Bobby Jindal On Gay Marriage: In The End ‘Our God Wins’
As federal courts knock down more and more state gay marriage bans, the battle between religious conservatives and same-sex couples seeking equal rights has been significantly drained of its tension. That didn’t stop potential Republican 2016 presidential candidates from honing in on the issue in recent speeches at a highly televised Iowa conservative forum — among them was Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal.
Bobby further reiterated that he had not yet given up the battle against gay marriage when he spoke at a rally organized by the American Family Association, which has been classified as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. Jindal told he crowd that despite how things look right now, the Christian God will triumph in the end.
“We can’t just pass a law and fix what ails our country. We need a spiritual revival to fix what ails our country… It is like God has given us the Book of Life. He doesn’t let us see the pages for today and tomorrow… but he does allow you to see the last page in the Book of Life, and on the last page — our God wins.”
George Stephanopoulos of ABC News’ This Week interviewed Bobby on Sunday to ask him to further clarify his comment on the controversial statement. George questioned if expressing strong support for a particular religion’s deity was a wise move for a politician with White House ambitions like Jindal, especially in a country where there are “many who believe there is no god at all.” Bobby argued that association with Christianity is a part of the American presidential tradition.
“It’s a time-honored tradition going back to our nation’s founders for our presidents, for our leaders to turn to God for guidance, for wisdom. George Washington did it, Abraham Lincoln did it, Harry Truman did it. So, absolutely, I think this idea of praying to God for wisdom and guidance is as old as our country.”
Jindal continued to assert that he undyingly opposed equal marriage rights for LGBT people. Bobby defended that his views, heavily tied to his religion, would not change on the topic anytime soon, either. In fact, he even voiced support for Tez Cruz’s suggestion to pass a constitutional amendment allowing states to make their own decisions on gay marriage.
“I believe that marriage is between a man and a woman. My faith teaches me that, my Christian faith teaches me that. I’m not for discrimination against anybody. I know that many politicians are evolving — so-called evolving — on this issue based on the polls. I don’t change my views based on the polls… If the Supreme Court were to throw out our law, our [state] constitutional amendment — I hope they wouldn’t do that — if they do that, I certainly support Ted Cruz and others that are talking about making an amendment in the Congress and D.C., a constitutional amendment to allow states to continue to define marriage. I think it should be between a man and a woman.”
Do you think Bobby Jindal’s comments on gay marriage could influence the outcome of his 2016 presidential run?
[Image via Flickr]
