Amash Warns GOP to Watch Its Words on Gay Marriage
Rep. Justin Amash does not want Republicans to say anything stupid about gay marriage.
During Wednesday morning’s House Republican Conference meeting, according to multiple sources in the room, the Michigan Republican stood up and told his GOP colleagues they should watch what they say about gay marriage.
Amash was concerned that some Republicans might make the wrong remark just after the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 Wednesday that the Defense of Marriage Act was unconstitutional and that California’s Proposition 8, which banned gay marriage, would be overturned.
According to sources in the room, he warned Republicans in the closed-door meeting that younger conservatives support gay marriage.
Despite Amash’s plea, a number of conservatives held a news conference Wednesday to denounce the court’s decision. Among the 12 Republican lawmakers in attendance was tea party darling Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, who issued a press release earlier in the day saying, “Marriage was created by the hand of God. No man, not even a Supreme Court, can undo what a holy God has instituted.”
Asked about Bachmann’s release during a separate media availability praising the Supreme Court decision, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., simply responded: “Who cares?”
Emma Dumain contributed to this report.