:

"Huckabee further argued that since the Supreme Court does not have the authority to make law, it would be unconstitutional for Davis to issue same-sex marriage licenses."

[josieposy]

The Walker quote confused me.

"I read that the Constitution is very clear"?

[StrawberryBlondie]

Lol forever at "I read that the constitution..."

[Deleted]

Things like this make me want to quit my job, start a church (John Oliver proved it's easy) that descriminates against straight white people and then open a business. I want to see what all of the people supporting bullshit like this say when they're the targeted group.

[blink]

I'm actually a little surprised that two of them aren't completely crazy.

[blink]

Sept 5, 2015 8:15:33 GMT -5 @silver said:

Things like this make me want to quit my job, start a church (John Oliver proved it's easy) that descriminates against straight white people and then open a business. I want to see what all of the people supporting bullshit like this say when they're the targeted group.

They would still be persecuted Christians. And that's all that matters.

[Deleted]

Sept 5, 2015 8:18:39 GMT -5 blink said:

Sept 5, 2015 8:15:33 GMT -5 @silver said:

Things like this make me want to quit my job, start a church (John Oliver proved it's easy) that descriminates against straight white people and then open a business. I want to see what all of the people supporting bullshit like this say when they're the targeted group.

They would still be persecuted Christians. And that's all that matters.

If they can find Bible verses supporting their narrow world views, it's only a matter of time until I find some to support my fake church. Then I can claim persecuted Christian too!

Really though you're right. We all know the only people they think deserve religious freedom are the ones whose religious views align with their own small-minded, ignorant, bigoted, disgusting opinions.

Seeing this list of politicians saying things like this and knowing that large portions of the American public is cheering them on has me worked up.

[froggy76]

On Thursday, Trump didn't know enough about it to comment?! It's been a top story for at least a week!

[jln]

If a Muslim were to deny marriage licenses to women without hijabs these same nitwits would be claiming that they're waging jihad on America.

I've said it before - this is not a religious issue. This is a "gays are yucky and make me uncomfortable" issue. If it were a religious issue they'd be protesting Red Lobster.

[miniroller]

Sept 5, 2015 9:38:58 GMT -5 froggy76 said:

On Thursday, Trump didn't know enough about it to comment?! It's been a top story for at least a week!

Maybe he was too busy studying countries & identifying leaders of the Middle East? #sarcasm

[meshaliuknits]

Sept 5, 2015 8:03:05 GMT -5 josieposy said:

The Walker quote confused me.

"I read that the Constitution is very clear"?

Such as the Iraq.

[MrsAxilla]

I really like Carly's answer. If she's angling for VP, I'm not sure who for.

[jln]

Sept 5, 2015 10:03:42 GMT -5 MrsAxilla said:

I really like Carly's answer. If she's angling for VP, I'm not sure who for.

She seems to be the most reasonable about this. I'm pleasantly surprised.

[ESF]

I just can't believe Bobby Jindal managed to answer a question without working in the phrase "hyphenated Americans."

[emilyj]

I will be so glad to see all of these candidates fully back any Muslim person who holds public office and who will likely need two breaks daily for prayers.

Because religious freedom and all.

[ttt]

Sept 5, 2015 9:38:58 GMT -5 froggy76 said:

On Thursday, Trump didn't know enough about it to comment?! It's been a top story for at least a week!

Him not knowing enough about something has never stopped him from commenting before. 

[smock]

Sept 5, 2015 11:57:30 GMT -5 ttt said:

Sept 5, 2015 9:38:58 GMT -5 froggy76 said:

On Thursday, Trump didn't know enough about it to comment?! It's been a top story for at least a week!

Him not knowing enough about something has never stopped him from commenting before. 

My suspicion is that he doesn't support Davis but knows that his supporters are big fans of Davis. Then again, Trump doesn't usually consider the political ramifications of his statements...

[karinothing]

Sept 5, 2015 12:20:35 GMT -5 smock said:

Sept 5, 2015 11:57:30 GMT -5 ttt said:

Him not knowing enough about something has never stopped him from commenting before. 

My suspicion is that he doesn't support Davis but knows that his supporters are big fans of Davis. Then again, Trump doesn't usually consider the political ramifications of his statements...

NPR has him saying she needs to follow the law