Obama Opposes NC Marriage Amendment

Special Report - March 19, 2012
Last week, President Barack Obama helped to highlight the pivotal role that North Carolina plays in the national battle over the institution of marriage by inserting his opinion into a statewide debate over the proposed Marriage Protection Amendment (MPA) that will be on the May 8, 2012 primary ballot for all North Carolina voters to decide. In a statement released to the press on March 15, the Obama campaign described the amendment as “discriminatory” and said the president opposes it. “While the president does not weigh in on every single ballot measure in every state, the record is clear that the President has long opposed divisive and discriminatory efforts to deny rights and benefits to same sex couples,” Cameron French, Obama’s North Carolina campaign spokesman, said in the statement. “That’s what the North Carolina ballot initiative would do – it would single out and discriminate against committed gay and lesbian couples – and that’s why the President does not support it.”

Despite the Obama campaign’s mischaracterization of it, the Marriage Protection Amendment is not discriminatory or divisive. It will simply preserve the definition of marriage as “between one man and one woman” in the State Constitution, helping to ensure that North Carolina’s marriage laws cannot be redefined by activist courts or politicians. Specifically, the proposed amendment to Article 14 of the North Carolina Constitution, which will be presented to voters on May 8, reads:

“Marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this State. This section does not prohibit a private party from entering into contracts with another private party; nor does this section prohibit courts from adjudicating the rights of private parties pursuant to such contracts.”

It is important to note that all North Carolina voters will have the opportunity to vote “for” or “against” the Marriage Protection Amendment in the May 8 primary. In addition to voting on the amendment, North Carolinians will also choose a Republican and Democrat candidate for the governor’s race, and, those who are registered Republicans, will also have the opportunity to choose a Republican candidate for the presidential race.

“President Obama has made the implementation of the homosexual agenda a key part of his national policy goals, and the redefinition of marriage is the ultimate goal of that agenda. So it should not surprise us that the president opposes this amendment that not only will help preserve the institution of marriage in this state, but that ultimately will limit the ability of homosexual activists to force their agenda on the people of North Carolina in other areas,” said Bill Brooks, president of the North Carolina Family Policy Council. “By weighing in on a state issue, the president has helped draw attention to the fact that North Carolina is a major target for homosexual activists in their national crusade to redefine the family.”

Brooks added, “The May 8 primary is one of the most important opportunities pro-family citizens will have to help determine what happens to the institution of marriage in North Carolina and ultimately in the nation.”

Related resources:
Stanley County Endorses Marriage Amendment - March 13, 2012
Brunswick County Supports Marriage - March 7, 2012
Wake County Endorses Marriage Amendment - February 22, 2012
Marriage Resources Page
Orange County Opposes Marriage Amendment - January 27, 2012
Faith Leaders Affirm Traditional Marriage - January 20, 2012
Raleigh Opposes Marriage Amendment - December 7, 2011
Polls Find NC Supports Marriage - October 14, 2011
Governor Opposes Marriage Amendment - October 11, 2011
Likely Voters Support the Marriage Amendment - October 6, 2011
Same-Sex Couples Seek Marriage Licenses - October 4, 2011
Marriage Debate Heats Up - September 22, 2011
Marriage Amendment Goes to Voters - September 14, 2011
Marriage Scores on Survey - June 20, 2011
Marriage Amendment Support Continues - January 3, 2011

Copyright © 2012. North Carolina Family Policy Council. All rights reserved.